Consultant (senior disaster risk reduction expert)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity - Professionalism - Respect for diversity

Background:
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multidisciplinary and multi stakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human, economic and social losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation
with Governments and civil society organizations.

The implementation of the ISDR is supported by a secretariat lead by the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The secretariat main functions are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socioeconomic and humanitarian fields.

In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR, 18-22 January 2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan) took place and represents a landmark in worldwide understanding and commitment to implement a disaster risk reduction agenda. This commitment was captured in the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters adopted at the WCDR.

The Hyogo Framework is the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in the coming years and it constitutes an unprecedented conceptual shift that takes account of the complexity of action in disaster risk reduction and the large variety of actors whose inputs are required in the pursuit of this objective. It provides the basic concepts and prescribes and expected outcome; details three strategic goals for disaster risk reduction and a set of five priority areas for action; and assigns tasks to stakeholders at difference operational levels to reach the expected outcome.

Haiti is highly vulnerable to torrential rains, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, landslides and droughts. This vulnerability is greatly influenced and exacerbated by the country's poverty, continuous state of complex emergency and environmental degradation. Haiti is the poorest and only Least Developed Country in the Western Hemisphere. A vicious circle of poverty, political and economic instability, violence, and lack of infrastructure are some of the most pressing underlying causes for the country's poor disaster reduction institutional framework.

The earthquake of 7 magnitude on the Richter scale hit Haiti on 12 January, affecting estimated 3 million people, causing an estimated mortality of 230,000 people and destroying the economic infrastructure of the Port-au-Prince including roads, water supply, airport, ports, telephones. Nearly 1300 schools and 50 hospitals were also destroyed, setting back already difficultly achieved progress in achieving the MDGs. The collapse of the main UN office building and other major schools and hospitals shows that despite years of international development assistance in an area known to be earthquake prone, a high number of the investments of the international community in Port au Prince were not seismically resilient.

Haiti reveals the failure of international development assistance to make development investments risk resilient. Further many internationally funded post disaster recovery and reconstruction programmes following hurricanes have not increased the capacity of Haiti to reduce disaster losses even against well known hazards.

The Directorate of Civil Protection is strengthening departmental and communal preparedness strategies and capacity. The Haiti Interim Recovery Commission is overseeing the recovery efforts from the 12 January Earthquake. It is also foreseen that the Interim Commission will make recommendation for strengthening the Governance structure in Haiti following its 18 months mandate. The DPC is promoting the concept of a national risk reduction strategy and supervise mitigation and preparedness activities of the different ministries and organizations and has written to the UNISDR for assistance in developing this concept through the establishment of a national platform.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), and in close coordination with the Office of the Special Envoy for Haiti (OSE) and, the Head of the UNISDR Regional Office-The Americas, the Consultant will work as part of the Haiti Interim Recovery Commission and benefit from technical support of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

Duties and responsibilities
• Provide technical advice to the Haiti Interim Recovery Commission (HIRC) for the incorporation of disaster risk reduction measures in the earthquake recovery and reconstruction processes.

• Based on sample assessments of the reconstruction work of all international multilateral and UN agencies, the Consultant will provide an independent quality and technical assessment on extent to which risk reduction ( seismic appropriate codes, hurricane safe shelter and land use planning) are being factored into the ongoing reconstruction programmes, with particular focus on the health and education sectors. In this function the she or he will provide an independent monitor of risk reduction in real time to the Haiti Interim Recover Commission (HIRC) so possible corrective actions can be taken.

• Support consultations with Government and partners based on existing documents and reports regarding previous DRR efforts in Haiti to promote a strategic vision for the implementation of the national DRR plan for Haiti.

• Ensure that technical guidelines on seismic safety are integrated into schools and educational institutions’ reconstruction plans - Provide bi monthly updates regarding the extent to which the new school building practices conform to seismic and multi hazard
safety standards.

• Advocate for and raise the level of awareness of relevant high level public officials regarding the international vision on DRR and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) so as to create an appropriation of the DRR agenda at the highest political level. Furthermore,
provide guidance and support the development of appropriate actions leading to the establishment of the national platform for DRR following UNISDR and HFA guidance.

• Contribute to ongoing efforts to prepare for the hurricane season through advice on integrating preparedness for hurricane season with risk reduction efforts, and in particular integrated early warning system, application of risk assessments and community training
through the DPC and engaging regional organization.

• Support the coordination efforts being carried out by the Government and UNRC in DRR, in particular engaging regional and international partners in a coherent manner with the aim at avoiding duplication of efforts and adherence to a coherent government strategy for disaster risk reduction.

Key Deliverables/expected results:
• Analysis of significant issues and challenges regarding DRR coordination and implementation in Haiti;
• Well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to address complex policy/technical issues and obstacles to incorporating seismic, hurricane and multi hazard risk reduction elements into all new investments and to enhancing capacity of the Government to factor in risk reduction through strengthened institutions.
• Implementable 12 month plan of action with clear timelines and achievement indicators for a risk sensitive recovery process in Haiti, with particular focus on vital infrastructures reconstruction (schools, hospitals, government buildings etc.) that is duly endorsed and
owned by key in-country partners and government officials with relevant budget allocations
• Ensure and monitor the implementation of disaster risk reduction related activities against budgets allocated
• Effective partnership formed with UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, Office of the Special Envoy, UN and Multilateral Banks and appropriate Government of Haiti institutions to help meet the project’s objectives with respect to overall policy initiatives and coordination of disaster risk reduction.

Deliverables
• Monthly reports on progress made in developing and implementing the plan of action
• Bi monthly independent assessments of the extent of risk reduction integration in the ongoing Reconstruction programs of external agencies and the Governments
• Diagnostic of gaps and major challenges faced by the Civil Protection Department (Département de la Protection Civile, DPC)
• A strategic vision for the implementation of the national DRR plan for Haiti factoring in the gaps in risk reduction assessed in the bi monthly assessments.

Competencies
Professionalism: Current knowledge of Disaster Risk Reduction global trends, policies, planning and mainstreaming strategies; analytical skills and ability to identify problems and propose solutions; conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; demonstrated ability to provide leadership and take responsibility for incorporating gender and diversity perspectives into substantive work.

Planning and Organization: Demonstrated ability to independently organize, plan, develop and integrate several programmes/activities, with both attention to detail and the broader context.

Teamwork: Strong inter-personal skills demonstrated by the ability to lead and gain the assistance and cooperation of others in a team endeavour; ability to build trust and develop and maintain effective work relationships in a multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Communication: Excellent communication and negotiation skills, including ability to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior officials and members of intergovernmental bodies.

Judgment/Decision-making: Strong, sound and mature judgment and decision-making skills; ability to manage and coordinate many different activities/operations, and to make difficult decisions under pressure; demonstrated ability to take effective initiative in stressful situations.

Qualifications
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics, social or natural sciences, international relations, with emphasis on development issues and risk management issues or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with highly qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of ten years of responsible professional experience in managerial positions in the field of disaster risk reduction and development-related programmes, covering in particular the areas of policy coordination and project implementation.

Language: Fluency in French required; Working knowledge of Creole is an asset.

Other: Ability to effectively work with high level government and United Nations officials, donor agencies, UN partners, NGOS, scientific and technical community, media and other potential in-country partners. Familiarity with current strategic issues in the Americas and
working experience in Haiti is an added advantage.