Consultant (strenghtening AUC - UNISDR partnership)

ISDR/C/22/2012

Closing date extended from 31 August

Integrity - Professionalism  - Respect for diversity

Background

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socioeconomic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR has around 100 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNISDR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the  progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as PreventionWeb, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The African Union Commission (AUC) with the support of UNISDR and other partners led a process of regional actions to strengthen national capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Africa, beginning with the development of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction. The strategy aims to contribute to the attainment of sustainable development and poverty eradication by facilitating the integration of disaster risk reduction into development. The Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Africa Strategy 2006-2010 which was developed in compliance with a request by the 2004 Africa Union Summit, endorsed by the 2005 African Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, and adopted by the Eight Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (2006), provides the operational framework for disaster risk reduction interventions in the region. The extension and enforcement of the Programme of Action to cover the period until 2015 was discussed and agreed at the 2nd Regional Platform Consultative Meeting for DRR in May 2009, and the extended Programme of Action was formally endorsed in the African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2011.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships

The consultant will work in coordination with the Head of UNISDR Regional Office for Africa and in collaboration with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture and the Head of Division for Environment and Natural Resources. The consultant shall provide overall support to the AUC in the implementation of the Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Liaise with the AUC and UNISDR in Nairobi, including finding synergies in planning and programming of the implementation of the Africa Programme of Action.
• Strengthen AUCs work in the area of DRR, including promoting mainstreaming of DRR into relevant programmes of the AUC and developing specific DRR programmes and synthesizing Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) reporting.
• Support fund raising activities, approach donor community and draft project proposals.
• Support the implementation of the regional deliverables of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).
• Support the leadership of Africa Working Group on DRR (AWG), including organization of meetings and implementation of its Work Plan.
• Ensure inputs to the post HFA framework from AUC and other African institutions through post HFA consultations in Africa, in close collaboration with the AWG.
• Contribute to the efficient monitoring of implementation of the Africa Programme of Action as well as analysing of progress.
• Facilitate the organization of the Continental level conferences and meetings on DRR such as the Africa Regional Platform for DRR, including coordination of logistics as well as technical advice, drafting concept papers, declaration etc.
• Attending to the Ministerial request of a Centre of Excellence for DRR in Africa, in close collaboration with the AWG, through a feasibility study on institutional capacity assessments of existing centres, sub-regional consultations and report to Ministerial Level.
• Support and liaise with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to implement the respective policies, strategies and programmes in DRR, including organizing annual planning meetings between AUC and RECs, UNISDR and partners.
• In liaison with International Financial Institutions support activities related to cost-benefit and other economic indicators in relation to disaster risk reduction.
• Perform any duties that may be required.

Key Outputs

• Strengthened partnership, joint planning and programming on DRR between AUC and UNISDR.
• Inclusion of DRR activities in the related programmes and projects of AUC with specific focus on linking climate change and DRR.
• Africa Working Group providing efficient coordination and advise on the implementation of the Extended Africa Programme of Action 2006-2015.
• Effective regional consultations and dialogue in Africa.
• Outcome report of feasibility study agreed and presented on continental level. Monthly progress report (A4, MS Word format in English by 20th of every month) to be submitted to UNISDR Africa Regional Office and AUC DREA.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and approaches to disaster and risk reduction.

Communications: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Teamwork: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, international relations, development, management, public policy or related fields.

Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in disaster risk reduction or related areas. Familiarity with the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters adopted at the WCDR. Familiarity with the Africa Strategy and the outcomes of the Second Africa Ministerial Conference that took place in Nairobi, Kenya from 14 to 16 April 2010, such as the Ministerial Declaration and the extended “Africa Programme of Action for the Implementation of the Africa Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (2006-2015)” to align with the HFA.

Language skills: Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of French is an advantage.