Consultant: UN relations and coordination
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ISDR/C/09/14
United Nations Core Values: 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 headquarters 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 Prevention Web, 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 “United Nations Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience”, outlines the purpose, a set of core commitments and actions, a shared approach to measure impact and progress, and steps for implementation. It also embraces the international momentum to use "resilience" as a common outcome that integrates poverty reduction, disaster risk reduction, sustainable livelihoods and climate change adaptation, as integral to sustainable development. The World Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) will be held in Sendai City, Japan from Saturday 14 March to Wednesday 18 March 2015; the UN agencies, like all other disaster risk reduction stakeholders, are participating in different forums in preparation for the conference. These preparations are important as the UN show-cases its work in the post-2015 development agenda along with the commitment to ensure linkages between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), climate change and disaster risk reduction. A Consultant will be hired to analyse progress of the UN system against the UN Plan of Action, based on information provided by UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes and prepare a 20 page report outlining the impact of the work of UN in Sendai.
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
The Consultant will be supervised by the Programme Officer, UN Relations and Coordination.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant is expected to perform the following tasks:
- Collect information and develop a method to present the results of UN efforts to integrate disaster and climate risk into its development and humanitarian operational work based on the indicators developed by the High Level Committee on Programmes and Senior Management Group on Disaster Risk Reduction (HLCP/SMG) to measure progress against the UN Plan of Action.
- Review and analyse the regional reviews of the effectiveness of disaster risk reduction (DRR) into the UN Development Assistant Framework (UNDAF).
- Develop the outline of an advocacy report on UN Progress on DRR for the World Conference for consultation.
- Compile inputs by partners and finalize drafting of the advocacy report
Outputs:
- Analysis and methodology to measure progress against the UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience.
- A Report on the impact of UN in reducing disaster and climate risk.
Timeframe:
The overall consultancy covers 45 days over the period starting June 2014 to January 2015. The initial phase is 15 days (in June and July 2014) and will require developing the analytical framework for the report.
Competencies:
Professionalism:
- Strong background, knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and approaches to disaster risk reduction.
- Familiarity with disaster risk reduction programmes and activities at regional, sub-regional levels and ability to identify and analyze regional and national priorities, needs and capacities and develop appropriate strategies and actions
Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and programmes; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.
Qualifications:
Education: Advanced university degree in disaster risk management, development, public policy or a related field. A first- level university degree in combination of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience: A minimum of 7 years of experience working in the field of disaster risk reduction. In-depth understanding of the Hyogo Framework of Action and issues of post disaster recovery and reconstruction.
Language: Fluency in oral and written English.