International consultants — Technical advisers

Result of service

The consultants will provide technical support on disaster risk reduction to the Secretariats of The East African Community (EAC), The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). This will strengthen disaster risk reduction coordination, monitoring and advocacy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Key deliverables

• Disaster risk reduction reports from the Sub-Saharan Africa
• High-level outcome documents from sub-regional platforms
• Programme progress and evaluation reports
• Advocacy materials and releases
• Statistics on development and implementation of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) strategies as well as UNDAF on the sub-regional and national levels.

Work locations

Arusha (Tanzania), EAC Secretariat, Libreville (Gabon), ECCAS Secretariat, Abuja (Nigeria) ECOWAS Secretariat and Nairobi (Kenya), IGAD Secretariat.

Expected duration

Nine and a half months

Duties and responsibilities

Created in December 1999, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster risk reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations, regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has around 100 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction and guides, monitors and reports on its implementation (particularly through follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030); 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, 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 organization of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. 

With support from the European Union – (being part of cooperation between the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction is implementing a programme on Building Disaster Resilience to Natural Hazards in Sub-Saharan African Regions, Countries and Communities. The programme provides an analytical basis and accelerates the effective implementation of an African comprehensive disaster risk reduction and risk management framework. As part of Result 1 of the Programme focusing on monitoring and coordination the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction provides technical support to the Regional Economic Communities in Africa.

The main tasks to be carried out by the International Consultants are as follows:

Under the overall supervision of the Chief, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Regional Office for Africa and direct supervision of the Deputy Chief of Office, and with guidance from designated focal points at the REC’s Secretariats, the consultants will provide RECs with technical support on: 

1. Policy and coordination:

• Support the REC’s Secretariats, the REC’s Member States and other relevant institutions in the region to build their technical capacity and incorporate disaster risk reduction in relevant sectors;
• Ensure the implementation of the REC’s Strategies on Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and monitoring at Regional and Sub-Regional Levels;
• Support organization of sub-regional platforms in Arusha, Libreville, Nairobi and Abuja in Africa; and other continental platforms and meetings; 
• Support REC’s Secretariats and Member States to participate in regional and global events;
• Represent REC’s Secretariats and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction as designated, in relevant meetings and events in Sub-Saharan Africa; 
• Draft reports, such as background papers, analyses, studies and reports on consultative and other meetings and conferences on DRR.

2. Risk information, monitoring and reporting:

• Liaise with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction to coordinate the monitoring of the Africa Programme of Action in line with the Sendai Framework. 
• Support RECs and Member States in submission of periodic Sendai Framework progress reports and provide relevant information to the Sendai Framework Monitor;
• Liaise with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Risk Knowledge staff to support development of appropriate risk information in the REC’s Member States, including development of disaster loss databases and risk profiles. 
• Submit periodic reports on project performance.

3. Advocacy and communication:

• Produce and disseminate communication materials in the RECs and submit to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Africa External Relations Officer. 
• Support implementation of the Programme’s communication and visibility strategy;
• Support development and update of inventory of national coordination mechanisms, policies and other information, in close liaison with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - Africa. 
• Support development of public awareness materials including press releases, articles, videos, posters, etc. in English and or French. 
• Support organization of advocacy events such as International Day for Disaster Reduction, World Tsunami Awareness Day and other relevant events at national and regional levels. 
• Liaise with REC’s member states in relation to development and monitoring of UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), co-signed by United Nations Country Teams (UNCT) and National Governments.

4. Perform other duties as required. 

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Counterparts, representatives and officials in national and local governments, international organizations, regional intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, technical and scientific organizations, civil society, partners of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, consultants.

Work implies extensive travel, primarily within the RECs covered by Sub-Saharan Africa.

Qualifications/special skills

Academic qualifications: Advanced university degree in natural and environment sciences, disaster risk management, development studies, economics, geography, public policy or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area. Professional experience in the Sub-Saharan Africa region is desirable.

Language: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For these positions, fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required.

Additional information

We are looking for 4 consultants against this job opening.

No fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.