Internship (information management for UNISDR Europe)

Background

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human and economic and social losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations. In adopting ISDR, the United Nations General Assembly (Res/54/219) endorsed the establishment of an institutional framework for its implementation consisting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR) and the inter-agency secretariat (ISDR secretariat).

The main functions of the secretariat are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic 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 constitutes 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.
The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) calls on partners of the UN’s International Strategy of Disaster Reduction (ISDR) and its secretariat to prepare periodic reviews of progress with implementation of the priority actions under the HFA, and to identify gaps and challenges in implementation. In this context, the ISDR secretariat will coordinate the preparation of biennial global assessment reports – of which the first is to be launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2009.

The position is located in the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) in Geneva, Switzerland reporting to the Coordinator for Europe.

Duties and Responsabilities

Information Management:

1. Follow up on development, maintain and updated the UN/ISDR Europe website. Broadly, this will be structured around 4-5 areas that will imply exchanges with national, regional and some international actors in Europe;
2. Maintain a calendar of events and upcoming appointments for the Europe Region;
3. Update on contact list for the Europe region at the national. Regional and international level;
4. Maintain a database of contacts in the region from national, UNDP offices and DRR Advisors, including contact information, current projects and other activities relevant to DRR, as well as of country offices of other UN agencies and the World Bank engaged in DRR activities in Europe;
5. Establish, maintain and update an inventory and database on scientific and technical institutions, regional and national resource centres and academic institutions involved in DRR through use of appropriate information collection tools, such as questionnaires and structured interviews;
6. Liaising with the regional partners, provide necessary research, information and facilitation assistance to consultants working on tasks assigned to the Regional Coordinator;
7. Facilitate consultants work addressed to hydrometereological, insurance and reinsurance and disaster risk reduction activities.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

Staff at all levels, within UN/ISDR and the disaster risk reduction community as well as national counterparts and donors. Representatives of other UN agencies and other UN specialized agencies; member state personnel with responsibility for disaster risk reduction; non-governmental organization representatives; and representatives and officials in national governments, international and regional organizations, IFIs, and research institutes.

Results expected:

1. Finalize and update information related to the website Europe as described above;
2. Briefing notes, issue papers, web flyers with information on Europe;
3. Development of database on scientific and technical institutions;
4. Facilitation of consultant works related to hydrometereologicalm insurance and disaster risk reduction activities.

Competencies

Professionalism - Good academic and analytical skills. Judgment - Demonstrated sound judgment in applying expertise to resolve a range of issues/problems.

Communications - ability to draft clearly and concisely, good language skills.

Planning & Organizing - Ability to organize, plan and implement work assignments.

Teamwork - Good interpersonal skills, works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals, ability to develop and maintain effective work relationships with different national and cultural backgrounds with sensitivity with respect for diversity.

Qualification

Education: Applicants must be currently enrolled in post graduate studies: in Disaster Management, Environmental Science, Agriculture, Ecology, Environmental Law, Development, International Relations, Economics or a similar field.

Experience: Working knowledge and familiarity with international and national agencies is preferred, though not mandatory. Prior knowledge or experience in operational disaster or development contexts – local, national or international is preferred. Good drafting kills.

Language: Excellent written and spoken English; fluency in French one or more official UN languages a plus.

Other desirable skills: Good skills in basic computer usage, including internet searches. In particular, working knowledge of MS Office-Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Intra-Internet, e-mail applications etc. Knowledge of other applications such as Front Page, Publisher and some multimedia tools would be useful though not mandatory.

Applicants who are not currently enrolled in post graduate studies at the start of the internship cannot be considered.