National platform consultant (Cape Verde)

The deadline has been extended from 23 May 2010 to 30 May 2010

Vacancy notice number: ISDR/C/15/2010
Date of entry: 1 June 2010
Duration: Two months

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.

Priority Three of the Hyogo Framework for Action emphasizes the need to “use knowledge, innovation and education to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels”. It further stresses the importance of “community level learning on disaster risk reduction and public awareness” and suggests to “providing easily understandable information on disaster risks and protection options, especially for citizens in high risk areas, to encourage and enable people to take action to reduce risks and build resilience”.

Objectives 3 & 4 of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction equally highlight the importance to “enhance knowledge management for disaster risk reduction” and “increase public awareness of disaster risk reduction”. The corresponding Programme of Action for the implementation of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction identifies under “advocacy and awareness” the need for national governments to take a leading role in raising public awareness on disaster risks and ways to reduce vulnerability and risks at a local level by generating an understanding of basic concepts of hazard, vulnerability, risk and disaster, which will help to form a favorable environment for the development of a culture of disaster prevention and the implementation of national and regional policies, strategies and guidelines for mainstreaming disaster risk reduction.

National governments in Africa have established national coordination mechanisms, referred to as national platforms for disaster risk reduction to coordinate stakeholders’ initiatives in their goal to implement the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Africa regional Strategy for disaster risk reduction.

The UNISDR Regional Office for Africa is implementing a project to strengthen national platforms for disaster risk reduction in nine project countries in the region, namely Burundi, Cape Verde Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Namibia, Tunisia, Tanzania, Senegal and Madagascar, funded by the Federal Republic of Germany. The project is designed to address needs and priorities identified by national governments as well as by the UN country teams in the respective countries.

UNISDR has been supporting the development of the Cape Verde national platform which was launched in 2007. UNISDR also supported the development of an action plan for the national platform under this project. In a further step activities of the national platform should be decentralized and enhance awareness and preparedness of people at sub-national levels. To raise awareness among communities and improve preparedness and mitigation of natural hazards there is a need for having user-friendly fact sheets on natural hazards suggesting protection, mitigation and preparedness options, to complement existing early warning systems, which often disseminate warnings but without advice on actions to be taken.

UNISDR is therefore looking for a consultant to adapt natural hazard fact sheets that have been developed under this project for the national context and needs in Cape Verde, to educate communities on existing risks and suggest actions to be taken throughout the disaster risk management cycle, from prevention over preparedness and mitigation to protection and response.

The fact sheets should enable communities to prepare for a disaster situation and react to early warning information. The development of natural hazard fact sheets for Cape Verde should be carried out in close cooperation with all relevant national stakeholders, the UN country team and UNISDR.

Duties and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Head of the UNISDR Regional Office for Africa, and the direct supervision of the Programme Officer in charge of the project and in close collaboration with theCivil Protection in Cape Verde as chair of the Cape Verde National Platform for DRR and the relevant focal points in the UN Country Team, the consultant will:

1. Adapt the existing natural hazard fact sheets developed to the Cape Verde context and needs, taking into consideration the linkage with climate change adaptation.

2. Consult with the Cape Verde National Platform for DRR and relevant development partners to have the fact sheets approved. The fact sheets will be used by the Cape Verde National platform for DRR in cooperation with development partners to enhance preparedness and awareness at subnational level, as well as on the linkage between climate change adaptation and DRR.

Key Deliverable Develop Cape Verde specific fact sheets on natural hazards, based on national gaps and needs, which show risks per district including maps, and suggest protection options.

Timeframe

• Work plan with list of reference materials for fact sheets developed: within l week after thestarting date
• Consultations with national stakeholders: within two weeks after start date
• Outline of fact sheets: within three weeks after starting date
• Draft version of 50% of the fact sheets: within five weeks after starting date
• Second Consultation with national stakeholders and submission of fact sheets: within sevenweeks after starting date
• Finalization of fact sheets within seven and eight weeks after staring date
• Final consultation and changes within eight weeks after staring date
• Final delivery of fact sheets: before completion of consultancy

Competencies

Professionalism: Ability to respond to changing requirements and assignments given; Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks.

Planning and organizing: Effective organizational skills and ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan.

Communication: Good communication speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Demonstratesopenness in sharing information with others and keeping people informed.

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in meteorology, environmental sciences, disaster management or other related fields.

Work experience:

Minimum 10 years of work experience working with disaster risk reduction, education or related fields. Experience working in African countries will be an added advantage.

Languages

Fluency in spoken and written Portuguese; Working knowledge English is an added advantage.