Project coordination and support (consultancy)

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, 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) also endorsed the establishment of the ISDR secretariat (UNISDR).

The main functions of the secretariat are policy coordination, advocacy and information/knowledge management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

This posting comes within the framework of the project titled “Strengthened Disaster Risk Reduction through greater fostering of the Hyogo Framework for Action priorities at the local, national and regional levels in South America” (ECHO/DIP/BUD/2011/91012) for implementation in the following countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru,Uruguay and Venezuela.

Functions

Within delegated authority, the Regional Project Coordinator will be responsible for the following duties, with emphasis on South America : Programme / project management/ project strategy and planning

- Overall direction, management and coordination of UNISDR’s project “Strengthened Disaster Risk Reduction in South America through greater fostering of the Hyogo Framework for Action priorities for action at the local, national and regional levels” (ECHO/DIP/BUD/2011/91012), DIPECHO South America 2011-2012;
- Direct responsibility for the development, execution, monitoring of the project.
- Define and orient main strategy lines for project implementation as well as direct advisory support to implementation partners of the project and UNISDR at technical and policy level.
- Ensure reporting requirements as stipulated within the project agreement;
- Ensure ongoing communications with ECHO personnel, DIPECHO partners in South America, national and subregional HFA focal points and other key DRR stakeholders;
- Identify consultants, lead selection processes and oversee consultants working within the framework of the UNISDR DIPECHO South America 2011-2012 project;
- Coordinate / oversee activities related to thematic areas of interest to the Americas regional office as determined by the head of regional office.
- Liaison with ISDR partners and national focal points in thematic areas of interest to ISDR and HFA implementation;
- Represent UNISDR Americas in meetings and conferences, make presentations on assigned topics/activities and undertake missions as relevant to UNISDR and Project Results;
- Assist in the substantive preparation of missions, including preparation of briefing notes, talking points, and presentations.
- High level policy Dialogue
- Serve as an effective spokesperson internally and externally and form strong partnerships with relevant government counterparts.
- Provision of thorough, well-reasoned written contributions, e.g. background papers, analyses, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
- Ensure the development and maintenance of effective working relationships.
- Support the promulgation of coherent policies, and consistent adherence to these by clients.

HFA progress reporting

- Liaise with country focal points and regional intergovernmental agencies in the area of intervention of the project to facilitate the process of HFA progress reporting, including networking and advocacy with key stakeholders;
- Facilitate the biennial progress review process at the national and sub/regional levels while providing inputs and support to the process at the global level;
- Undertake the preparation of other written outputs regarding DRR and the implementation of the HFA at the national, subregional and regional levels, including the review and analysis of issues and trends; with special emphasis in South America.
- Support the compilation of regional inputs to global reports and information products.
Information management, research and analysis
- Lead the coordination, financial monitoring and reporting of the information component to be executed by UNISDR partner for the area of intervention.
- Coordinate information management through an information matrix or system on the commitments and initiatives to support the implementation of the HFA throughout the region and at the various levels (local, national, subregional and regional).
- Lead the validation of the key tools (common matrix of indicators, standard reports, etc) to be produced by the project.
- Facilitate regular updating of contact database and relevant information;
- Organize and prepare written outputs, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, as relevant.

Products

In performing the functions described in III, the following products are expected :

Product 1 : Detailed workplan for the activities to be carried out in the context overall of the UNISDR’s project “Strengthened Disaster Risk Reduction in South America through greater fostering of the Hyogo Framework for Action priorities for action at the local, national and regional levels” (ECHO/DIP/BUD/2011/91012), DIPECHO South America 2011-2012.

Requirements

Education

Advanced university degree (Master or Phd) in international development studies or international affairs, project management, social or environment sciences, political affairs, international or public relations or combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience in related area.

Experience

- 7 years progressively responsible professional experience in the areas associated with this post, such as international development, risk management or territorial land-use planning and advocacy, project management or related
fields. Previous field experience is required.
- Experience in communication strategies, and communications in areas related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climatic Change Adaptation (CCA) would be an asset. Experience to analyze write texts, reports, news, press notes.

Language requirements

- Excellent command in written and spoken English and Spanish is essential.
- Fluency in Spanish and English.