Duties and Responsibilities
Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. The consultant will support the implementation of UNDRR-coordinated activities in Comoros, focusing on the generation and application of risk, loss and damage data to support early warning and early action. This work involves consultations with national authorities involved in the early warning and early action value chain. Key outcomes include recommendations for an operational framework and mechanism for producing and regular updating, accessing and using risk, loss and damage data; identification of technical assistance needs; and development of follow up support strategies with government, development, and humanitarian partners. This consultancy position will be based in Comoros, and is recruited by UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS). The consultant will work directly under the supervision of the Risk Knowledge Programme Management Officer in UNDRR ROAS. Duties and Responsibilities: • The consultant will work in close collaboration with national agencies to evaluate and identify opportunities to enhance production, access and use of risk information, and disaster loss and damage data. In consultation with agencies and stakeholders, the consultant will carry out the following activities: Support the finalization of the EWS Roadmap and Action Plan o Provide technical assistance and support the drafting and finalization of Comoros’ EWS Roadmap and Action Plan Assess the current landscape of risk information, and disaster loss and damage data, identifying key gaps, challenges and opportunities in production, access and use o Identify and analyze existing policies, institutional frameworks for producing, updating, and managing risk information, disaster loss, and damage data; o Map and categorize the key agencies and stakeholders involved in producing, disseminating and using risk information, and disaster loss and damage data; o Review the information management platforms, software, and web-based tools used by government agencies for the production (including data collection, storage, analysis), access, and use of risk information and disaster loss and damage data; o Map existing risk information and disaster loss and damage data sources, data collection and management mechanisms, data custodians, and data-sharing or exchange arrangements, including protocols for risk data analysis, access, use, and governance among stakeholders; o Document the approaches, methodologies, and processes currently used for producing multi-hazard, exposure, and vulnerability assessments, focusing on key hazards relevant to the country; o Outline how risk information and disaster loss and damage data are currently used in early warning systems (EWS) and early action frameworks, identifying opportunities for enhancing these applications. • Propose a framework and mechanism to enhance production, access and use of risk information as well as loss and damage data based on stakeholder consultations, and integrating best practices and insights from regional and global frameworks on risk knowledge management Outline the roles, responsibilities, and collaboration mechanisms for various agencies and stakeholders involved in producing, accessing, and using risk information, disaster loss, and damage data; Define standards, protocols, and guidelines for the collection, management, sharing, and use of risk data to ensure consistency, quality, and accessibility across institutions; Provide recommendations for managing information management platforms ensuring interoperability and sustainability of systems for enhanced integration, access and use of risk information and disaster loss and damage data; Outline recommendations on suitable approaches, methodologies, and processes for producing comprehensive multi-hazard, exposure, and vulnerability assessments for the identified five key hazards; Develop a capacity-building plan to enhance the technical and institutional capacities of national agencies in the production, access, and use of risk information, disaster loss, and damage data Support the organization and facilitation of a validation workshop (i.e., Pillar 1 Risk Knowledge Workshop) to present the draft framework, processes, and mechanisms to relevant agencies and stakeholders. Collect and incorporate feedback into the final framework; Establish an implementation plan along with a monitoring and evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of the proposed framework and ensure continuous improvement. Assist in executing project activities and facilitate the Risk Knowledge Officer for organizing any scheduled technical workshops in Comoros.
Qualifications/special skills
• Advanced university degree in disaster risk management or relevant field is required. • A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • A minimum of 5 years of experience in early warning systems, or disaster risk reduction, or relevant humanitarian, or development work is required. • Experience in information management, data analysis, statistics, or risk modelling, or post disaster loss and damage assessment is desirable • Experience in the national context on Early Warning System (EWS), or Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)/ Disaster Risk Management (DRM) is desirable • Experience working in UN or any other similar international organization related to early warning, early action, disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, response and recovery is desirable.