Jobs at United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Specifically, the consultant will support the SHOC multi-hazard situation room at Nacala in:

• the day-to-day operations of the situation room in its multi-hazard forecasting and early warning system,
• integrating the SADC situation room with the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action Systems (AMHEWAS) and AUC situation room,
• capacity development and training on impact-based multi-hazard early warning, early and anticipatory action and management and application of risk information to staff of the SHOC and disaster management, meteorological and hydrometeorological institutions of SADC Member States,
• development of the legal/institutional frameworks and standard operating procedures for the SHOC, including on transboundary data sharing arrangements, among others,
• design the regional multi-hazard early warning bulletin in consultation with other the relevant bodies and the provision of bulletins and advisories to SADC member states, including through co-production and regional adjustment of the Continental Watch bulletin,
• diversifying the hazards covered and early warning advisory products produced by the SHOC situation room,
• participate in coordination and technical meetings with the other continental and regional situation rooms,
• other duties to support the operations of the SHOC situation room, as required.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Management, Geography, Hydrology or other relevant fields is required.
• A first-level university degree in any of these fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Five (5) years of experience at the national or international level in the implementation or other relevant programmes/projects of Disaster Risk Reduction is required.
• Experience in managing early warning or disaster operations projects and working in Africa at regional or national level on Disaster Risk Reduction/Management (DRR/M) is required.
• Experience in forecasting, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Early Warning Systems (EWS) is desirable Experience in coordinating/implementing early action or anticipatory action programmes is desirable.
• Experience in management of emergency information, for the generation of Early Warning (EW) messages is desirable.

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Under this framework, UNDRR is recruiting a consultant to support the capacity of the AUC in delivering on roadmaps and programmes outlined above.

• The Consultant will report to the Deputy Chief of Office, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, and will work directly with the Head of Division of the Environment, Climate Change, Water and Land Management at the AUC in Addis Ababa on a daily basis, under the overall supervision of the Director, Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy Directorate, African Union Commission.
• The technical Coordinator - Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant will be based at the AUC offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and will undertake the following responsibilities: Capacity support to the AUC-DREA’s DRR Team on coordinating and managing the overall DRR actions, including planning, fine-tuning of activities and development of specific annual plans of action, while ensuring liaison and communication with all of the Programme’s stakeholders.
• Responsible for overall management of the activities of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Team, including the AMHEWAS programme.
• Coordinate the mainstreaming of DRR into relevant programmes and agendas of the African Union Commission and ensuring linkages, synergies and opportunities for joint programming.
• Facilitate and coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the implementation of the Africa DRR Strategy and Programme of Action.
• Liaise with Member States, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and relevant Stakeholders including International Organizations and Development Partners on issues of DRR such as the Africa Regional Strategy and Programme of Action.
• Coordinate the preparation and development of reports, budget and work programmes related to the functioning of the Unit, in consultation with the Head of Division of the Environment, Climate Change, Water and Land Management. Ensure the development of a Resource Mobilization Strategy with donor coordination for DRR Programmes and effective and timely financial and budgetary management and resource utilization Serves as Focal Point of the Commission on all issues relating to DRR and undertake all such work and duties as may be necessary for the effective execution of the functions and objectives of the Unit within the framework of the mandate of the Commission in the implementation of issues on DRR.
• Ensure effective coordination and implementation at continental and regional levels through enhanced coordination with Regional and United Nations conventions. Ensure networking and facilitation of peer reviews, information sharing and exchange.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Disaster Risk Management, Climate Science, Environmental Science, Social Science, or any other field related to disaster risk management is required.
• A first-level university degree in any of these fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least eight (8) years of experience in disaster risk reduction, climate action, or sustainable development is required.
• Experience at the national or international level in implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes is required
• Experience in designing and development of policies and strategies and management at international organizations is required.
• Experience in policy analysis, development, programme/project management, implementation or monitoring is desirable.
• Experience in managing DRR programmes and having undertaken production of regional DRR strategies is desirable.
• Experience with international, regional and national policy processes and diplomatic negotiations related to DRR, environment, and climate change is desirable