Result of Service

The ultimate result of the consultancy is to significantly enhance the resilience and disaster preparedness of Caribbean nations by developing and strengthening national and regional Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), ensuring comprehensive risk data ecosystems, fostering multi-sectoral collaboration, and promoting inclusive, sustainable, and well-coordinated approaches to disaster risk reduction and management.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

16.09.24 – 15.10.25

Duties and Responsibilities

Background 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), UNDRR has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR 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 UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. The Caribbean region is highly exposed and vulnerable to hydro-meteorological hazards, including hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rainfall, and flooding. This vulnerability is exacerbated by its geographical location, spanning the hurricane belt, and the socio-economic factors of the region, including densely populated coastal areas and reliance on agriculture and tourism. Climate change intensifies these risks by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and changing precipitation patterns. These factors combine to create a complex disaster risk profile that requires robust and proactive management strategies to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructure. The Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Initiative has played a crucial role in strengthening the resilience of Caribbean nations to hydro-meteorological hazards. Launched to enhance early warning systems, the initiative focuses on improving the capacities of national meteorological and hydrological services. In Phase 1, CREWS successfully improved early warning systems across the region by enhancing the infrastructure, technical expertise, and coordination mechanisms. This phase saw significant advancements, including the implementation of forecasting technologies, training programs for local authorities, and the development of comprehensive disaster risk management plans. These efforts have resulted in more timely and accurate impact-based forecasting, enabling better preparedness and response to extreme weather events, ultimately saving lives and reducing economic losses. Effective Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in the Caribbean region are possible only through the strong leadership of strengthened National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) and National Disaster Risk Management Offices (NDRMOs), which integrate co-design and delivery approaches in their services. This will enable improved disaster risk knowledge, better monitoring and forecasting, stronger warning and dissemination capabilities, and enhanced response capabilities of individuals, communities, business and institutions and organizations, with a special focus on reaching and involving the last mile and the most vulnerable groups. The main objective of the project is to strengthen the operational capacities of NDRMOs and NMHSs, in the four+1 pillars of MHEWS, through regional cooperation and improved governance mechanisms that are conducive for users to participate and be engaged in the design and delivery of early warnings. In doing that, this project will contribute to the goals of the Early Warning for All (EW4All) Initiative and other international frameworks, such as the SDGs, the Sendai Framework or the Paris Agreement, as outlined further below. Building on the achievements of Phase 1, CREWS 2.0 Caribbean aims to further enhance the region’s resilience to climate-related hazards by addressing remaining gaps and emerging challenges. This phase focuses on expanding and deepening the reach of early warning systems to ensure that all communities, especially the most vulnerable, have access to timely and actionable information. CREWS 2.0 will integrate innovative technologies, such as mobile and digital platforms, to disseminate warnings and engage communities in disaster preparedness activities. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation and capacity-building, fostering a collaborative approach to managing hydro-meteorological risks. By leveraging lessons learned from Phase 1 and incorporating new strategies, CREWS 2.0 aims to create a more robust and inclusive framework for disaster risk reduction in the Caribbean, ensuring sustainable development and safety for its inhabitants. Particularly project goals are: 1. MHEWS Governance strengthened on a regional level. 2. Disaster risk knowledge improved on a regional, national, and community level. 3. NDRMOs capacities strengthened for disaster risk reduction and MHEWS. 4. NMHSs service provision, observations, monitoring, analysis, forecasting of hazards and dissemination capabilities strengthened on a regional and national level. 5. People-centered warning dissemination and communication, prevention, anticipatory actions, and response capabilities supported at regional, national and community level. 6. Inclusive and gender responsive approaches ensure those most at risk are engaged meaningfully in development of EWS to reach the last mile and leave no one behind The consultancy will facilitate the activities planned to be implemented in the Caribbean region for the implementation of the CREW Caribbean 2.0 Project; and including facilitating dialogue among regional, and national stakeholders, members of the United Nations Country Team in different Caribbean countries, and other important partners. Duties and responsibilities Provide support to UNDRR for implementing the Crews Caribbean 2.0 initiative by helping facilitate, where needed: • Support the preparation and establishment of two Caribbean level regional grants between UNDRR and an Inter-Governmental Organization and an University. • Support the strengthening and/or development of national multi-sectorial platforms for disaster risk reduction and management in which MHEWS will be discussed, including issues related to data sharing and standard operating procedures in at least four Caribbean countries (to be defined by the project’s steering committee). • Facilitate the development and organization of a regional workshop with representatives of respective ministries involved in strengthening MHEWS sustainability and financing (e.g., Ministries of Finance, Ministries of Economy, Ministries of Planning, etc.), NDMROs, NHMS and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and provide guidance for sustainable MHEWS financing and advancement. • Facilitate the organization and development of at least four (4) sub-regional meetings (based on the proposed roadmap established in the first regional summit) between NMHS and NDMROs, including other relevant stakeholders, such as Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), among others, to discuss strengthening MHEWS pillars in the Caribbean region. • Facilitate the organization and development of a regional workshop with Ministries in charge of addressing gender concerns and the needs of vulnerable groups and last-mile communities, including those with disabilities and Gender Bureaus, to discuss how MHEWS can be more inclusive, gender responsive and transformative. • Facilitate a regional training on Enhanced Vulnerability Capacity Assessment (VCA) for Red Cross National Societies and NDRMOs for improved capacity for community engagement and assessment. • Provide support for the development of MHEWS national strategic plans, implementation plans, legislation, policy, Meteorological (MET) Bill, or frameworks for weather, water and climate service at regional level. • Support the strengthening and/or development of disaster risk data management systems in selected target countries, and through them the Caribbean Risk Information System (CRIS). • Develop capacity building activities for micro-small and middle-sized enterprises on business continuity planning and MHEWS, including the implementation of existing private sector tools for enhancing business resilience . • Support NDRMOs on the development of information chains for MHEWS, from data collection to data analysis that allow the identification of impact data to be used by NDRMOs and NMHS for Impact-Based Forecasting. • Foster collaboration among national and community-level multi-sectoral platforms for disaster risk reduction and management, particularly in discussions related to Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS), data-sharing, and standard operating procedures. 2. Under the supervision of UNDRR focal point for the Caribbean (Programme Management Officer), liaise with the Regional Offices, as required, to facilitate streamlined communication across the RCO (Resident Coordinator Office), country officials and pillar lead agencies. 3. Raise awareness and promote advocacy for the CREWS Caribbean 2.0 initiative at regional, country-level and among the UN Country Team, including sharing information products, convening meetings, making presentations, media outreach and communications, etc. 4. The consultant will report to the Programme Management Officer of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean (ROAC), based in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Qualifications/special skills

Bachelor’s degree in disaster risk reduction, climate change, sustainable development, or other related areas is required. At least 4 years of experience in disaster risk management is required. Experience with national stakeholders in areas of disaster risk management, climate change, early warning systems, or identification of vulnerabilities and exposures is required. Experience with information management systems is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish, French, or Portuguese is desirable.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. *FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.