Result of Service

The ultimate result of service for this consultancy will be development of the EW4All roadmap and the implementation of the Early Warning-Early Action Checklist to assess and strengthen the inclusivity of Nepal’s EWS in line with the EW4All initiative.

Work Location

Kathmandu, Nepal

Expected duration

Jan – Jun 2025

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/ASG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses, and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It 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 Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 identify strengthened EWSs as a critical component of building resilience to disasters and crises and, by extension, contributing to sustainable development. EWSs are key elements of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, as they help reduce or avoid the detrimental impacts of hazardous events. To be effective, EWSs need to be risk-informed, target communities most at risk, disseminate messages and warnings efficiently, ensure preparedness and support early action. EWSs include four inter-related key elements or pillars: • Pillar 1: Disaster risk knowledge, • Pillar 2: Detection, observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting of hazards and possible consequences, • Pillar 3: Warning dissemination and communication, and • Pillar 4: Preparedness and response capabilities. Other key aspects of an EWS ecosystem includes cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder coordination, involvement of communities at risk, institutional and legislative enabling environment, clear roles and responsibilities among the different stakeholders and adequate operational capacities. EWSs have proven to be effective in mitigating disaster impacts, yet half of the world is still not covered by EWSs. Given this, the UN Secretary General announced the EW4All initiative on World Meteorological Day in March 2022 and subsequently launched its Executive Action Plan at the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in November 2022. The initiative sets an ambitious plan to make everyone on Earth to be covered by EWSs by 2027. Thirty countries have been identified as the initial roll-out countries for EW4All. The Executive Action Plan for the Initiative outlines the initial actions required to achieve universal coverage by EWSs within five years and sets out the pathway to implementation. EW4All consists of four pillars led by UNDRR (Pillar 1), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO, Pillar 2), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU, Pillar 3), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), corresponding to the key elements of an EWS. Additional implementing partners include the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), Group on Earth Observations (GEO) Secretariat, International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), World Food Programme (WFP), Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Risk-informed Early Action Partnership (REAP), and many others. EW4All aims to promote collaboration and synergies across all partners working on EWSs. The UN Secretary General has requested UN Resident Coordinators (UNRCs) to lead this initiative at the country level and facilitate engagement within the UN country team, government counterparts and other stakeholders. In Nepal, WFP has been designated by the UNRC as the focal point for the EW4All initiative. Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) is an initiative launched at COP21 in Paris as part of the solutions Agenda. The Initiative aims to strengthen multi-hazards EWSs (MHEWSs) in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). CREWS implementing partners are the World Bank (WB), WMO and UNDRR, through a Financial Intermediaryy Fund (FIF) managed by the WB’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). WMO provides Secretariat services, and WB serves as a Trustee. The CREWS-financed accelerator project aims to strengthen and streamline regional and national systems and capacities in Nepal related to weather forecasting, hydrological services, multi-hazard impact-based warnings and service delivery for enhanced decision-making. It is implemented jointly by all three implementing partners and in close collaboration with the relevant ministries in Nepal. UNDRR is seeking to recruit an experienced national consultant to steer coordination of the EW4All initiative in the country, including through regular engagement with the designated government counterpart for EW4All and other key stakeholders. This position will be based in Kathmandu, Nepal and working at the Nepal UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) in close coordination with WFP and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). Scope of Work • Implement and coordinate EW4All-related activities in Nepal in collaboration with the government’s EW4All focal point Ministries / agencies, global EW4All Pillar leads (UNDRR, WMO, ITU, IFRC) and their regional representatives and in-country staff/consultants, and the WFP programme team, as well as the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) and advance strategic and operational plans during the inception and early stages of the EW4All roll-out in Nepal. • Support the government-designated national focal point for EW4All by streamlining and promoting the initiative across line ministries, relevant coordination platforms, and other channels to gradually strengthen the government’s commitment and buy-in. • Engage with a range of concerned stakeholders, including UN agencies, international and national organizations, the private sector, and others, to harmonize and develop EWS initiatives in the country under the common EW4All umbrella. The consultant will be based in the UNRC Office (RCO) and reports directly to UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Resident Coordinator, while working closely with the WFP Nepal Programme team. Key functions 1. The consultant will work closely with the UNRCO, the government EW4All focal point Ministries / agencies, WFP, and regional pillar leads (UNDRR, WMO, ITU, and IFRC) to advance strategic and operational plans during the inception and early stages of the EW4All roll-out in Nepal through review of legal and policy frameworks and national action plans (NAP, etc) 2. Support the government-designated national focal point for EW4All, WFP and UNRCO in streamlining and promoting the initiative across line ministries, relevant coordination platforms and other channels to gradually strengthen the government’s commitment and buy-in. 3. Take the lead in coordinating and engaging with a range of concerned stakeholders, including UN agencies, international and national organizations, the private sector and others, as part of the long-term process to harmonize and develop EWS initiatives in the country under the common EW4All umbrella. Specific responsibilities may include 1. Development of the EW4All roadmap utilizing findings of the gap analyses from the four pillars and additional supporting documents, including the government’s concept note on MHEWS. 2. Coordination of the Pillar 1 Gap Analysis in coordination with NDRRMA and relevant government and non-government parties and finalization of the gap analyses for Pillars 2, 3, and 4, and the cross-pillar analysis. 3. Implementation of the Early Warning-Early Action Checklist to assess and strengthen the inclusivity of Nepal’s EWS in line with the EW4All initiative. Implementation and coordination of EW4All-related activities/EWS Initiatives in Nepal: • Provide technical expertise and implementation support for EW4All-related activities, including liaising with government counterparts and project partners, global Pillar leads, and WFP. Support to NDRRMA and national EW4All Pillar leads: • Conduct stakeholder mapping of national actors (government, UN, NGO, etc.) and existing coordination mechanisms pertaining to EWSs. • Organize national consultative workshops to take stock of existing EWS mechanisms in the country, identify or refine gaps and challenges, and set up or support existing coordination mechanisms for the EW4All Initiative moving forward. • Translate outcomes of the national consultations into a gap analysis and engage key stakeholders to produce a national roadmap for EW4All 2024-2027, ensuring alignment across the main four pillars and the global EW4All strategy and plans. • Provide technical support for any further actions towards advancing the EW4All Initiative in Nepal upon NDRRMA’s or the RCO’s request. Facilitate Communication and Coordination: • Liaise with the Regional Offices of global EW4All Pillar lead agencies (UNDRR, WMO, ITU, IFRC) as required to ensure streamlined communication across the RCO, country officials, and national EW4All Pillar lead agencies for the implementation of EW4All in Nepal. • Harmonize communication and coordination channels between agencies and the government EW4All focal point(s) related to any relevant EWS initiatives under the broader umbrella of EW4All in Nepal. Raise Awareness and Promote Advocacy: • Raise awareness and promote advocacy for the EW4All Initiative at the country level and among the UNCT, including sharing information products, organizing meetings, and other activities. Define Long-term Priorities and Strategic Goals: • Work with WFP, RCO, global and regional EW4All Pillar leads, national focal points and other relevant stakeholders to define long-term EW4All priorities, strategic goals, and Pillar-wise action/implementation plans, including alignment with concurrent EWS efforts in Nepal, regionally, and globally.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree(s) in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, or international development or any other relevant field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with at least 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Minimum 2 years work experience with early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, or climate change adaptation is required Work experience with multi-stakeholder engagement mechanisms is required. Work experience in Asia and the Pacific region is desirable

Languages

Fluency of English and Nepali is required.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

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.