Result of Service

The consultancy will contribute to UNDRR Strategic Framework 2022-2025 Objectives: 1.1.2: Knowledge and innovation generated on the systemic nature of risk and its cascading effects to inform decision-making, policies and programming at global, regional and national levels; 1.3.2: Governments supported in establishment and management of disaster losses and damages tracking systems; 2.2.3: Strengthened inclusive multi-hazard early warning systems that reach the most vulnerable;

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

9 months

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 disaster reduction. It ensures synergy among DRR activities across the UN system and regional organizations, particularly in socio-economic and humanitarian domains. UNDRR plays a crucial role in guiding, monitoring, and reporting on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, fostering collaboration with UN Member States and various stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, and the scientific community. Recognizing the interconnectedness of development and humanitarian efforts, the Sendai Framework emphasizes disaster preparedness, early warning, and recovery, promoting the principle of “build back better.” In line with the Mauritius Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Strategic Framework 2020-2030, which aims to enhance the effectiveness of preparedness, warning, response, and recovery efforts, UNDRR emphasizes the need for national and local institutions—governments, NGOs, and the private sector—to invest in DRR and implement national strategic plans for appropriate preparedness and response. To support these objectives, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), the French Red Cross’s Plateforme d’intervention régionale de l’océan Indien (PIROI), the Mauritius UN Country Team, and UNDRR are implementing the program “Resilience building and Disaster Response Management in the Indian Ocean (RDRM-IO)” co-funded by the European Union in partnership with IOC. This initiative aims to mitigate disaster and climate-related losses across IOC member states by enhancing national institutional preparedness, including evaluating and refining existing early warning systems. The consultant will support the implementation of UNDRR-coordinated activities in Mauritius focusing on DRR and early warning systems, particularly P1 / Risk Knowledge. Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant will work directly under the Programme Management Officer in UNDRR Regional Office for Africa and will work in close collaboration with the UNRCO and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC) to carry out the following activities: A. DRRM legal and institutional analysis 1. Analyze the current DRRM strategy, institutional framework, and current implementation, looking into government’s obligations to support prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities; 2. Identify gaps and challenges in the current strategy, including areas for improvement in coordination, and implementation; 3. Map key stakeholders involved in DRRM, assessing their roles, responsibilities, and engagement levels; 4. Identify institutional preparedness of sectoral agencies (e.g. tourism, agriculture, maritime security, civil society networks, private sector) B. DRRM strategy operationalization and resource mobilization 1. Develop a detailed operational plan outlining the steps required to implement the DRRM strategy, including timelines, responsibilities, and resources needed; 2. Support the development of detailed project plans/proposals that are bankable and ready for funding, including identifying potential funders for prioritized actions as agreed with NDRRMC; 3. Establish indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of the operational plan and the overall DRRM strategy; 4. Assess the capacity and training needs of relevant stakeholders to effectively implement the DRRM strategy, and propose a capacity building plan/program to enhance the skills and knowledge of relevant stakeholders C. Assessment of the current landscape of risk information, and disaster loss and damage data 1. Identify and analyze existing policies, institutional frameworks and stakeholders involved in producing and managing risk information and disaster loss data; 2. Conduct an inventory of i) current risk information, and disaster loss and damage data, ii) information management platforms and tools, and iii) approaches, methodologies, and processes for producing multi-hazard, exposure, and vulnerability assessments 3. Assess the technical and human resource capacities of institutions involved in conducting multi-hazard risk assessments and disaster loss tracking; 4. Outline how risk information and disaster loss and damage data are currently used in early warning systems and early action frameworks. D. Development of a framework and capacity building plan for enhancing production, access and use of risk information as well as loss and damage data 1. Propose a framework that i) outlines the roles, responsibilities, and collaboration mechanisms for stakeholders, ii) defines the standards, protocols, and guidelines for the collection, management, sharing, and use of risk information and disaster loss data to ensure consistency, and accessibility, iii) provides recommendations for enhancing interoperability and sustainability of information management platforms to improve integration and access to risk information; iv) outlines recommendations on suitable approaches, methodologies, and processes for producing comprehensive multi-hazard risk assessments for five key hazards; 2. Develop a capacity-building plan to enhance the technical and institutional capacities of national agencies in the production, access, and use of risk information, and disaster loss data; E. Other tasks 1. Support the finalization and implementation of the national EWS Roadmap and Action Plan, with particular focus on Pillar 1 / Risk Knowledge; 2. Provide technical support to, and collaborate with, national agencies and partners in the implementation of DRR and/or EWS-related programs and projects; 3. Support the organization and facilitation of DRR- and EWS-related workshops (e.g., Pillar 1 / Risk Knowledge Workshop), trainings and meetings (e.g., UNCT meetings, interagency working group meetings, national platform meetings); 4. Perform other duties to support the successful planning and implementation of UNDRR-led DRR and EWS programs, projects and activities. Work implies frequent interaction with the National DRR and EWS stakeholders, counterparts, senior officers and technical staff in national government institutions and specialized bodies, UN specialized agencies at country level. Institutional Arrangements The position is home-based. Women candidates are encouraged to apply. The consultant will report remotely to the Programme Management Officer at the Regional Office for Africa, under the overall supervision of the Early Warning and Risk Knowledge Coordinator.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in disaster risk management, risk analysis and management, geography and environmental science, development studies or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. Minimum 5 years of experience in disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, early/anticipatory action or relevant humanitarian and/or development work is required; Experience on the national context of EWS, DRR/DRM is desirable; Relevant experience in information management, data analysis, statistics and post disaster loss and damage assessment is desirable; Experience in the UN or any other similar international organization related to early warning, early action, disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, response and recovery is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this consultancy, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

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.