Organization Mission

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)”s mission is to provide leadership and support to accelerate global efforts to reduce disaster risk and build resilience, ensuring it becomes integral to sustainable development and achieves the Sendai Framework”s goals. Its main objectives include preventing new disaster risks, reducing existing risks, and strengthening resilience through multi-hazard disaster risk management and an “all-of-society” approach to ensure a safer world for people and the planet.

Context

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 150 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. Under the 2022-2025 Strategic Framework, UNDRR is scaling-up its support to Member States, in close cooperation with financial sector partners and development banks, to fast-track financing for disaster risk reduction (DRR) and ensure investments across sectors, including in infrastructure, are de-risked by providing technical and policy support, fostering strategic engagements, advocacy and generating guidance with evidence.

This position is located in the UNDRR Sub-Regional Office for West Africa in Abuja. The Associate Programme Management Officer will report to the Head of Sub-Regional Office based in Abuja and the Early Warning and Risk Knowledge Coordinator based in at the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa in Nairobi. The Associate Programme Management Officer will support the implementation of the European Union funded project on “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Solidarity to Reduce Disaster Impacts and Humanitarian Needs in West Africa”. The project supports the Economic Commission for West African States (ECOWAS) to establish a regional cooperation mechanisms for disaster preparedness and response and enhance regional capacities for early waring and action.

Key Responsibilities

-Supports the implementation of the project “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Solidarity to Reduce Disaster Impacts and Humanitarian Needs in West Africa”.

-Supports the development and consultation process of a policy framework for a regional disaster preparedness and response mechanism in West Africa .

-Supports the organization and roll out of training workshops, seminars, exchange of experts, study visit etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities and assists in the development of training materials.

-Support the development of project reporting, policy of regional cooperation mechanism, and related action plan for operationalization, organize consultations.

-Provides assistance in the organization and roll out of consultative meetings, advocacy events, conferences, etc., proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.

-Maintains and strengthens regular contact with other implementing partners and beneficiaries, including ECOWAS and the AGRHYMET Regional Climate Centre.

Required Skills and Experience

– Experience and expertise in information management for disaster preparedness programme management in the areas of disaster risk reduction, humanitarian affairs, and early warning and early action systems is required.

– Experience providing capacity building support to national governments or regional organizations on early warning and action and/or disaster preparedness and response is desirable, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization.

– Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.

– Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.

– Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners.

– Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment.

– Ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

– Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Word, among others), email, and internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.

– Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

– Requirement of fluency in both French and English.

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Creativity
• Planning and organising
• Professionalism
• Self-management

Living Conditions

Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria located in the centre of the country within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is a planned city and was built mainly in the 1980s, replacing the country”s most populous city of Lagos as the capital on 12 December 1991. As of 2015, the city is experiencing an annual growth of at least 35%, retaining its position as the fastest-growing city on the African continent and one of the fastest-growing in the world. The city can be accessed by Air, Road or Rail. Abuja is housed by many expatriate and diplomatic communities. Cost of living in Abuja varies but could be termed as high considering the class of people residing in the city. Terrorism is the main threat in the Abuja. General crime is also prevalent. UN staff members are advised to stay only in UNDSS assessed hotels and residential areas