Capacity Building for DRR in the built environment in Latin America and the Caribbean (BERLAC)

1. Background and Objective

UNESCO operates at the interface between natural and social sciences, education, culture and communication, playing a vital role in building a global culture of resilience. UNESCO assists countries in capacity building for management of disaster and climate risk, particularly supporting the Member States on 1) early warning systems; 2) safe critical infrastructures; 3) UNESCO designated sites risk prevention; 4) using Science, Technology and Innovation such as Artificial Intelligence and big data; 5) built safe environment; 6) risk governance; 7) nature-based solutions, and 8) post disaster response.

2. Purpose of the Assignment

UNESCO has launched the earthquake DRR project; Capacity Building for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the built environment in Latin America and the Caribbean (2020-2023, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico Peru and Haiti).

The project is in its final stage, and UNESO is implementing a number of important activities to strengthen the capacity of the project beneficiary states and stakeholders at local/national level.

In this context UNESCO is seeking an experienced individual consultant to bring a technical expertise to implement the project, and support the activities on the following areas; 1) early warning systems, 2) safe critical infrastructures, and 4) using Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) such as Artificial Intelligence and big data to further position UNESCO well in the UN system.

3. Duties/Tasks and Expected Output

Under the supervision of the Chief of DRR Unit for Natural Sciences in UNESCO HQ, the individual consultant is expected to carry out the following functions:

UNESCO extra budget project “Capacity Building for DRR in the built environment in Latin America and the Caribbean” (BERLAC). 

• Provide technical expertise and advice on the implementation of the BERLAC project through optimizing and facilitating the collaboration among local experts and UNESCO on data collection and its analysis
• Provide technical expertise and advice on the implementation of the BERLAC project while facilitating the communication between UNESCO’s Field Office and Headquarters on capacity building materials and events.
• Coordinate activities related to 4 different components, including disseminate activities as creating a guideline summarizing the results of the project, holding conference. 

Early warning systems (EWS)/ Safe critical infrastructures/ Using STI 

• Provide technical advice to seek opportunities for further support or collaboration by UNESCO on the EWS, safe critical infrastructures, and using STI; to seek new potential working partners on academics and practitioners on the EWS, safe critical infrastructures, and using STI.
• Provide a technical contribution to preparation and implementation of the above-mentioned projects.    

Required qualifications

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in disaster management, climate change adaptation, science or other related fields such as disaster risk reduction.

Work Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in local, national, or international level on earthquake DRR in Latin America and the Caribbean region.
• Experience in developing policy recommendations for DRR.
• Experience in developing work plans.

Skills/Competencies

• Good analytical, organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent coordination and interpersonal skill.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proven ability to communicate and negotiate effectively and persuasively with different stakeholders at all levels, within and outside the organization.
• Capacity to build and maintain effective working relations with national and local authorities, relevant institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
• Ability to work effectively and maintain effective working relations within a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to manage heavy workloads and to meet tight deadlines, paying close attention to details.
• Solid IT skills including knowledge of office software.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English and Spanish (written and spoken).
• Being a native Spanish speaker will be an asset

Duration of the assignment

• From 24 April 2023 to 31 December 2023.

How to apply

To apply, please send your application of a technical proposal that consists of up-to-date curriculum vitae and an approach and methodology for the assignment, a workplan (brief) and the amount to be charged for the assignment in US dollars or in euros. Your proposal and any supporting documents must be in English. Please send the application to drr@unesco.org before 10 March 2023 (midnight, Paris time).

Please note that only pre-selected candidates will be contacted.