Consultant, DRR in education and health in the Horn of Africa

Vacancy ISDR/C/23/2012

United Nations Core Values:

Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity

Background:

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socioeconomic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR has around 100 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNISDR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as PreventionWeb, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

UNISDR wants to analyse the cost-effectiveness of DRR interventions in the health and education sectors, based on interventions carried out by civil society, government and UN actors in the drought prone areas of the Horn of Africa. UNISDR is looking for a consultant to carry out such an analysis and develop recommendations for governments on how to invest in DRR in education and health respectively to foster the functionality of health services during times of drought as well as ensuring that DRR is mainstreamed into education to build a culture of prevention and resilience. The recommendations will be in line with the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction and its Programme of Action.

Under a European Commission Directorate-General Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO) funded project to strengthen drought resilience in the Horn of Africa, UNISDR supports building an evidence base for disaster risk reduction (DRR) interventions in the health and education sector.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the direct supervision of the Head of the UNISDR Regional Office for Africa, the consultant will:

1. Map out DRR measures taken in health and education sector in drought prone areas in the Horn of Africa.
2. Develop criteria and methodology for analysing the cost-effectiveness of DRR measures taken in the health and education sector.
3. Determine the cost-effectiveness of the activities taken based on the set criteria.
4. Generate a report from the information gathered from activities 1, 2, 3 and make recommendations for the DRR investments in the health and education sector.
5. Identify and map existing funding mechanisms for DRR in Africa, which can be applied to health and education sectors

Key outputs:

The consultant will submit a DRR cost effectiveness study report on health and education with the following basic sections:

1. An introduction to the topic, terminology and methodology.
2. Identification of DRR measures, the study is going to examine in the education and health sectors.
3. Criteria for analysis of the impact of the interventions
4. A review of practices/activities which have proven impact towards drought resilience building and their cost-effectiveness respectively.
5. Recommendations for governments and DRR managers on cost-effective measures to foster DRR in health and education for increased drought resilience.
6. Recommendations on funding mechanism which can be accessed for DRR measures in health and education

Competencies:

• Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and approaches to disaster and drought risk reduction.
• Communications: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, finance, disaster management or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in disaster risk finance, cost effectiveness studies or related areas. Familiarity with the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and the Africa Programme of Action (PoA) is an added advantage.
Language skills: Fluency in written and spoken English. Knowledge of French is an advantage.