Disaster risk reduction early warning systems specialist

The Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) is looking for Disaster Risk Reduction Early Warning Systems Specialist for its field staff roster, willing to be deployed at short notice to various parts of the world. As a Disaster Risk Reduction Early Warning Systems Specialist on an MSB operation you can be working within one or several of the following areas:

- Support local/national counterparts and/or UN agencies in mobilizing their organisation(s) to engage in Early warning activities.
- Assess and analyze existing Early Warning Systems, policies and practices on national, regional, local and community levels. 
- Identify traditional behaviour, practices and response in the community to cope with the consequences of climatic variations, environmental hazards, heavy rains, wind/storm, flood, drought, erosion, deforestation on slopes, destruction of houses and infrastructure etc.
- Analyze and give a detailed description on how households under the categories above can be covered under a community based early warning system. 
- Identify and map areas and locations that are especially exposed to the impact of climate change/ environmental hazards. 
- Identify and map retention areas in case of acute or longer term emergency situations, which are potentially suitable for housing, provision of basic medical services and essential agricultural activities. 
- Identify regional, national and local hazard information that can be communicated quickly to communities through radio, TV or means of telecommunications. 
- Establishing Early Warning networks, design on site training, develop implementation plans for a purposeful early warning systems at different levels, including village level if needed.
- Discuss and review analyses, findings, policies and plans with relevant government agencies, international NGOs and other appropriate partners.

Qualifications

Experience 

- At least eight to ten years experience in disaster management, agriculture, environment or engineering is necessary.
- Experience in disaster risk reduction is necessary and some experience in humanitarian work is highly meriting. 
- International experience is advantageous as well as a knowledge of UN or EU system policies, rules, regulations and procedures governing disaster risk reduction.

Education 

- Master’s degree in environmental protection or urban planning or other related fields.
- A relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of a formal university degree.

Languages 

- Fluent English is essential, both spoken and written.
- Knowledge of French or any other official UN languages is an asset.

Other requriements 

- Candidates must be physically capable and medically fit to work and travel and will be required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination by a licensed physician before being contracted.
- Candidates under serious consideration must inform their employers of their potential assignment with the MSB and obtain a written agreement in which the employer confirms his/her intention of releasing the candidate on short notice upon request from the MSB.

Profile 

- Men and women with a strong commitment towards humanitarian relief and disaster operations. It is of utmost priority that candidates understand, respect and act in the sprit of the mandate and core values of the MSB. 
- The candidate must possess a high level of professional and personal maturity together with an ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, managers and external partners, such as UN organisations, NGOs, recipient governments and host populations. 
- Candidates must be able to interact with sensitivity and display respect for diversity and gender in multi-cultural environments. 
- The candidate is expected to show initiative and to have excellent analytical and communicative skills.