Individual contractor - Nairobi

United Nations Core Values:  - Integrity - Professionalism - Respect for diversity

Vacancy Notice number: ISDR/IC/25/2010

Background:

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multistakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human and economic and social risk and losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations.

The Hyogo Framework for Action was adopted in January 2005. One hundred and sixty-eight (168) nations committed themselves to substantially reduce the loss of life and livelihoods from disasters by implementing the Hyogo Framework of Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities (HFA). Member States of the Hyogo Declaration called upon the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Secretariat (UNISDR secretariat) to facilitate the
implementation of the five HFA priorities for action in collaboration with relevant national Governments, regional, international and United Nations entities.

In accordance with the HFA, states have the main responsibility for reviewing the progress in implementation of the framework; at the same time regional inter-governmental and international organizations are mandated to review the progress and status of the implementation of the framework at regional and global level.

The UNISDR Secretariat therefore has established a multi-tiered HFA progress review and monitoring framework at the regional, national and local level to assist the countries in reviewing their status and progress in implementing the HFA. A review framework and an online tool are available at each level to support the monitoring and review process.

At the country level the review process will be carried out at the national level capturing the national level input to disaster risk reduction; and at the local level capturing the impact and status of disaster risk reduction at the local level. The overall process is greatly dependent on the engagement of stakeholders at both national and local level; ranging from nodal ministries,
departments, UN country team and national organisations to local governments, city authorities and local civil society organisations. The key factor that will determine the success of the local and national progress review process is the effective collaboration among these diverse stakeholders.

In the above context, UNISDR secretariat in partnership with the Global Alliance of Civil Societies for Disaster Risk Reduction and with support from European Commission, Directorate- General for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) is facilitating the multi stakeholder engagement process at local and national level in few selected pilot countries.

In order to achieve the above and demonstrate the HFA review process with engagement of local and national level stakeholders, UNISDR Secretariat is seeking competent candidates to act as a facilitator for the HFA review process in the pilot countries.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent will be based in the UNISDR Regional Office for Africa in Nairobi and will cover the pilot country Mozambique. S/he will be under the direct supervision of the Head, UNISDR Regional Office for Africa and will carryout the following duties and responsibilities:

• Assist the national government, UNCT, partners in the pilot countries towards the 2009-11 HFA progress review.
• Provide guidance and promote multi-stakeholder consultation mechanisms for the HFA progress reporting.
• Assist the national government in arranging for workshops, training programmes at country level to ascertain the progress.
• Assist with the application of the online monitor system of the HFA reporting as and when required by the national governments.
• Assist the pilot countries national government and the Global NGO network partner organization in identifying local stakeholders to participate in the local level HFA progress review.
• Assist the Global NGO network in facilitating/ organizing a multi stakeholder workshop involving local governments and local civil society representatives.
• Ensure completion of the national and local HFA progress review process and development of the progress review reports.
• Provide technical assistance and follow up on HFA monitoring and review process in other countries within the region.
• Carry out any other assignments requested by the Head, UNISDR Regional Office for Africa.

Competencies:

Professionalism – Strong background, knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and approaches to disaster risk reduction; proven monitoring and evaluation skills and ability to lead a project to completion.
Client Orientation – Ability to identify and analyze clients’ needs and develop appropriate services to meet business requirements.
Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately
Planning and Organizing – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required.
Teamwork – Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development, disaster risk management or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Work experience:

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in the area of disaster risk management, monitoring & evaluation and development project management experience at the national/ local level is required.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required for this assignment. Knowledge of Portuguese is an added advantage.