Programme Officer, L-4

Background:

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human and economic and social losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations. In adopting ISDR, the United Nations General Assembly (Res/54/219) endorsed the establishment of an institutional framework for its implementation consisting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR) and the inter-agency secretariat (ISDR secretariat).

The main functions of the secretariat are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR, 18-22 January 2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan) took place and represents a landmark in worldwide understanding and commitment to implement a disaster risk reduction agenda. This commitment was captured in the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters adopted at the WCDR.

The Hyogo Framework is the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in the coming years and it constitutes an unprecedented conceptual shift that takes account of the complexity of action in disaster risk reduction and the large variety of actors whose inputs are required in the pursuit of this objective. It provides the basic concepts and prescribes and expected outcome; details three strategic goals for disaster risk reduction and a set of five priority areas for action; and assigns tasks to stakeholders at difference operational levels to reach the expected outcome.

Disaster risk reduction requires the engagement of organizations and actors from diverse specializations, spanning the development, humanitarian and technical/environmental fields, and the development of coherent strategies, programmes and policies across these fields and tailored to the circumstances and needs of specific sectors. The concepts and tools of disaster risk reduction offer significant means to protect development gains, to reduce the demands for humanitarian relief and response, and to cope with the future changes in risks arising from climate change.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Policy and partnership building related:
• Coordinate policy development issues for UN/ISDR in the Americas, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies, etc.
• Coordinate servicing to ISDR system partners through the development of stronger coherence between its different bodies and platforms at the global and regional levels; initiate and coordinate regional outreach activities; conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.; make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes, etc; monitor and analyze programme development and implementation; review relevant documents and reports; identify problems and issues to be addressed and initiate corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; ensure follow-up actions.
• Provide substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, and thematic platforms of the ISDR system (climate change, environment and recovery) in the region etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.

Research and analysis:
• Research, analyze and presenting information gathered from diverse sources.
• Generate survey initiatives; review, analyze and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare conclusions.
• Organize and prepare written outputs and quality control of products, e.g. draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, quality control of translation/adaptation of English ISDR document into Spanish, etc.
• Lead and/or participate in field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting summaries, etc.

Programme management:
• Coordinate activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepare related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.)

• Perform other duties as required.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:

The position is located in the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), in Panama City, Panama under the overall guidance of the Director and reporting to the Senior Programme Officer for the Americas.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Staff at all levels, within UN/ISDR and the disaster risk reduction community as well as national counterparts. Representatives of other UN agencies and other UN specialized agencies; member state personnel with responsibility for disaster risk reduction; non-governmental organization representatives; and representatives and officials in national governments, international and regional organizations, IFIs, and research institutes.

Results Expected:
Develops, implements, evaluates, effective leadership and management of major projects and teams; demonstrates timely delivery of outputs in accordance with overall objectives and policies. Plays a lead role in identifying significant issues and develops well-reasoned, innovative approaches to deal with these issues. Serves as an effective spokesperson internally and externally and forms strong partnerships with relevant parties.

Competencies:
Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to disaster risk reduction (in the field of political affairs, sustainable development policy and humanitarian action); practical experience in programme management; good research, analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to identify and participate in the resolution of issues/problems; familiarity with and experience in the use of various research methodologies and sources; ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments give; ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.
Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated planning and organizational skills and ability to coordinate the work of others, work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.
Managing performance: leadership and supervisory skills and ability to coach, mentor, and develop staff.
Gender Mainstreaming: Provide leadership and take responsibility for ensuring appropriate attention to both gender balance and geographic representation in staffing and to incorporating gender perspectives into the substantive work.
Client Orientation: Ability to identify clients’ needs and develop appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients.
Creativity: Ability to actively seek to improve programmes/services, offer new and different options to solve problems/meet client needs, and promote and persuade others to consider new ideas.
Technology Awareness: Fully proficient computer skills and use of relevant software and others applications, e.g. word processing, spreadsheets and other statistical applications, Internet, etc.
Teamwork: Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance.
Communication: Effective communication (spoken, written and presentational) skills, including ability to defend and explain difficult issues and positions to staff including senior officials.
Commitment to continuous learning: Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the field.

Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree in business administration, development, environment, political affairs, international or public relations or combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience in related area.

Experience: At least 7 years progressively responsible professional experience in the areas associated with this post, such as development in areas of social development, economic, coordination, policy analysis, political affairs, or related fields.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English is essential; knowledge of other official UN languages an advantage.

Other skills: Familiarity with disaster risk reduction, the ISDR system and its partners and the Hyogo Framework for Action. Working experience in developing countries. Basic knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies, guidelines. Knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.