Consultancies to promote the strengthening of national and local linkages framed in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 initiative in Uruguay and Ecuador

Result of Service- National Strategy for the implementation of MCR2030 in Uruguay and Ecuador.

- Report on the activities and results of implementation of MCR2030 UNDRR’s tool in selected cities in Uruguay and Ecuador.

- Report on ways to overcome possible challenges faced when facilitating national and local engagement MCR2030 initiative.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration 3 months.

Duties and Responsibilities Background

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

In order to implement Target (e) of the Sendai Framework at the local level, UNDRR launched the global Campaign "Making Cities Resilient: My City is Getting Ready" in 2010. With the closuring of the MCR (Making Cities Resilient) Campaign in December 2020, partners and city-members have asked for a follow-up program. The Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) responds to this growing demand. Building on the success of the previous decade of advocacy work under the MCR Campaign, new partnerships and delivery mechanisms are used to move from advocacy to implementation, so that cities tangibly and measurably improve their resilience to risk. The MCR2030 initiative supports cities to assess their resilience status, accelerate the development of local DRR (disaster risk reduction) strategies, integrate DRR with climate change adaptation for urban resilience and sustainable development, and implement the risk-informed development strategy with support from local, regional, and global partners.

This initiative aims to improve the understanding of risk by cities and ensure their commitment to disaster risk reduction and resilience at the local level; strengthen the capacity of cities to develop local strategies/plans to strengthen their resilience, and support cities in implementing local strategies/plans to strengthen resilience. MCR2030 also seeks to strengthen the vertical linkages between local and national governments and national associations of municipalities, strengthening horizontal links between local partners, fostering the connection between cities to learn and move forward.

Framed in the MCR2030 initiative, the purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance to strengthen national and local linkages to pursue urban resilience in Uruguay and Ecuador while supporting local governments through the implementation of UNDRR’s tools.

This consultancy consists of two (2) vacancies: one of the vacancies will cover the activities in Ecuador, while the second will cover the activities in Uruguay. The consultants will work under the supervision of the Deputy Chief of office of the UNDRR regional office for the Americas and the Caribbean.

Duties and Responsibilities

- With the engagement of the national DRR entity, develop and implement a national strategy to support MCR2030 activities at national and local level in Uruguay and Ecuador. This strategy should be aligned with the the Regional Action Plan MCR2030 for the Americas and the Caribbean.

- Support the MCR2030 Regional Secretariat and the National Level entity (In Uruguay, the National Emergency System-SINAE, in Ecuador, the National Service for Disaster Risk Management) within the framework of the MCR2030 activities to be implemented at local level.

- Design and deliver events, aimed to support capacity development, awareness raising, and training of MCR2030 both, at national and local level.

- Provide technical assistance to selected local goverments in Uruguay and Ecuador to apply the MCR2030 tools, including the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, and the Quick Risk Estimation Tool. This includes dialogues, meetings, interviews, and workshops.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: - Effective organizational skills and the ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner are required.

- Capacity to work independently is required.

- Fully proficient in computer skills is required.

- Policy research and analytical skills are required.

- Ability to design, facilitate and conduct training events is an advantage.

- Knowledge of MCR2030 and UNDRR tools and methodologies is an advantage. Academic Qualifications: A first-level university degree in social, environmental or political sciences, architecture, urban development, geography, national resource management, or related areas is required. A Master’s degree in urban-related issues is an advantage. Experience: - At least five years of professional experience related to policy analysis, urban development and/or disaster risk reduction areas is required.

- Experience working with UN entities is an advantage. Language: Fluency in Spanish is required. Knowledge of English and another UN language is an advantage.

Additional Information *FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

** Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted **

No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.