Consultant – AUC COVID-19 Recovery Framework

Result of Service - Inception report presenting the methodological approach for the consultancy, including the tools to be used (survey questionnaires, interviews protocols, guiding questions to integrate DRR into sectorial chapters, etc) - Draft chapter on DRR based on the consultation with Member States - Final version of the DRR chapter - Report on the guidance provided to other sectors working groups for the integration of DRR as a cross-cutting issue in the COVID-19 recovery framework.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration 2 months

Duties and Responsibilities Organizational Context: 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 disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR has around 100 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNDRR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction and guides, monitors and reports on its implementation (particularly through follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030); 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, 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 Prevention Web, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organization of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Objective of the assignment: By all its characteristics, COVID-19 is a disaster and as such, must be analysed and addressed through the DRR comprehensive, systemic, and multi-sectoral perspective. It has also demonstrated how extremely interconnected systems and risks are. Pre-conditions such as for example weak health systems, urban density, intense international travel and trade, lack of solid social protection systems, lack of access to clean water and sanitation, environmental degradation, living conditions in poverty and conflict, and weak individual and institutional capacities for disaster risk management, have combined with the COVID-19 virus to create the global crisis we are now facing. The COVID-19 crisis has also created pre-conditions for concurrent disasters to be even more impactful since vulnerabilities have increased. The socio-economic impacts have also been drivers for underlying conflicts to emerge. Such cascading effects on sectors and other risks must be taken into consideration through a multi-risk and systemic approach for building resilience. The goal of the Recovery Framework for Africa is to guide resilient socio-economic recovery efforts at the continental, regional and national levels from a multi-risk perspective, creating preconditions for building resilient societies in the African continent. The Framework will include a chapter focusing on disaster risk reduction (DRR). The main objective of the DRR chapter is to provide a multi-risk, cross-cutting and systemic perspective to the situational assessment, analyse and understand how this specific disaster has been managed and the main effects on the sector as well as for providing guidance that can be contextualized for integrating DRR and resilience building in recovery efforts. The objective can therefore be divided into four elements: a. Analyse and understand interconnection between the different disaster risks African countries are facing (concurrent and cascading risks) which lead to the need for a multi-risk and systemic approach for building resilience. This is also to understand the cascading risks derived from COVID-19 through examples in the region. b. Analyse and understand the main issues related to the management and coordination of the COVID-19 response. In other terms, it is to understand the discrepancies between the existing frameworks (when they exist) for disaster management and the sometimes ad-hoc mechanisms set-up to respond to COVID-19. The idea is to analyse and understand the positive and/or negative outcomes that such discrepancies could have caused and what does this mean for the DRM governance frameworks in a long-term perspective. It is also to understand how and if information flows, early warning systems, disaster risk financing mechanisms (when they exist) worked for this very specific disaster which had tremendous cascading effects on sectors. c. Analyse and understand how COVID-19 crisis could have impacted the DRR cross-cutting sector in terms of diversion of resources, additional resources needed, but also in terms of capacities for the main institution in charge of disaster management to properly manage any other emerging emergencies while managing COVID-19. d. On the basis of the lessons learned, provide guidance for integrating DRR as an important cross-cutting issue to integrate horizontally for building resilience while engaging in long-term risk-informed recovery efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Chief, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa and the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the consultant will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Conduct a literature review of academic publications, grey literature – mainly government and agency documents – and compilations of data on existing governance frameworks for, good practices on, and tools for DRM as well on the emergency response mechanisms set-up for COVID-19 in Africa and the impacts on Disaster Risk Reduction. Some online useful data bases: Prevention Web (UNDRR), UNDRR Sendai Framework Monitor, Relief Web (OCHA), Desinventar (UNDRR, for trends and disaster risk profiles of countries), Inform for completing the disaster risk profiles if needed as well as trends, ND GAIN for integrating elements of climate change adaptation such as vulnerability to climate change and readiness (ability to leverage investments and convert them to adaptation actions). CADRI Partnership reports, etc.
• Analyse the interconnection between the different disaster risks African countries are facing (concurrent and cascading risks) which lead to the need for a multi-risk and systemic approach for building resilience. This is also to understand the cascading risks derived from COVID-19 through examples in the region.
• Analyse the main issues related to the management and coordination of the COVID-19 response. This includes highlighting the discrepancies between the existing frameworks (when they exist) for disaster management and the sometimes ad-hoc mechanisms set-up to respond to COVID-19.
• Analyse the positive and/or negative outcomes that such discrepancies could have caused and what does this mean for the DRM governance frameworks in a long-term perspective. It is also to understand how and if information flows, early warning systems, disaster risk financing mechanisms (when they exist) worked for this very specific disaster which had tremendous cascading effects on sectors.
• Analyse how COVID-19 crisis could have impacted the DRR cross-cutting sector in terms of diversion of resources, additional resources needed, but also in terms of capacities for the main institution in charge of disaster management to properly manage any other emerging emergencies while managing COVID-19.
• On the basis of the lessons learned, provide guidance for integrating DRR as an important cross-cutting issue to integrate horizontally for building resilience while engaging in long-term risk-informed recovery efforts.
• Prepare all the needed research tools such as survey questionnaires, interviews protocols and liaise with Member States for data collection
• Prepare a set of guiding questions for the sectors to start integrating DRR, climate change adaptation and resilience in their own chapter

• Provide support for reviewing draft sectorial chapters for the integration of DRR and resilience building as a cross-cutting issue

  Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in geography, disaster risk management, international relations, sociology, anthropology or other related field is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: A minimum of seven years of experience in disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, climate change adaptation or related area is required. Previous UN experience is desirable. Language: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other UN Official languages spoken in the African Region is desirable

  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.