Consultant for developing the 2nd Synthesis and Analysis Report for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments

Result of Service Developing a good quality 2nd Synthesis and Analysis Report for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments and a summary report of the SFVC session at GP22.

Work Location remote

Expected duration 60 days during the period: Jan 2022 – 15 June 2022

Duties and Responsibilities I. 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 and liaison 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 catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk, working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 was adopted by UN Member States on 18 March 2015 at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR) in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It was endorsed by the UN General Assembly following the WCDRR.

The Sendai Framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including local government, the private sector, academia and civil societies. UNDRR has been tasked to support the implementation, follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework. The voluntary commitments initiative, initially developed in response to General Assembly resolution 68/211 (2013) was launched in the lead-up to the WCDRR in March to support the development of partnerships at all levels to implement the Sendai framework. The modalities of the Voluntary Commitments’ follow up was further elaborated by the General Assembly resolution A/69/283 (2015) - “commitments by relevant stakeholders are important in order to identify modalities of cooperation and to implement the present Framework. Those commitments should be specific and time-bound in order to support the development of partnerships at local, national, regional and global levels and the implementation of local and national disaster risk reduction strategies and plans. All stakeholders are encouraged to publicize their commitments and their fulfilment in support of the implementation of the present Framework, or of the national and local disaster risk management plans, through the website of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.”

To respond to the request from the General Assembly Resolution, UNDRR launched in 2018 a mechanism as an on-line platform to take stock, mobilize, and monitor the voluntary commitments from multi-stakeholders to implementation of the Sendai Framework. The online platform for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) contributes to, and is part of the overall Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy of UNDRR. It is critical to ensure a strong linkage and coordination among existing on-line tools managed by UNDRR to support monitoring and implementation of Sendai Framework, including Sendai Monitor. In contribution to the Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy of UNDRR, the purposes of the online Platform for SFVC are: - To incentivize stakeholders to inform the public about their work - To serve as a vehicle for sharing commitments and initiatives and for motivation for the implementation of Sendai Framework - To enable UNDRR to take stock and monitor the progress and impact

The 1st Synthesis and Analysis Report for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments was launched at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2019. The 2nd Report will be launched at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 to be held in May 2022. Considering that a midterm review (MTR) of the implementation of the Sendai Framework will be conducted towards 2023 to assess progress on integrating disaster risk reduction into policies, programmes and investments at all levels, the process to develop the 2nd Report needs to be designed to contribute to the MTR. So that, analysis, findings, and identified trends and gaps from the 2nd Report will efficiently inform the MTR regarding stakeholder contributions to the Sendai Framework Implementation by sharing identified trends and gaps by the analysis. A session at the GP22 focusing on the SFVC where the 2nd Report will be launched and exchanges between stakeholders who publish VCs will be held to further inform the MTR. Overall management of the Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments initiative is led by the UNDRR Office in Japan (Kobe Office), including management of the online Platform for SFVC, under overall guidance from of the Chief of Branch of Partnerships, Inter-governmental process and Inter-agency cooperation at the HQ of UNDRR and direct supervision of the Coordination Officer at the UNDRR Office in Japan.

II. Details for the consultancy The objective of this consultancy is to develop the 2nd Synthesis and Analysis Report for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC)

1) Duties and Responsibilities: Within delegated authority, the consultant will be responsible for the following duties for developing the 2nd Synthesis and Analysis Report for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC): - Under the supervision of the designated UNDRR focal point, develop the 2nd Synthesis and Analysis Report for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments (SFVC) by April 2022 to be ready for launching at GP2022, through providing both qualitative and quantitative analysis of data and narrative information submitted for the published voluntary commitments at the SFVC online platform as well as considering additional sources of information (e.g. relevant reports, sessions, surveys and consultations with stakeholders) - The overall process should be guided by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 as well as the concept of the Midterm review (MTR) of the Sendai Framework implementation. In line with the scope of the MTR, attention to the systemic nature of risk should be included. - Building on the 1st Synthesis and Analysis Report for Sendai Framework Voluntary Commitments, and enhancing the scope and approach of SFVC analysis, develop an advanced draft outline. - Conduct analysis both qualitative and quantitative perspectives to identify trends and gaps regarding stakeholder contributions to the Sendai Framework, including global, regional, national and local perspectives, including exploring regional analysis and country profiles. This implies exploiting, for example, the three datasets produced by the SFVC platform: users, commitments and organizations. - Develop visual presentations including graphs and figures to explain efficiently findings of analysis accompanying the text of the report. During the process, assist and facilitate related communications and discussions with stakeholders through e-mail and on-line consultations, as needed. - During the process to develop the report, analyse and reflect on inputs and comments received by stakeholders via surveys on SFVC in relation to the mid-term review of the Sendai Framework implementation. In addition, there is also qualitative and quantitative data from an ongoing feedback survey on overall user satisfaction. - Support preparation and organization of a session focusing on the SFVC where the 2nd Report will be launched at GP22 and develop a short summary from the session regarding exchanges between stakeholders who publish VCs will be held to further inform the MTR. Support includes elaborating presentation and other communication materials for the report and the session. - During the process to develop the report, other existing opportunities such as SFVC related sessions at Regional Platforms will be used to explore exchanges with stakeholders to receive feedback from stakeholders to inform the MTR from the perspectives of stakeholders’ contribution to the Sendai Framework implementation. - Identify relevant reference documents to be included in the report - Ensure inputs, suggestions, and recommendations drawn from relevant sessions and consultations are considered and reflected. - Consider and ensure the usefulness and user-friendliness of the report - Proofreads a draft of the Report and edits texts for accuracy, grammar, punctuation and style, and for adherence to established standards for format.

The milestones in the said months would be the following: - January 2022: draft outline - January – February 2022: conduct analysis and compile findings - February – March 2022: reflection on surveys and consultations - Mid March 2022: First draft of the Report - End March 2022: Feedback (internal and external where applicable) and refine the draft - Mid April 2022: Advanced draft report - End April 2022: Final draft of the report - May 2022: SFVC Session to present the 2nd Report and discussions - Early June 2022: Report of the above SFVC session at the GP22

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Post graduate degree in social sciences, development or any other relevant field. Experience: o Minimum 7 years experience in DRR, sustainable development and/or any related area of work is required. o Extensive demonstrable experience in developing a research paper, data analysis (proficient skills in Excel for data analysis is required, and experience using statistical analysis software such as Stata, Tableau, etc. is preferrable), a policy analysis paper or related area of work is required. o Research, and analytical experience on practitioners documentation exercises and drafting/producing products in DRR, and/or development, and/or any related area of work is required. o Demonstrable skills of writing analytical documents and policy recommendations in DRR is required. o Understanding and knowledge of DRR, stakeholder engagement, a whole of society approach for DRR enshrined by the Sendai Framework, and DRR in countries across the development spectrum is desirable. Language: Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

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.