Consultant on disaster risks and early warnings communications

Contract

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Result of Service

This consultancy involves the update of Maldives’ current Advocacy Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction with a focus on risk communications and early warnings and production and dissemination of disaster risk and hazard knowledge use cases and people-centered, inclusive early warning messages in three islands in Maldives with a view of using the materials and training content in other parts of the country in the future. Documentations and materials are to be developed to represent all three islands, while also incorporating specific local nuances, where this is needed.

Work Location

Male, Maldives

Expected duration

20 Jun-31 Dec 2024

Duties and Responsibilities

Created in December 1999, 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, UNDRR has over 140 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 United Nations Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. UNDRR co-leads the United Nations Secretary-General’s Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which calls for every person on Earth to be protected by early warning systems by 2027. As of 2022, only half of countries globally were protected by multi-hazard early warning systems. The numbers are even lower for developing countries; less than half of the Least Developed Countries and only one-third of Small Island Developing States have a multi-hazard early warning system. The Office of the United Nations Secretary-General identified Maldives as one of 30 countries worldwide needing targeted assistance to enhance its early warning system. The UNDRR Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific is seeking aconsultant to be based in Male, Maldives for the following duties in three islands in Maldives (in chronological order): 1. Contribute to designing and conducting a survey on how early warning messages are understood and acted upon by communities in close collaboration with the NDMA. 2. Formulate a report on how disaster risk and hazard knowledge and early warning messages are used (or not used) by communities; and how local, indigenous and traditional knowledge influences disaster risk and hazard knowledge, early warnings and actions in hazard events in different communities. This report is mainly for use by national and local authorities to inform risk knowledge and early warning communications with communities. 3. On the basis of how disaster risk and hazard knowledge and early warning messages are used by communities (point 2 above), update Maldives’ current Advocacy Strategy on Disaster Risk Reduction with a focus on risk communications and early warnings. This should include goals and objectives; target audience; messaging; channels and tactics; monitoring; and resources. 4. Based on the updated strategy (under point 3), develop information products such as posters, banners, social media content, short videos, radio messages and others, as appropriate in the local context, to inform communities about disaster risk, disaster risk reduction and early warnings and early actions. The focus lies on making information assessable, understandable and actional for everyone, including persons with disabilities, linguistic minorities, children, youth, older persons, etc. 5. Disseminate the knowledge products (under point 4) among communities through diverse channels, as appropriate, with the aim of also reaching persons with disabilities, linguistic minorities, children, youth, older persons, etc. 6. Disseminate the knowledge products in a workshop for stakeholder groups and train them about use of the materials and appropriate channels for further distribution.

Qualifications/special skills

First-level university degree in a relevant field of communications, business management, marketing, social sciences, disaster management, emergency management, environmental management or other related fields is required. At least 5 years of experience in fields related to strategic communications or content development for government, private sector, NGOs, or related institutions is required. Experience in translating scientific language into clear messages for diverse audiences is desirable. Experience in disaster risk reduction, emergency planning, disaster/emergency management, environmental hazards or related fields is desirable.

Languages

Fluency of English and Maldivian is required.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful 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.