Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic Regional Advisor for Sendai Framework Implementation and Monitoring

Result of Service - Together with UNDRR Americas staff, achieve the quality and timely implementation of the SDC project Central America activities to be carried out in the region based on the project documentation.

• Ensure the compliance of biannual milestones for national SFM reporting as well as regular reporting on the PCGIR within the SFM.

• Support for the 2023 DRR Regional Platform and Central American participation ensured.

  Work Location Guatemala

  Expected duration 1 September 2022 - 30 April 2023.

  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 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 Headquaters (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 the progress of the implementation of the international strategy for disaster reduction, now the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), 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 DRR to protect people's lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women of all stakeholder groups 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 DRR and the organization of the Regional Platform (RP) for DRR.

The Swiss Cooperation with its new Disaster Risk Governance programme in Central America will support three projects and three implementing partners, CEPREDENAC (in English: Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic), UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) and OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), based on a single theory of change and common objectives. The three strategic partners identified have a mandate, permanence in the region, territorial anchorage, trust, credibility and experience in issues relevant to the programme.

With the programme it is expected that in the medium and long term more lives will be saved and disaster losses and damages will be reduced, due to more effective, inclusive and principled disaster and risk management, and that the population will suffer less from disasters, ultimately increasing the resilience of the vulnerable population of Central America to disasters.

UNDRR is responsible for the component of governance, early warning and private sector engagement based on its work programme 2022 -2023.

Duties and Responsibilities

Within the scope of the delegated authority, the consultant will be supporting the liaison with CEPREDENAC for the implementation of the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) project “Implementing the Sendai Framework through strengthening risk governance with a whole-of-society approach". The consultancy will facilitate effective coordination and continuous communication with sub regional and regional partners and stakeholder including CEPREDENAC, and national Disaster risk reduction entities. The main responsibility will the facilitation of the regional and national reporting of the PCGIR (in English: Central American Disaster Risk Management Policy) and Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction on the Sendai Framework Monitor.

The person selected for this consultancy will be based in the ES-CEPREDENAC (Executive Secretariat - Coordination Centre for Disaster Prevention in Central America and the Dominican Republic).office, report to the UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) project coordination of the Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, through the Programme Officer designated to the project and in close coordination of the project manager and the Sendai monitor programme officer.

Technical support for this position will be provided by UNDRR, Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean and the ES-CEPREDENAC. In particular, the consultancy will carry out the following activities:

Coordination:

• Ensure the involvement, leadership and planning of CEPREDENAC in the project.
• Support the CEPREDENAC Executive Secretariat in the implementation of the PCGIR with the Central American Integration System (SICA).
• Provide operational support to carry out project activities at the regional and national level.
• Ensure the timely involvement of the Governing Bodies and National Risk Management Systems of the seven countries in the project activities.
• Follow-up to the Agreements of the Council of Representatives, coordinate with the countries the operationalization of the agreements adopted within the framework of the project.
• Support the coordination of complementary preparedness and response actions in the countries of Central America, as required by UNDRR and CEPREDENAC.
• Coordinate with the UNDRR SDC project manager and the SDC programme coordinator the daily activities of the project.

Project implementation:

• Organize workshops and events jointly with CEPREDENAC, for multisectoral and specialized stakeholders, in order to strengthen national monitoring and reporting within the SFM (Sendai Framework monitoring) online system, as per the 38 indicators of the 7 Sendai global targets, as well as regional monitoring and reporting of the PCGIR. This will also involve strengthening disaggregated data (sex, age, disability, income, geographic location, hazards), as well as ensuring the active involvement of different key sectors, including national statistics offices.
• Provide technical assistance to member States, in line with the above, to ensure the continuous monitoring and reporting for timely SFM regional and national reports, in keeping with twice annual reporting milestones.
• Promote the implementation of the PCGIR pillars at the regional level and the national risk management policies and plans, as well as the Sendai Framework.
• Promote and encourage the dissemination and use of tools produced in Central America via PREVENTIONWEB and CEPREDENAC Facebook profiles and websites.
• Follow up on the implementation of project visibility actions.
• Ensure and monitor the participation of Central American authorities in the VIII Regional Platform for DRR (Disaster Risk Reduction) in Uruguay. Prepare a report on the participation and contribution of Central America in these discussion platforms.
• Provide general guidance and support the organization of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) and the World Tsunami Awareness Day (WTAD), as well as the dissemination of events and initiatives in the region.
• Support regional actions for Risk Management as assigned by CEPREDENAC and/or the UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean.

Monitoring:

• Prepare monthly progress reports and quarterly plans.
• Prepare project progress documentation for Council of Representatives meetings.
• When necessary, carry out support missions to the Central American countries as agreed with CEPREDENAC, UNDRR Americas and SDC.
• Provide administrative and operational support to carry out project activities at the regional level.

• Liaise and coordinate with CEPREDENAC management, on regional processes and country coordination.

  Qualifications/special skills Skills: - Excellent writing and analysis skills is required.

• Knowledge of intergovernmental mechanisms, SFM; DRR Platforms, tools and working mechanisms is desirable.

• Good understanding of disaster risk reduction and processes, institutions and actors involved in DRR in Central America is desirable. Academic Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Science, Geography, Risk Management, Statistics or any other area related to Risk Management is required. Experience: - At least five (5) years working on issues related to risk management/reduction, climate change and/or sustainable development is required.

• Management or coordination experience in regional projects, preferably inter-institutional projects, both in the public sector and with international cooperation; in particular, work experience in Central America is desirable.

• Minimum three years’ experience in coordination with SICA and the Governing Bodies of National Systems is an asset. Language: Fluency in Spanish is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

  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.