Emergency Response Officer

Contract

This is a UNV National Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as National UN Volunteer. It is normally only for nationals. More about UNV National Specialist contracts.

The project is looking at strengthening national risk information systems through disaster loss accounting databases and risk assessments to inform planning processes and monitoring. As for other national level interventions within this project, this activity is focusing on five (5) countries in Africa: Kenya being one of them. Kenya faces multiple hazards and the impact of disasters is costing its development gains leading to the diversion of development programs to respond to their effect.

Disaster loss and damage has been taking a particular highlight the last few years with the discussion and adoption of the Loss and Damage Fund during COP28. Within the context of the project, situations are quite different between the five countries. Already in Ethiopia and Kenya, however not up to date, the development and implementation of a disaster loss and damage database within DesInventar have proven instrumental in transforming disaster management strategies from the local to the national level. In other countries such as Burundi, there is no such database yet. Furthermore, data sometimes exists, but collected with different tools and aggregated in different platforms (e.g., DesInventar, EM-DAT, PDNA, HPBA, FAO tool on agriculture sector, etc.).

However, whatever the situation, there is still inadequate availability of climate and disaster risk data including on loss and damage, to inform development plans and investments. Few countries collect systematically, analyse and utilise disaster and climate risk data to inform their development plans and policies. National and local disaster loss and damage data, disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, which is critical to gender-sensitive and socially inclusive risk assessments, disaster preparedness and response, early warning and early action, public investment planning, poverty alleviation and many other disaster risk reduction measures, is still unavailable in most countries.

• Gather and consolidate existing disaster loss and damage data from various sources such as Desinventar, EM-DAT, PDNA, HPBA, and sector-specific tools like the FAO's agricultural tool. This task ensures that all relevant data is systematically collected and available in one place for ease of access and analysis, providing a comprehensive foundation for informed decision-making. • Support the design, development, and management of a comprehensive loss and damage database that is user-friendly and accessible to relevant stakeholders. This involves creating a robust database that can efficiently store, process, and retrieve data, supporting disaster risk management activities and enhancing the overall capacity to respond to and mitigate disasters. • Conduct training sessions and workshops for government officials, data collectors, and other stakeholders on how to use and maintain the loss and damage database. This task aims to build local capacity, ensuring that the database is sustainably managed and utilized, thereby empowering stakeholders to effectively contribute to disaster risk reduction efforts. • Support to analyse collected data to identify trends, patterns, and gaps, preparing regular reports and visualizations to inform decision-making and policy development. This task provides actionable insights that can guide disaster risk reduction strategies and development planning, ensuring that data-driven decisions enhance resilience and mitigate future risks. • Facilitate coordination and communication between the Ministry of Interior, other government agencies, UNDP, UNDRR, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment and collaboration. This task enhances cooperation and information sharing among key stakeholders involved in disaster risk management, fostering a cohesive approach to reducing risks and improving response strategies. • The volunteer will work with the Ministry of Interior to integrate the loss and damage data into national and local development plans, policies, and investment strategies. This task ensures that disaster risk data informs broader development objectives, helping to build resilience and promote sustainable development through informed planning and policy-making. • Implement a monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness of the database and its impact on disaster risk reduction and recovery efforts. This task involves continuously improving the database and its use in policy and decision-making processes, ensuring it meets the needs of all stakeholders and remains an effective tool for disaster risk management. • In cooperation with other levels of response, authorise the release of related information, communications, advocacy products and statements to internal and external partners as well as to the public • Represent the host entity to external stakeholders, including local health authorities, UN agencies partners, international, governmental and nongovernmental organizations/institutions donors and partners, with respect to the country's operations • Support documentation and reporting of the key activities and response practices; facilitate updating of the preparedness plan

• Accountability • Adaptability and flexibility • Client Orientation • Creativity • Judgement and decision-making • Knowledge sharing • Planning and organising • Professionalism • Self-management • Working in teams

multi-sectoral coordination of operational activities in preparedness and response, or project/programme management, reporting, documentation and monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant programmes at the national and/or international level; experience working with the Government is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization; • Professional experience in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, especially on disaster data and statistics.
• Experience working in Kenya region in conducting GIS work, data analysis, social research on climate change, disaster, loss, and damage data and statistics. • Experience working in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) implementation and its monitoring, especially related to disaster losses and damages (Geographic Information Systems, Statistics, Statistics Table, Chart Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Data Analysis, Research, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Education, ) Other (Desired or Mandatory) required technical knowledge • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in [relevant area of the host agency’s work], volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

The Republic of Kenya is an equatorial nation on the coast of East Africa, neighboring Somalia, Ethi-opia, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Indian Ocean. Kenya has two levels of Government; Na-tional Government and 47 sub-national Governments called Counties. Counties are further divided into sub-counties. Kenya is a multi-party state with Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches. Kenya’s population of more than 40 million is growing at an annual rate of 2.2%. The country’s GNP per capita estimated at purchasing power parity (PPP) is $975, and the GNP is growing at an average rate of 0.1% annually. More than 26% of Kenya’s people live below the international poverty line of $1 per day. Kenya’s main food crops are “maize, wheat, pulses, roots and tubers.” (FAO). Nairobi is a modern metropolitan city where most basic goods and services, health facilities, public transport, telecommunication and banking services and educational facilities are readily available. The city is widely connected through its main airport, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the smaller Wilson Airport. Air transport is also available to many up-country destinations. The city is home to some 3,000 UN personnel mainly attributed to the fact that it serves as the headquarters for both the UN HABITAT and UNEP. The socio-economic and cultural background of the immediate society the UNV would be living and working in is diverse and prevailing security conditions at the place of assignment is modest. The topographic and climatic features of the assignment location is highland cool and warm tropical climate.