International Consultant for Developing Multi-Hazard Country Risk Profiles

Result of Service Reducing the risks associated with climate-related and other physical hazards is increasingly being seen by governments as key to development, sustainability and competitiveness. Loss and damage to public and private assets is rapidly increasing, as economic growth translates into growing exposure to hazards. At the same time, countries have been challenged to reduce their associated vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience.

The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the Arab countries capacity to systematically account for disaster loss, to identify hazards through risk profiles and develop risk assessments, as well as to use this information to strengthen public investment in disaster risk reduction.

Work Location home Based

Expected duration Seven Months from 1 July 2022 - 31 January 2023

Duties and Responsibilities 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 all stakeholders. 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.

Resilience to disasters at national level is a priority of the Sendai Framework, and is embedded in the broader 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda (SDG 11). Resilience relies on understanding the disaster risks faced, to mitigate those risks, and to respond to disasters that may occur so that immediate and longer-term loss of life or damage to livelihoods, property, infrastructure, economic activity and the environment is minimized. The importance of improving understanding of hazards, exposure and vulnerabilities, and supporting national authorities and DRR stakeholders to assess their resilience and develop plans and strategies, is particularly relevant in the recovery efforts in the face of the COVID-19 public health crisis.

UNDRR aims to support overall DRR efforts undertaken by national and local authorities with support of UN Country Teams through improvement of disaster risk knowledge, and specifically in providing expertise and sharing good practices in relation with risk assessment activities, advocacy and awareness raising.

Duties and responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of Chief of office UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States the International consultant will work closely with the Technical Coordinator (Risk Knowledge Programme officer- UNDRR ROAS) for the development of the National Multi-hazard Country risk profiles for 10 Arab countries. The International Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks.

1. The consultant will be responsible for coordinating and delivering a Multi-hazard national risk profiles of Djibouti, Egypt, Comoros, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania, Iraq, Oman & Palestine based on the most recent information available about hazards, structural and non-structural vulnerabilities, exposure, coping capacities and institutional structures for disaster risk reduction. 2. The consultant will be responsible for liaising with institutions and Government counterparts, relevant authorities and stakeholders and present the results of the national risk profile. 3. The assignment will entail a series of individual meetings, with relevant departments to ensure a comprehensive development process. 4. The consultant will conduct a thorough desk review/research of available information resources on disaster risk reduction in above mentioned countries as well as conduct structured interviews through questionnaires with relevant national and international stakeholders (authorities, civil society representatives and international organizations).

Qualifications/special skills Skills: - Excellent technical knowledge of risk assessments and analytical skills is required. - Familiarity with global practice and best practices in writing scoping papers on risk assessment is desirable. - Advance use of GIS tools is desirable. - Knowledge of MS Office, Excel, Power Point, Adobe Reader.

Academic Qualifications: - Advanced university degree in geophysics and environmental sciences or any related field. - A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: - At least 7 years of work experience in facilitating similar risk assessments and strategic planning processes, or other relevant fields with UN or international organizations is required. - Demonstrated experience in disaster management or humanitarian sector is desirable.

Language: - Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. - Knowledge of Arabic 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.