National Economist - Consultant

Result of Service - Initial workplan and narrative presenting the activities and methodological approach for the consultancy (max 5 pages). - Develop an analytical report with a review of the status of NAPs, DRR strategies, UNSDCF, development and approval of GCF proposals and other climate change adaptation financing policy development processes that could be associated with the CRM approach ( such as National Determined Contributions, Integrated National Financing Frameworks, Voluntary National Reviews). - Draft meeting notes and consolidate the results of the consultations into a report informing the selection of the most suitable countries to apply the CRM approach. - In consultation with UNDRR Bonn and Nairobi office support the logistics for the organization of the regional workshop/forum in Nairobi. - In consultations with the supervisors, develop the workshop concept note, List of Participants, PPT presentations and other relevant training materials. - Develop a workshop report highlighting the next steps, action plan and possible country support actions going forward. - Develop PPT presentation of the CRM training material contextualize the material to the Sub-Saharan Africa context. - Present findings of the consultation process and desk research as well as the learning from the CRM approach during the forum in Nairobi. - Support the preparation of Africa related inputs for UNDRR side event at COP27.

Work Location Home Based

Expected duration As soon as possible and until 31 December 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities Organizational Context: 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. Led by the Special representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), UNDRR has around 100 staff located in its 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 its implementation, particularly through follow-up and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. Advocates to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, for increased and informed participation of men and women 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 Disaster Risk Reduction and the organization of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Objective of the assignment: The magnitude and rate of climate change and associated risks depend strongly on near-term mitigation and adaptation and risk-reducing actions. Risk-blind planning can - and in some cases already has - created new risks and resulted in maladaptation. Therefor, risk reduction cannot occur without the use of climate information; climate change adaptation will not be successful without risk reduction. In response to these needs in sub-Sahara Africa, in combination with the need to support the efficient implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sendai Framework, UNDRR is committed to supporting countries achieve risk-informed and integrated approach to sustainable development. This is reflected in the new Strategic Framework 2022-2025 that identifies addressing the climate emergency as a high priority, embedded in the ‘accelerator’ on climate agenda and climate risk reduction, and reflected as a key result (Result 1.2) with clear deliverables. This redirected focus on climate action is advanced through UNDRR’s flagship initiative, Comprehensive Disaster and Climate Risk Management (CRM). This is aligned with the Target E of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction that seeks to increase the number of countries with national and local disaster risk reduction strategies, wherein promotion of policy coherence with climate change, among others, is one of the defined principles. A comprehensive approach takes into consideration a number of factors to purposively strengthen synergies between disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, by identifying mutually beneficial opportunities across policies and programmes, while developing capacities of governments for cross-sectoral planning. The implementation of CRM programme in Africa seeks to integrate risk-centred approaches into National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and climate/forecast information into national and subnational disaster risk reduction strategies. The CRM programme, hence, focuses on risks across different timescales – short, medium, long-term – and therefore using information from weather, seasonal and climate forecasts and predictions, and translating such information into meaningful information to enable more comprehensive planning and implementation. Building on risk understanding, including through the planned Risk Information Exchange portal, the CRM programme promotes application of a full-spectrum analysis of risk in a country, provision of technical resources and guidance, and targeted capacity development. This is based on analysis of existing policy landscape between disaster risk reduction and climate change at various levels, while good practices are documented and disseminated. In line with the technical guidance and training pages developed under the Comprehensive Disaster and Climate Risk Management Programme by UNDRR Bonn Office in 2021 and2022, the consultant will support the implementation of activities at the UNDRR regional office for Africa on Comprehensive Risk Management. In July 2019, the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa organized a peer-learning exchange on policy coherence between disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and sustainable development attended by representatives of the DRR, SDG and CCA communities of 12 selected countries. Subsequently, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa gathered information from the workshop and conducted desk research on the level of policy coherence in sub-Sharan Africa and published a report in July 2020, titled: Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Pathways for policy coherence in Sub-Saharan Africa. The paper recognized also the need to conduct more in-depth analysis of policy landscape and institutional arrangements for DRR and CCA at the country level as well as the need to identify entry points to establish a dialogue between DRR and CCA stakeholders. Those entry points have been identified in both risk assessment and financial planning. In light of those findings, four case studies were conducted and published in January 2022. Each case study outlines the national policy landscape and institutional arrangements for DRR and CCA, and presents the policy review according to strategic, conceptual, institutional, operational and financial considerations. Further to the policy landscape, the case studies also include a particular focus on two areas of work that present entry points for policy coherence between DRR and CCA: budgeting and finance (Malawi and Uganda) and risk assessments (Benin and Niger). Drawing upon these insights, the case studies provide key messages and priority actions for enhancing policy coherence between DRR and CCA practices at national level in Benin, Niger, Malawi, and Uganda. The consultant is expected to be informed by the previous work to fine tune the CRM approach in Sub-Saharan Africa, identifying possible new countries for support and the most suitable ways to promote and achieve risk-informed and integrated approach to sustainable development.

Duties and Responsibilities: Under the overall supervision of the Deputy Chief, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa and the CRM Programme Management Office, UNDRR Bonn Office, , the consultant will undertake the following responsibilities: - Produce an initial workplan detailing the activities and methodology of the consultancy with proposed timelines. - In consultation with the supervisors, reviewing the status of the development NAPs and DRR strategies and identify countries that present the necessary conditions in applying an integrated approach to DRR & CCA. This could include support for developing their NAPs, drafting more integrated DRR strategies, or supporting single integrated strategies (e.g. JNAP in the Pacific). - Conduct interviews and calls with various national stakeholders, including government, development organizations, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Organizations and civil society organizations for the collection of primary and secondary data and information to complement the desk research. - Provide demand-driven technical assistance to countries in enabling CRM-led integrated planning. - Organize a regional forum in Nairobi with identified countries, gathering the key stakeholders to present the CRM approach, sharing learnings and identify needs and interests to further implement CRM approach at the country level. - Tailor the current CRM training for a more advanced package for the workshop (using the Maldives national workshop and Arab States TOT experience) of integrated strategies (NAPs and DRR) and the application of Climate information for DRR planning.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international or development economics, geography, public management, public policy or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: A minimum of five years of experience in policy analysis for resilience in the context of developing countries in Africa is required. Experience with disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and/or sustainable development is desirable. Previous UN experience is desirable. Language: Fluency in both oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French 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.