Programme Management and Report Writing Consultant

Result of Service Report on implementation of the Sendai Framework and the outcomes of the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework completed and issued to Member States.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration 01 February - 30 September 2023

Duties and Responsibilities Background: 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 disaster risk and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations.

This consultancy supports the substantive preparations for the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework. Adopted in 2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) is a key component of the sustainable development agenda. Rooted in prevention, addressing the underlying drivers of risk, the Sendai Framework gives clear policy and practical guidance on how to manage and reduce risk and build resilience in all sectors.

The Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework commenced in October 2021 and will culminate in a High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly in May 2023. The overall objective of the MTR SF is to take stock of the implementation of the Sendai Framework to date, assess progress made and challenges experienced in preventing and reducing disaster risk, identify new and emerging issues, as well as changes in context since 2015, providing critical analysis to assist countries and stakeholders formulate recommendations for prioritized, accelerated and integrated international, national and local cooperation and action in the period 2023 to 2030, and to initiate nascent thinking on possible international arrangements for risk-informed sustainable development beyond 2030

Alignment of the MTR SF with other global stock taking and review exercises is essential, and requires the support of countries, entities of the UN System, scientific and academic institutions, amongst other stakeholders. The findings of the MTR SF will provide valuable input to the deliberations of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, including the HLPF, and the SDG Summit and the High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development.

Duties and Responsibilities: Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Office, the consultant is expected to carry out the following tasks: 1. Draft a report on the status of implementation of the Sendai Framework and the outcomes of the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework. 2. Conduct background research on key issues related to disaster risk reduction and work undertaken by the United Nations system related to disaster risk reduction. 3. Support development of policy guidance, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, background papers or other research activities and studies. 4. Provide knowledge products to support links with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and General Assembly to integrate disaster risk reduction and resilience building.

Qualifications/special skills Master's degree or equivalent in Business Administration, International Relations, Economic Development, Development Studies, Social Science, International Development, Political Science, International Relations, disaster risk reduction and climate change studies, or any other relevant field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of 2 years of additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, resilience building and/or development work at international level or other relevant field is required; Experience in analyzing data and report writing is required. Experience in strategic policy analysis & drafting policy guidance is desired; Knowledge of UN development system and inter-agency collaboration is desired; Experience in working in the UN system related to disaster risk reduction, climate change, sustainable development is desired.

Languages Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Additional Information 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 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, 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 disaster risk reduction 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 PreventionWeb, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

In the upcoming years, the strong commitment and involvement of political leadership in every country and partnerships at all levels are required to achieve the outcome set by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction: “The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries”. As highlighted by the Sendai Framework and other international agreements such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement, a resilient future for all is only possible with an all-of-society engagement for comprehensive and coordinated action.

Building resilience and promoting disaster risk reduction is a collective responsibility and challenge which calls for coordinated actions. UNDRR works closely at all levels with a wide variety of partners and stakeholders towards a global and comprehensive effort in support of country-level actions.

The goal of engaging with partners and stakeholders is to build and enable systematic engagement and action between governments and stakeholders to reduce existing risks and prevent the creation of new risks for resilient socio-economic development at the global, national and local level.

UNDRR’s work is guided by a Partnership and Engagement Strategy and directly supports paragraph 35 of the Sendai Framework: "While States have the overall responsibility for reducing disaster risk, it is a shared responsibility between Governments and relevant stakeholders. In particular, non-state stakeholders play an important role as enablers in providing support to states, in accordance with national policies, laws and regulations, in the implementation of the present framework at local, national, regional and global levels. Their commitment, goodwill, knowledge, experience and resources will be required."

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.