Regional Caribbean Focal Point for the European Commission's Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations ECHO) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Re

Result of Service UNDRR and DP ECHO activities implemented successfully in the respective sub region, with coordination and collaboration with relevant actors as well as finalizing the Memorandum of Understanding European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean (MOU EU LAC) negotiation and support implementation.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration 16 months

Duties and Responsibilities Background

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

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 efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 140 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. 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 working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations of the European Commission (DG ECHO)

The European Commission's Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) has been providing assistance to the Latin America and Caribbean region since 1994 in fulfillment of its humanitarian mandate to save and preserve lives in order to reduce disaster risk conditions and contribute to increasing the resilience of individuals, communities and countries in the region.

During this time, DG ECHO, through its Disaster Preparedness budget line, formerly known as DIPECHO, has invested more than €321 million in 34 countries in the region through more than 631 projects, reaching 30 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean, with the participation and involvement of a wide range of organizations and partners. Disaster preparedness projects supported by DG ECHO are aligned with the objectives defined by the countries in the region (whether national or regional) and reinforce the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

ECHO DP Programme (formerly DIPECHO)

Since 2011, UNDRR and DG ECHO have joined forces in 14 actions financially supported by ECHO (an investment of €7,818,367) carried out in Caribbean (4 actions), South America (5 actions), the Caribbean (4 actions) and a regional support activity in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The specific duties and responsibilities entail:

The selected candidate will work directly with UNDRR’s regional office for the Americas and the Caribbean and will report to the selected Programme Management Officer. The position will be home-based with potential travel to the Caribbean and Americas.

This consultancy is two-pronged: 1. support DP ECHO (The European Commission's Directorate General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations Disaster Preparedness Program) and 2. support other activities at national level to support the country approach of UNDRR.

DP ECHO Focal Point, duties and responsibilities will be carried out simultaneously within the framework of the Regional Project approved by DG ECHO through its Disaster Preparedness Program (DP ECHO) and under the sub region's DP ECHO DP Action Plan, as stipulated in the Humanitarian Implementation Plan in force, as well as in the framework for the early warning for all (EW4All) initiative.

The liaison work will be carried out within the framework of the Regional Project approved by the DG ECHO through its Disaster Preparedness Programme (DP ECHO) and under the sub-region's ECHO DP Caribbean Action Plan, as stipulated in the Humanitarian Implementation Plan in force.

- Coordination of activities and actions under the action, in close coordination with ECHO representatives, ECHO DP partners and national authorities as focal points to UNDRR and Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM).

- Coordination and dialogue with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the national DRR (disaster risk reduction) organizations across the Caribbean.

- Ensure more consistent engagement with in-country partners and enable partnerships that increase sustainability, replicability and long-term impact of UNDRR and DG ECHO actions, including follow-up by United Nations Country Teams and European Union (EU) delegations.

- Coordinate, together with UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean (ROAC) and DP ECHO Caribbean staff the Caribbean activities, processes and actions to be carried out in the respective sub-region and countries. Collaborate for the project actions and complementary disaster preparedness actions, with the corresponding national authorities and partners.

- Act as liaison officer with the resident coordinator, humanitarian country team, United Nations Country Team (UNCT), and members of the humanitarian clusters for DRR integration activities in humanitarian action.

- Promote and facilitate, in coordination with UNDRR staff, consultations on the SFM follow-up mechanism, with the participation of key sectoral actors and local and national levels.

- Promote the dissemination of information related to the International Day for Disaster Reduction (13 October), support the implementation of activities and collect information on what has been done in the country.

- Carry out support and/or monitoring missions to DP ECHO projects in the country, according to mutual agreements between UNDRR ROAMC and ECHO, if necessary.

- Provide follow up and support to the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) by working closely with the chair of the initiative and organizing meetings, forum and activities as planned.

- Keep UNDRR ROAC and ECHO staff abreast of activities, progress, obstacles and challenges.

- Organize regular project coordination meetings between DG ECHO, UNDRR, partners and authorities of national disaster risk management systems, and other relevant authorities not limited to DRM, take notes of these and prepare meetings’ minutes and summary reports, distributing them to relevant partners, DG ECHO and UNDRR.

- Document best practices, lessons learned and challenges identified from DP ECHO budget line funded projects in the respective sub-regions.

- Maintain liaison and coordination with the ECHO DP Regional Project Manager regarding country level processes and coordination with relevant national authorities, UNDRR, DP ECHO national partners in country and ECHO regarding country level processes.

- Prepare an annual and final narrative report describing, according to the formats required by ECHO, the results and activities of the project, which will be approved by the UNDRR and integrated into the APPEL system.

- Memorandum of understanding EU LAC (European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean) negotiation support as planned, specifically the liaison with CDEMA.

- In coordination with the officers of other countries in the region, prepare a summary of the development, updating and/or application and dissemination of tools and products of the project within the framework of ECHO's regional objectives.

- Others as mutually agreed by the UNDRR Project Coordinator and/or Manager and other personnel of UNDRR ROAC.

The following reports shall be prepared:

- Monthly progress reports as per the Annual Work Plan.

- Sub-regional component of the midterm and final narrative report describing, according to the formats required by ECHO, the results and activities of the project, subject to approval by UNDRR.

- Others as required by UNDRR and/or ECHO, as mutually agreed with the Project Manager, SFM and External Relations Officers and the UNDRR ROAC Head of Office in his/her role as Project Coordinator.

- Technical support for this position will be provided by UNDRR ROAC. UNDRR technical support to countries focuses on a better understanding of risk that provides a solid foundation for integrated planning, financing and monitoring. It will be multi-stakeholder in nature and will respect the core principles of ensuring inclusive engagement of all of society leaving no one behind.

Qualifications/special skills Master's degree in disaster risk reduction, meteorology, climate change or other related areas is required. - At least 5 years of experience in issues related to disaster risk management or reduction, and climate change or sustainable development is required. - Experience in managing or coordinating national projects, preferably of an inter-institutional nature, both in the public sector and with international cooperation is required. - Work experience in organizing and facilitating workshops or meetings, and with intergovernmental mechanisms, DRR platforms, tools and working mechanisms related to DRR and DP ECHO is desirable. - Experience with information management systems, analysis and synthesis of information, and in the drafting and presentation of documents with the participation of multidisciplinary teams is desirable. Work experience in multisectoral or multicountry contexts in the Americas and the Caribbean, as well as familiarity with national accounts for Sendai Framework, Sustainable Development Goals or similar monitoring and reporting, particularly with regards to indicators of the Sendai Framework’s target G is desirable

Languages Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French language is desirable.

Additional Information Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful 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.