Solutions Architect: National Risk Information Portal (NRIP)

Result of Service Objective(s)

The consultant position of Solutions Architect for the National Risk Information Portal (NRIP) requires regular interface with UNDRR’s Global Risk Analysis and Reporting (GRAR) Unit and other units of UNDRR. The consultant will need to telecommute from Geneva and will be required to attend non regular meetings at the UNDRR office. The incumbent will contribute to inter alia the development of the data platform underlying the roll-out of the Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF) in focus countries, including overall coordination of NRIP product design, development of user interface options, data collection workflows through UNDRR national teams and partners, website visualization, content management, outreach and communications within and outside UNDRR, coordination of data analyst consultants, and workstream management for scaling up NRIP to additional countries in 2022. He or she will report to the Head, Global Risk Analysis and Reporting (GRAR) section, based in Geneva, who is leading the strategic development of the Global Risk Assessment Framework (GRAF) of which NRIP is a foundational component.

The NRIP Solutions Architect is a senior position within the GRAF team and will work with a specific focus on collating disaster risk-related data relating to hazards, exposure and vulnerability (in its various dimensions), and the potential impacts stemming from, natural and human-made, biological, technological and environmental hazards and risks, to inform design options for the user interface in national-level NRIP for each of the GRAF focus countries.

The NRIP Solutions Architect will work principally with data sources, risk analytics models and other related risk information products being provided by UNDRR partners and other sources to develop a multi-purpose, one-stop clearinghouse of risk information in each target country for use by national, UN and other users. Collation of data sources will enable a composite picture of the risk landscape in each country, and will support the development of infographics on hazard, exposure, climate and vulnerability trends to inform development and humanitarian planning processes. As part of this assignment, options for second generation NRIP will be examined, including new functionality to address data gaps, interoperability, data synthesis and layering options.

In addition to data discovery and collation skills, the work requires good technical writing skills and ability to create reports, diagrams, graphs, charts, and other visualizations based on discussions with the GRAF partners and the UNDRR GRAR section. The consultant will need advanced skills and abilities that together comprise various levels of data science expertise to present risk information and to think strategically about how to optimally use and correlate data to create value for UNDRR’s partners in the areas of risk analysis, risk reduction, and strengthening of national risk data ecosystems.

Work Location The consultant will be telecommuting from Geneva and be required to attend non regular meetings at the UNDRR office.

Expected duration 170 days over 9 months

Duties and Responsibilities Organisation Setting and Reporting

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 120 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 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.

In the next 15 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 as with other post-2015 agreements – such as the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement, a resilient future for all is only possible with an all of society engagement for comprehensive and coordinated action informed by a comprehensive understanding of risk. Aligned with this call, UNDRR is revising and renewing its approach to understanding and reporting on risk trends, including through the co-design and implementation of an inclusive, collaborative global risk assessment framework.

Qualifications/special skills Skills: ¿ Excellent communications skills, with the ability to synthesize, simplify and explain complex problems to different types of audience, is required; ¿ Skills in data visualization is required. Academic Qualifications: A Ph.D in applied science, informatics, data science, or a related field is required. Experience: ¿ At least 2 years of experience in spatial and quantitative data manipulation, synthesis and visualization, applying data science, data mining and statistical techniques in disaster risk management is required;

¿ Previous experience working with disaster risk related data, risk models and/or risk information is desirable. Language: ¿ Fluency in English is required; ¿ Knowledge of French, Spanish or another UN language is an advantage.

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.