Stakeholder Engagement Specialist

Result of Service This consultancy will support UNDRR's work with the Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism (SEM), youth, and parliamentarians, which are guided by the relevant strategies and action plans. Coordinated by the UNDRR Partnerships Branch, this work aims:

i. to promote stronger engagement of stakeholders in policy and practice decisions and implementation on disaster risk reduction, UNDRR set up the "UNDRR Stakeholder Engagement Mechanism" (UNDRR- SEM) in 2018 with the aim to leverage the convening and advocacy powers of the 17 Major Groups and other stakeholders (MGoS) and UNDRR partner groups such as ARISE for the integration of disaster risk reduction into the broader 2030 Agenda. The SEM currently has over 500 members, including the IFRC and Platform for Disaster Displacement.

ii. to harness the energy of and better engage with youth, in alignment with the UN Youth Strategy, Youth2030: Working with and for Young People. UNDRR’s Youth Engagement Action Plan 2022-2025 outlines its work with youth in support of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and aims to enhance youth capacity and risk knowledge, empower youth to drive innovative DRR communication, and engage youth in DRR policy processes and practice. The action plan is implemented in collaboration with the Major Group on Children and Youth (MGCY) DRR Working Group (DRR WG) as well as regional youth groups, and youth-focused agencies.

iii. to strengthen engagement with parliamentarians on DRR as the Sendai Framework explicitly calls for parliamentarian action by developing new or amending legislation, setting budget allocations and holding governments accountable for their actions to reduce disaster risk and protect their populations. UNDRR’s Parliamentarian Engagement Strategy 2022-25 focuses on enhancing legislation, planning and financing for DRR through the integration of DRR in national strategies, legal, budgetary and regulatory frameworks; engaging parliamentarians in global and regional DRR mechanisms, policy processes and advocacy campaigns; and developing capacity and knowledge products for parliamentarians.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration 01 August 2022 to 31 January 2023

Duties and Responsibilities About UNDRR UNDRR was established in 1999 as a dedicated secretariat to facilitate the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). It is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution (56/195) to serve as the 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 system and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Upon the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 by all UN member states in March 2015, UNDRR was tasked by the UN General Assembly to support the implementation, follow-up and review of the Framework. As a part of its normative mandate, UNDRR is supporting countries, in particular least developed and small island countries, in the development, implementation and monitoring of progress of national and local disaster risk reduction strategies. UNDRR thereby focuses particularly on ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to disaster risk reduction, in raising awareness and engaging representatives of all relevant stakeholder groups in the strategy discussions.

Background and Context Effective reduction of disaster risks can only be attained through an all-of-society approach. Whilst governments remain responsible for integrating disaster risk reduction in core social, economic and development planning, this also requires a change of behaviour across all sectors and levels. With this goal in mind, UNDRR engages with a variety of stakeholders, through different mechanisms, to involve all parts of society in disaster risk reduction for a more resilient future.

Tasks and Responsibilities Reporting to the Programme Management Officer - Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement Unit, the consultant will support the Programme Officer in the implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the Parliamentarian, Youth, and SEM Action Plans. Key tasks will include: a) Support implementation and reporting of the Parliamentarian Engagement Plan, in close collaboration with partners, regional offices, and other units: o Develop policy briefs to support parliamentarian engagement in DRR-related legislative reforms in atleast 2 countries jointly identified with partners and regional offices; o Collaborate with partners to develop key messages for parliamentarian engagement at COP27; o Develop a toolkit package for Comprehensive Risk Management ahead of COP27 for parliamentarians; o Support UNDRR Gender Focal point to engage women leaders/MPs in DRR related events, policy discussions and knowledge products; o Support dissemination of UNDRR/IPU toolkit for Parliamentarians. b) Support implementation and reporting of the Youth Engagement Plan, in close collaboration with partners, regional offices, and other units: o Develop a repository of Master programs focusing on DRR; o Support the Major Group for Children and Youth(MGCY) to promote DRR at key policy events (FFD, HLPF, climate COP) through key messages; o Support MGCY in the conceptualisation and piloting of the Youth Resilience Lab which will showcase opportunities for youth to drive Disaster Risk Reduction action; o Words into Action implementation plan in collaboration with partners. c) Working in close collaboration with the Programme Officer, SEM focal points, and the grantee, to support preparatory work for a SEM Annual Meeting in Q1 2023. d) Schedule update calls with partners, regional offices, and other units, file minutes of the meetings, and support with developing talking points for parliamentarian, youth, and SEM engagement. e) Provide backstopping support to other stakeholder related events and processes upon request of the supervisor.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: An advanced university degree in law, economic development, finance, disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, business management, international economic development, or a related field, together with relevant qualifying experience is required.

A first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of 2 years additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Experience: -A minimum of 2 years of demonstrated experience and project references in the area of legislation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, climate change, or a related field is required. -Demonstrated expertise in conducting qualitative research for legislative/advocacy/programme management in areas relevant to disaster risk reduction is required. -Experience in collaboration with a variety of stakeholders, particularly youth representatives, parliamentarians, civil society and community-based organisations is desirable. -Exposure to global and regional policy processes for DRR and sustainable development is desirable. -Expertise in organizing and managing meetings, consultations, and other events, is desirable. Language: Fluency in English is required.

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.