Support development of the 2022 UN Plan of Action on DRR progress report Consultant

Result of Service The consultancy will contribute to UNDRR Strategic Framework 2016-2021 Objective 3.2 on 'Coordination and advice provided to UN System Partners at global level towards effective and efficient Sendai Framework implementation'.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration 01 Feb - 31 Aug 2023

Duties and Responsibilities 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."

Duties and Responsibilities:

The work proposed for the consultancy will contribute to the implementation of the “UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience: Towards a Risk informed and Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development” (hereafter: UN Plan of Action). The consultant will support the development of the 2022 progress report on the implementation of the UN Plan of Action.

The in 2016 adopted “UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience: Towards a Risk informed and Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development” defines the support of the UN system towards the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) considering a risk-informed and integrated approach to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It addresses the need for coherence and re-enforcement of the UN's resilience building efforts to ensure that the UN system responds adequately to the different regional and country needs and contexts with regard to disaster risk reduction.

As the focal point for DRR in the UN system, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) coordinates the UN-system-wide implementation of the Sendai Framework. The UN Plan of Action is one of the main tools for maximizing UN efforts to support countries in strengthening risk-informed development programming, planning and investment and ensure that no one is left behind. UNDRR chairs two global mechanisms that facilitate the implementation of the UN Plan of Action: (1) the high-level UN Senior Leadership Group on DRR for Resilience (UN SLG) that proposes priorities to accelerate the implementation of the UN Plan of Action; and (2) the technical level DRR Focal Points Group that supports the implementation of the UN SLG priorities in particular and the UN Plan of Action, in general.

The UN Plan of Action is accompanied by a Results Framework, the accountability mechanism for the UN Plan of Action. To monitor progress, UN entities report annually on the basis of the Results Framework. UNDRR coordinates the preparation of the progress report on the implementation of the UN Plan of Action and engages UN entities in reviewing the draft and final version of the report.

In an effort to streamline UN system reporting on disaster risk reduction, the UN Plan of Action progress reporting and the annual report of the UN Secretary-General on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have been combined. The reporting documents therefore provide guidance on how to report on the UN Plan of Action and the UN system contribution to the UN Secretary-General report on the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for DRR 2015-2030.

Specific areas of support include: The consultant will assist UNDRR in developing the 2022 progress report of the UN Plan of Action, including: - Familiarize with relevant documents including previous Progress Reports on the Implementation of the UN Plan of Action, the UN Plan of Action Results Framework, the 2022 UN Plan of Action reporting template and guidance, UN SLG meeting reports and recommendations, and the UN DRR Focal Points Group work plan. - Review and analyze the data received from UN entities reporting on the 2022 UN Plan of Action Results Framework indicators. - Follow-up with UN entities to ensure data quality and comprehension. - Compile all final data sets into one master file. - Consult with relevant partners at national, regional and global levels to capture at least three good practices on DRR implementation at the national level with focus on inter-agency coordination. - Coordinate with Issue-based Coalitions to showcase DRR work at the regional level. - Prepare a draft progress report on the Implementation of the UN Plan of Action in close collaboration with UNDRR. - Identify and provide relevant inputs from the UN Plan of Action reporting that feed into the progress report on the implementation of the 2022 UN SLG recommendations. - Incorporate feedback received by UNDRR and the UN DRR Focal Points Group on the draft report and finalize the progress report. - Prepare an executive summary of the progress report that will be shared with the UN Senior Leadership Group. Provide relevant inputs to the 2023 UN SLG meeting and assist in drafting and finalizing the meeting report. Prepare a brief summary. - Review the edited and graphic design version of the progress report and the executive summary to ensure that the text is properly reflected and provide feedback. - Support dissemination strategy by developing updates for UNDRR/PreventionWeb webpages, material to be used during the international meetings, as well as inputs to relevant mechanisms. - Document challenges and lessons learned in the process of preparing the progress report.

Qualifications/special skills Master's degree in Business Administration, International Relations, Economic Development, Development Studies, Social Science, International Development, Political Science, International Relations 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 10 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; Experience in conducting consultation processes is desired; Good knowledge of UN development system and inter-agency collaboration is desired;

Languages Fluency in English is required. Knowledge in French and/or Spanish 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.