Support the development of the UN system contribution to the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework Consultant

Result of Service- Inception report highlighting the scope of engagement with UN entities - Sendai Framework MTR elements and guidance have been integrated in the UN Plan of Action reporting template and guidance document. - Execution of outreach plan with key UN entities and mechanisms leading work on thematic issues of relevance to the MTR SF - Execution of outreach plan with UN Inter Agency initiatives that UNDRR is a part of to gather inputs for the MTR SF - Draft and finalise the report summarizing the contributions of UN entities to the MTR SF. - Masterfile containing all information and data received from UN entities. - Summary note documenting the UN entities’ engagement in the MTR SF process including key lessons learned and challenges.

Work Location Home based

Expected duration The consultant will support UNDRR during the period 13 December 2021 and will finalize the assignment by 31 August 2022.

Duties and Responsibilities Established 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 disaster risks; as well as 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/ASG), UNDRR has over 100 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 (DRR) 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk. UNDRR is 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.

In its resolution 75/216 of 21 December 2020, the UN General Assembly decided to “hold a midterm review of the implementation of the Sendai Framework in 2023 to assess progress on integrating disaster risk reduction into policies, programmes and investments at all levels, identify good practice, gaps and challenges and accelerate the path to achieving the goal of the Sendai Framework and its seven global targets by 2030”. The Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework (MTR SF) is coordinated by UNDRR and is an inclusive, multi-stakeholder-led review. Mirroring the Sendai Framework, the MTR SF benefits from contributions of different constituencies – leading either constituent-specific, or multi-stakeholder and multi-scalar, consultations and review, including by UN System entities, including United Nations Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams. The MTR SF initiates the substantive review of the Sendai Framework at national and regional levels in 2021 with Member State deliberations concluding in 2023.

A comprehensive MTR SF will not be possible without the full involvement and deliberation of the UN System on learning since 2015, emerging issues, and its recommendations for potential policy adjustments and new modalities for implementation for the period between 2023 and 2030. The engagement of UN System entities in the MTR SF is encouraged, including by the UN Secretary-General, including producing substantive inputs to the MTR process, supporting the engagement, consultation and review of Member States and other stakeholders, and by collaborating in the production of thematic studies, including with academic and scientific institutions.

The UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience: Towards a Risk informed and Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development is one of the main tools for optimizing UN efforts in supporting 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 UN DRR Focal Points Group (UN DRR FPG) 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, its accountability mechanism. 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.

Data and information for the MTR SF will be collected through inter alia the reporting on the implementation of the UN Plan of Action, as well as other sources of information emanating from relevant collective actions of UN Plan of Action partners, or relevant activities of individual UN entities.

Duties and Responsibilities The consultancy will support the UN Senior Leadership Group on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, the UN DRR Focal Points Group, including UNDRR, in developing the UN system’s contribution to the Midterm Review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (MTR SF). The consultant will report to the Head of the UNDRR Inter-agency Cooperation Unit and will ensure regular exchanges with the MTR SF Coordinator.

Specific areas of support include: The consultant will assist in UN system entities’ engagement in the MTR SF, including the development of a report on the contributions of UN entities to the review considering the experiences related to the implementation of the UN Plan of Action, as well as the mainstreaming of DRR, risk and resilience in the work of respective UN entities, their current thinking on changes in context, the challenges to be addressed, emerging issues and actions to be undertaken, accelerated or amplified between 2023 and 2030 and beyond.

The consultant will support the following activities: - Propose MTR SF elements that shall be incorporated in the reporting template of the UN Plan of Action and support the development of the reporting template and guiding questions for the UN Report on the MTR SF. - Assist in the preparation of related guidance to UN entities that facilitates the reporting for the MTR SF, and integrates MTR SF elements in the UN Plan of Action reporting template. - Work with relevant inter-agency networks of which UNDRR is a part, and where appropriate facilitate their inputs into the MTR SF process, as it relates to their respective topics - Develop a plan to engage with UN entities and/or mechanisms that are leading work on key thematic issues relevant to the MTR SF in order to convene a deeper thematic inquiry - Ensure that consultations and review contributing to the MTR SF consider progress to date, changes in context since 2015, emerging issues, challenges to be addressed, and actions to be undertaken, accelerated or amplified between 2023 and 2030 and beyond, as well as considerations for risk reduction post-2030. - Compile and review information and data received from UN entities both in respect of their implementation of the UN Plan of Action, as well as other relevant collective actions of UN Plan of Action partners, or relevant activities of individual entities. - Follow up with UN entities to ensure quality, integrity and comprehension of data and information provided. - Agree with the MTR SF Coordinator on the format of the report reflecting the joint contribution of members of the UN SLG DRR and UN DRR FPG. - Presents and discuss the findings and analysis of content provided by reporting UN entities. - Assist in the drafting of a report on the contribution of UN entities to the MTR SF including those captured in the progress report of the 2021 UN Plan of Action on DRR. Concretely, the consultant will consolidate, analyze and synthesis contributions resulting in the production of the MTR SF report of contributing UN entities. . - Ensure close coordination with UNDRR colleagues in charge of the MTR SF and the Interagency Cooperation Unit. - Provide inputs to the 2022 UN SLG meeting featuring key elements related to the MTR SF. - Support efforts of UNDRR and UN System entities in integrating the MTR SF within other relevant global stock-taking and review exercises, including the MTR of Water Action Decade for example. - Assist in liaising with UN entities in their other engagements (e.g. thematic studies, national/regional/global consultation processes supported by UN system entities etc.) in the MTR SF process. - Document the engagement of the UN entities in the MTR SF process and prepare relevant inputs to the MTR SF report. - Document challenges and lessons learned in the process.

Qualifications/special skills Academic Qualifications: 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. 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. Experience: ▫ Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, resilience building and/or development work at international level or other relevant fields 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 global guidance documents and frameworks on sustainable development, disaster risk reduction, climate change, and resilience are desired; ▫ Experience in working in the UN system related to disaster risk reduction, climate change, sustainable development is desired; ▫ Experience in inter-agency cooperation in the UN system is desired. Language: 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.