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 by working with the U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and the science and technology community.

Suriname, located on the North-Eastern coast of South America, is a country marked by its natural beauty, rich cultural diversity, and unique ecological landscapes. However, it faces significant challenges related to multiple hazards, making it vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and other related hazards.

Almost 30 percent of Suriname's territory lies within just a few meters above sea level, rendering it highly susceptible to coastal flooding. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that nearly 90 percent of the country's population resides in the coastal area, with two-thirds of them concentrated in the capital city, Paramaribo. Moreover, a substantial portion of Suriname's fertile land and economic activities are situated within the 384-kilometer-long coastal plain, which amplifies the country's vulnerability to sea level rise and coastal flooding.

Suriname also faces the threat of heavy rainfall and associated flooding. In May 2008, the country experienced devastating floods in its eastern coastal and inland regions, specifically in Marowijne, Lawa, and Tapanahony. These floods resulted in damage to villages and crops, with the southern region experiencing substantial losses, including 30 percent of livestock, 65 percent of crops, and 90 percent of the fishing industry. Climate change is expected to lead to increased rainfall variability, which could result in more frequent droughts and, to some extent, landslides.

The Surinamese government has recognized the urgent need to address these environmental and climatic challenges and has taken several steps to mitigate their impact. With the aim to progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, Suriname has been pushing towards disaster and climate resilience in all aspects of its development. Accordingly, there is a high degree of awareness on the need for an integrated approach to implementing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and many steps have already been taken. Already, Suriname has a National Adaptation Plan (NAP). Similarly, they are exploring the process of developing a National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, better known in the Caribbean region as Country Work Programmes (CWP).

The NAP recognizes that climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) have fundamental commonalities and may utilize the same tools that have proven effective over the years in order to facilitate coordination and alignment of the two agendas, while offering multiple opportunities for joint actions implementations, financing and easier reporting and monitoring.

In this regard, as part of the roll-out of the Comprehensive Risk Management (CRM) approach of the United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) (www.undrr.org/crm), during the Caribbean Regional Workshop on Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in July 2023, the National Coordination Centre for Disaster Relief, agreed to the development of a CWP for Suriname taking into account the CCA and DRR as foundational principles to improving resilience.

The CWP will include objectives on resilient infrastructures and refer to environment sustainability and compliance with international commitments and key guiding principles for a development approach anchored in resilience and diversification of an inclusive and equitable economy, improved infrastructure systems and institutional capacities and conservation and promotion of unique environmental and cultural resource base.

The continued focus on the decentralization agenda and the renewed interest to support national and local governments on advancing coherent resilience agenda and step up their investments on DRR and CCA, requires the national government to pursue a national disaster risk reduction plan as an enabler for multi-sector integrated disaster risk management system with capacities at all levels.

UNDRR has developed guidance on integrating disaster risk reduction into National Adaptation plans and a complement to the national words-into-action (WiA) guidance on national DRR strategies on how to integrate climate change considerations into national DRR planning process. UNDRR has developed a tool on comprehensive risk assessment, with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and has advanced the development a tool on how to integrate climate change projections into national disaster risk assessments and plans to conduct additional technical training in Suriname to enhance systemic risk capabilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer of UNDRR Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean in Barbados office; with the support of the Director of the National Coordination Center for Disaster Relief; and in close collaboration with the UNDRR Office in Bonn, the UNDP's office in Suriname (UNDP MCO), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the consultant will:

i. Review Existing DRR governance instruments: The consultant should start by conducting a thorough review of existing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) instruments in Suriname. This includes analyzing government plans and policies, and community-level initiatives as well as regional strategies aimed at addressing disaster risks and climate change impacts. Identify strengths, weaknesses, gaps, and areas that require improvement or integration.

ii. Gap Analysis and Needs Assessment: Conduct a detailed gap analysis to identify the gaps, needs and opportunities for strengthened action within the current state of DRR efforts -including documents such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and best practices and international standards. This analysis should involve consultations with relevant stakeholders to understand their perspectives on the challenges faced and the resources available. Based on this assessment, prioritize key areas for improvement and identify the specific needs of different regions and communities.

iii. Develop a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Approach Report: Utilizing the findings from the gap analysis and needs assessment, the consultant should compile a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management report. This report should outline the current status of DRR in Suriname, highlight existing gaps, and provide a clear analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of current approaches. Additionally, the report should include case studies, data analysis, and relevant examples to support the recommendations and proposals. This report will be the basis for the preparation of a Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (CWP).

iv. Make Recommendations: Based on the gap analysis and needs assessment, the consultant should formulate practical and actionable recommendations for enhancing DRR efforts in Suriname. These recommendations should be specific to selected sectors, geographic regions, and vulnerable communities. They should also consider the allocation of resources, collaboration among stakeholders. Similarly, they should take a particular focus on the capacities needed and the raising of institutional awareness to implement a disaster risk reduction strategy in the country, and that foster a sense of ownership and commitment to building resilience against disasters and climate change impacts. These recommendations would need to be implemented within the preparation of a disaster risk reduction strategy (CWP).

v. Support a National Consultative Workshop with national stakeholders to present the findings of the Gap Analysis and the proposed actionable strategies to be integrated into the document.

vi. Develop the very first draft of a proposed Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (CWP) for Suriname. The main outcome of this consultancy is the preparation of a very first draft of Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy for Suriname agreed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in order to be approved in a later stage by the Cabinet office.

vii. Support a National Consultative Workshop, where the first draft of the proposed Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy for Suriname will be presented and discussed among national stakeholders. The outcomes of this workshop would need to be integrated in a final draft of the Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (CWP) for Suriname.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree in economics, geography, spatial planning or other social sciences, disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, development studies, environmental management, or related relevant fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree - Minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience in policy and strategic planning and coordination or relevant areas with national or local entities, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or international organizations is required. - Experience in policy advice, and policy analysis related functions with progressive professional responsibility in areas related to climate change adaptation or disaster risk reduction at sector, local or national level is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in Dutch and English is required.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

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.

Apply now

Added 4 months ago - Updated 4 months ago - Source: careers.un.org