Background

As a result of its geography, location and climate variability, Peru faces a variety of potential threats: the El Niño Southern Oscillation, torrential rains, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, droughts, cold spells and epidemics. The means of subsistence are under additional threat due to climate change as well as the local degradation of the environment. These factors, along with high levels of vulnerability that characterize the urban and rural populations of Peru, lead to potential disaster scenarios. In this context, UNDP supports its counterparts in putting in place actions that reduce disaster risks and strengthen capacities for recovery in a disaster situation.

The UNDP Peru Country Program Action Plan 2012-2016 establishes DRR and climate change adaptation as one of its strategic objectives. In accordance with the SINAGERD Law and the PLANAGERD 2014-2021, UNDP supports the integration of comprehensive management for disaster risk reduction in the planning of the state, at different territorial levels. Through the 2012-2016 CPAP corrective (reducing risks), reactive (efficient emergency response), and especially prospective (to avoid the generation or increase risk conditions) components are considered, including climate change adaptation approach.

UNDP Peru’s technical assistance in Disaster Risk Management - one of the four thematic areas of the Country Programme Action Plan 2012-2016 – aims at strengthen capacities at the three levels of government, civil society, private sector, and scientific and academic institutions, for integration and mainstreaming disaster risk management and climate change adaptation into policies, plans and programs to reduce vulnerabilities and increase population resilience. Two outcomes have been defined: 

 

  • Management tools and interventions incorporates prospective and corrective components of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation at sectorial and territorial levels.
  • Information systems, plans and protocols to manage emergency situations and disasters are designed and implemented at sectorial and territorial levels.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and in collaboration with the Programme Specialist Poverty and Policy Advice, the Advisor is responsible for contributing policy and programme advisory services related to UNDP’s Disaster Risk Management programme portfolio in Peru. The Advisor supports the programme team’s efforts in the strategic planning and the identification of new programme opportunities within the thematic areas of Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation, while ensuring consistency with UNDAF/ CPD priorities and creative responses to emerging challenges and opportunities.

The Advisor analyzes political, social and economic trends and leads formulation, management and evaluation of programme activities within the DRM and CCA portfolio. He/she contributes to policy dialogue with the government counterparts providing policy advisory services as well as supporting the identification of top-notch national and international energy and environment practitioners to further this dialogue.

The Advisor is working to ensure the execution of quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services as well as alignment with the Strategic Plan. She/he advances the mission of the UNDP and increases the credibility and recognition in this thematic area. She/he works in close collaboration with UNDP´s programme staff, the operations team, programme staff in other UN Agencies, UNDP HQs staff and Government officials, technical advisors and experts, multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and trust funds as well as civil society ensuring successful UNDP programme implementation.

The Advisor also supports the identification of emerging opportunities for resource mobilization with external donors and trust funds as they relate to areas of Disaster Risk Management while leading and providing guidance in the development of internal and external knowledge networks of practitioners in these thematic areas.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative, the Advisor is responsible for management of UNDP programme within the thematic/sectorial areas assigned.

Specific duties and responsibilities will include the following:

1. Support effective management of the following projects: “Capacity strengthening of SINAGERD”, “Sustainable Cities”, “GARD Initiative”, “Gender and DRM in el Agustino” and “TACC”, focusing on quality control from formulation to implementation achieving the following results:

  1. Substantive monitoring and evaluation of the projects, identification of operational and financial problems, development of solutions. Participation in audit of NEX projects.
  2. Initiation of a project, presentation of the project to PAC, finalization of contribution agreement; determination of required revisions; coordination of the mandatory and budget re-phasing exercises, closure of projects through review.
  3. Coherence and articulation with Environment and Energy portfolio, ensuring integration of Disaster Risk Management best practices in cluster interventions, particularly those related to Climate Change Adaptation and environmental management.

2. Ensures provision of top quality advisory services and facilitation of knowledge building and management focusing on achievement of the following results:

  1. Identification of sources of information related to policy-driven issues. Identification and synthesis of best practices and lessons learnt directly linked to programme country policy goals.
  2. Conduct analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons from projects and programmes to support policy development and innovation.
  3. Support to development of policies and institutions that will address the country problems and needs in collaboration with the Government and other strategic partners.
  4. Contribute to development of guidance in the specific thematic area, and related tools for the implementation of global policy standards.
  5. Keep an up-to-date library of knowledge related to the thematic area at country level and proactively share documents with colleagues.
  6. Contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. Organization of trainings for the operations/ projects staff on DRM and CCA issues.
  7. Contribution to knowledge building and policy development in support of the coupling of DRM and CCA strategies.

3. Supports implementation of programme strategies related to Disaster Risk Management articulated with Climate Change Adaptation focusing on achievement of the following results:

  1. Conduct relevant analysis and guidance and prepare initial drafts of technical policy advice and programme support documents.
  2. Thorough analysis and research of the political, social and economic situation in the country and preparation of substantive inputs to CCA, UNDAF, CPD, CPAP and other documents.
  3. Identification of areas for support and interventions related to Disaster Risk Management maximizing their articulation and coherence with climate change interventions and strategy.
  4. Incorporate gender equality and human rights’-based approach in policy and programming work.
  5. Support programme strategies implementation in other practice areas as required.

4. Support creation of strategic partnerships and implementation of the resource mobilization strategy in cooperation with the Management Support and Business Development Team focusing on achievement of the following results:

  1. Undertake research for partnership building and resource mobilization, developing first draft of papers and marketing materials. Analysis and research of information on donors, preparation of substantive briefs on possible areas of cooperation, identification of opportunities for initiation of new projects, active contribution to the overall office effort in resource mobilization.
  2. Support the development of partnerships with the UN Agencies, IFI’s, government institutions, bilateral and multi-lateral donors, private sector, civil society in the specific thematic areas based on strategic goals of UNDP, country needs and donors’ priorities.

Competencies

Functional Competencies: 

Advocacy/Advancing A Policy-Oriented Agenda

  1. Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate and comparative advantages.

Results-Based Programme Development and Management

  1. Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
  2. Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
  3. Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
  4. Analyzes country situation to identify opportunities for project development
  5. Participates in the formulation of project proposals and ensures substantive rigor in the design and application of proven successful approaches and drafts proposals accordingly

Building Strategic Partnerships

  1. Maintains an established network of contacts for general information sharing and to remain up-to-date on partnership related issues
  2. Establishes and nurtures positive communication with partners

Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing

  1. Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things
  2. Documents and analyses innovative strategies and new approaches
  3. Identifies and communicates opportunities to promote learning and knowledge sharing

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise

  1. Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position
  2. Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks
  3. Analyzes the requirements and synthesizes proposals
  4. Strives to keep job knowledge up-to-date through self-directed study and other means of learning
  5. Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments

Promoting Organizational Change and Development

  1. Researches and documents ‘best practices’ in organizational change and development within and outside the UN system
  2. Demonstrates ability to diagnose problems and identifies and communicates processes to support change initiatives
  3. Gathers and analyses feedback from staff

Design And Implementation of Management Systems

  1. Maintains information/databases on system design features
  2. Develops simple system components

Client Orientation

  1. Researches potential solutions to internal and external client needs and reports back in a timely, succinct and appropriate fashion
  2. Organizes and prioritizes work schedule to meet client needs and deadlines
  3. Establishes, builds and sustains effective relationships within the work unit and with internal and external clients
  4. Actively supports the interests of the client by making choices and setting priorities to meet their needs
  5. Anticipates client needs and addresses them promptly

Promoting Accountability and Results-Based Management

  1. Gathers, analyses and disseminates information on best practice in accountability and results-based management systems

Core Competencies:

  1. Demonstrating/safeguarding ethics and integrity

  2. Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment

  3. Self-development, initiative-taking

  4. Acting as a team player and facilitating team work

  5. Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively

  6. Creating synergies through self-control

  7. Managing conflict

  8. Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others

  9. Informed and transparent decision making

  10. UNDP Certification programmes Prince2, RMG is an asset

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree or equivalent in Political Sciences, Environmental Management, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, Engineering, Architecture, or related field; with specialization in Disaster Risk Management and/or Climate Change Adaptation.

Experience:

At least 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing management and substantive advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects in the field of Disaster Risk Management and/or Climate Change Adaptation.

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages, experience in handling of web based management systems and social knowledge networks.

Language Requirements:

English and Spanish proficiency is required; working knowledge of other UN official language or other language at the duty station is an asset.

 

IMPORTANT:  HOW TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed signed Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from  http://www.pe.undp.org/content/peru/es/home/operations/jobs.html. 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.