UNDP Jobs - 50912- Re-advertisement - Disaster Risk Reduction Special

Re-advertisement - Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist

Location :

Amman, JORDAN

Type of Contract :

FTA International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

29-Dec-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

P-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

One year

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The exposure and vulnerability to disasters is growing in the Arab States region. The urban areas are especially at risk from sudden on-set disasters like frequent flooding (including flash flooding), earthquakes and tropical storms. The Regional Project on Arab Cities Disaster Resilience will work with 10 city and national authorities in selected high risk cities to establish city and national level capacities for reducing disaster risk by developing effective legislative and institutional mechanisms, city level disaster risk information systems including risk assessment and early warning capacities, city level knowledge management systems for training, education and awareness, implementing schemes and policies to address root causes of vulnerabilities and through better disaster preparedness.

The project has been designed in response to the prominent demographic and development trends in the region, and threats to sustainable development by a variety of factors, not least the climate change and resulting possibility of growing extreme events in the region.

Arab Cities Disaster Resilient Programme is in full alignment with the five priorities areas of the Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) and the goal of the 2010 Making Cities Resilient Campaign of UNISDR. The Programme intends to facilitate the implementation of Aqaba Declaration on Disaster Risk Reduction in Cities through mobilizing city and national authorities in Arab States, as well as communities, civil society organizations, private sector, media, academic institutions and other stakeholders.

The project will establish partnerships with regional bodies dealing with issues of urban development; e.g. the Arab Towns Organization (ATO), its subsidiary bodies including the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), and the Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) and such other bodies. The project is part of UNDP’s Regional Programme for Arab States (2014-2017) and is in line with its Outcome 4, namely "Early recovery and rapid return to sustainable development pathways are achieved in post-conflict and post-disaster settings" (UNDP Strategic Plan Outcome 6).

Under the direct supervision of Chief Technical Advisor for the Regional Project on Arab Cities Disaster Resilience and in close coordination with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor at the Regional Center, the specialist is responsible for supporting the day-to-day management and timely delivery of the project and its associated outputs in accordance with agreed timelines, standards and budget.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Provision of support to the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) in project implementation:

The DRR Specialist will be responsible for supporting the project implementation and contribute to the achievement of its results. The specialist will provide technical and substantive advice to the project management and support team.

The specialist will take a key role in the planning for the project’s activities and support the CTA to ensure timely allocation and utilization of resources through approved budgets and with observance of appropriate financial and budget controls. The specialist will support reviewing of resource allocation in light of project’s strategic goals and outcomes and identify opportunities to attract or leverage resources. The specialist will contribute to the identification of all significant risks and undertake appropriate action including the implementation of a risk management strategy as per the CTA’s guidance.

Substantive and advisory support:

Support the CTA technical delivery with focus on results and take a lead role in the delivery of the designated components;
Act as a resource person for the project in the field of city resilience and disaster risk reduction in the Arab region ensuring UNDP’s credibility in delivery on a highly visible programme;
Provide guidance and policy advisory services to the project’s target countries and regional partners (government, private sector, NGOs, etc.) on disaster resilience;
Assist the CTA in engaging local, national and regional partners in joint programming and policy dialogue on disaster resilience with the advisory support from the Regional Advisory Group (RAG);
Review information and communication materials, support the adaptation of relevant documents and tools, and promote a broad inter institutional collaboration and networks of expertise;
Facilitate utilization of the tools in other practices in order to ensure a cross-practice approach. Assist the CTA and engage under his/her guidance with project partner countries through the respective COs in shaping their disaster risk strategies, policies, norms and standards;
Support the CTA for advice on regional programme management on matters of strategic coordination with project stakeholders including beneficiaries and partners, and undertake related action as needed;
Contribute to the advocacy process for the project in line with the UNDP related global policies, norms and standards around disaster risks, city resilience, and climate change, as well as sharing best practices in the region;
Support the development of a knowledge management system in conjunction with the RAG and in close coordination with the Knowledge Management Practice;
Be responsible for the timely preparation and quality control of all substantive technical reports, progress reports, briefs and other required documents, including those required for the project board meetings;
Supervise outsourced research and dissemination of research findings on designated themes and topics;
In line with the project work plans, prepare technical specifications and ToRs for and recruit and manage the activities of the consultants and experts; ensure coordination of the work of these consultants/experts with that of other partners;
Mobilize advisory support from the Regional Center, as necessary for the project’s implementation, with continuous guidance from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor;
Ensure timely production and submission of all partial and/or progress reports by all members of the project team, contractors and project partners

Coordination:

Under the guidance of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor and the supervision of the CTA, coordinate and collaborate with the Regional Center related practice leaders and policy advisors to ensure a synergetic support to country offices providing advisory services in related areas;
Coordinate with UNDP COs to support the implementation of the project activities at the national and city level, with the coordinated advisory support of the Regional Advisory Group (RAG) for both COs and national/city entities;
Support the preparations for the project board, project review and/or evaluation meetings; follow-up on the implementation of the project board decisions and recommendations.

Partnership Building:

Contribute to the development and mobilization of resources and partnership building with international, regional and local institutions and agencies working on disaster resilience related fields under the supervision of the CTA in close coordination with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor at the Regional Center and RBAS Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Advisor;
Support the CTA in managing strategic project relations through liaising with individuals and institutions including government officials, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society, media, the private sector, and private foundations, under the supervision of the regional programme management and in close coordination with Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor and RBAS Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Advisor;
Identify sub-regional and inter-country development and integration opportunities and incorporate them into capacity development initiatives to address cross border issues and collaboration. Serve as a public advocate for the project in international fora and with civil society and the private sector; Identify and nurture key strategic alliances as well as identify opportunities to attract or leverage resources;
Ensure timely and adequate reporting to donors.

Impact of Results

The key results have impacts on the overall success of the Regional Programme for Arab States and the delivery of the Results Framework as foreseen in the Regional Programme Document. In particular, the key results have impact on the design, operation and programming activities, creation of strategic partnerships as well as reaching resource mobilization targets in relation to the critical programme area of energy and environment. The results would also guide the country offices for supporting their national counterparts for collaboration across the region on cross-country issues such as disasters and climate change.

Competencies

Corporate:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness, by modeling the UN/UNDP’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional:

Strong substantive disaster resilience and development issues and ability to link knowledge to UN/UNDP global policies, treaties, processes and frameworks;
Capacity to interact with senior officials and credibly influence senior decision makers in UNDP Programme countries and other international development organizations;
Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality reports and knowledge products.

Managing Relationships

Demonstrated well developed people management and organizational management skills;
Strong ability to operate in teams; creating an enabling environment, mentoring and developing other staff;
Excellent negotiating and networking skills with strong partnerships in academia, technical organizations;
Strong resource mobilization and partnering skills and ability to accept accountability for management of large volume of financial resources

Managing Complexity

Ability to address global development issues;
Substantive knowledge and understanding of development cooperation with the ability to support the practice architecture of UNDP and inter-disciplinary issues;
Demonstrated substantive knowledge and ability to integrate knowledge with broader strategic, policy and operational objectives;
A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts

Knowledge Management and Learning

Ability to strongly promote and build knowledge products;
Promotes knowledge management in UNDP and a learning environment in the office through leadership and personal example;
Seeks and applies knowledge, information and best practices from within and outside of UNDP;
Provides constructive coaching and feedback.
Demonstrates a strong capacity for innovation and creativity in providing strategic policy advice and direction

Judgement/Decision-Making

Mature judgment and initiative;
Proven ability to provide strategic direction to the project implementation process;
Independent judgment and discretion in advising on handling major policy issues and challenges, uses diplomacy and tact to achieve result.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Post graduate degree (Master) in a development related field of study, preferably linked to disaster risk reduction and resilience, urban and local governance, environmental science and/or climate change.

Experience:

A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in programme management, project oversight and preferably partnership building in the UN, or other international inter-/governmental or non-governmental organisations at the regional and national level;
A track record of national and regional working experience with increasing managerial responsibilities in the development arena and UNDP’s practice areas and the ability to link to global policy development for UNDP;
Extensive knowledge of the Arab region and its disaster risks related challenges and priorities;
Relevant professional experience and knowledge at the global and/or regional levels.

Language:

English (required);
Arabic (Asset);
French (Asset).