Antecedentes

Job Title: Technical Specialist (National Disaster Risk Management)

Project Title/Department: Strengthening Disaster Risk Management Capacities in Uzbekistan

Expected places of travel: Across Uzbekistan/Internationally, as required

Reports To: ARR (P) who will delegate day to day management responsibility to Head of EEU

Post category information: Development Project Funded (DPF) post.

UNDP works closely with governments in high disaster-risk countries to build capacities at the national, sub-national and local levels for reducing disaster risk. A major role of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR) is to support UNDP Country Offices in the formulation and implementation of programme and projects for disaster risk reduction. As part of this support, BCPR fields National Disaster Reduction Advisors (NDRA) in selected high disaster-risk countries.

Under the supervision of the Head of Environment and Energy Unit (UNDP CO), the technical guidance of the BCPR Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor (Bratislava), and general guidance of the Assistant Resident Representative (ARR) of the UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan, the NDRA is responsible for providing technical advice and strategic direction for the development and implementation of disaster and climate risk reduction programmes/projects at the country level.

Uzbekistan ranks high among countries that have endured significant loss of life and property due to earthquakes and other natural disasters. As one of the most seismic active regions in Central Asia, Uzbekistan has been struck by earthquakes in the eight to ten point ranges quite frequently. It ranked 24th on the Hot-Spot Countries list of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery Programme in 2007. This list described Uzbekistan in the following manner: 9.3 % of total area is at risk; 65.6% of population is living in areas of risk; 65.5% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (US $ 12 billion annually) is earned in areas of risk.

In addition to its seismic vulnerability, Uzbekistan is affected by hydro-meteorological hazards affecting the agricultural sector with seasonal floods and periods of drought. Other threats from landslides, locust invasions and avalanche have been reported to affect the lives and livelihood of Uzbekistan’s population.

Deberes y responsabilidades

• Provide leadership and technical input for the design, development, and implementation of UNDP/ UN disaster and climate risk reduction initiatives in support of the national governments.
• Identify specific needs and demands of the country programmes in different technical areas – risk identification, urban risk management, climate risk management, pre-disaster recovery planning – and help build partnerships at the national, regional or global levels to meet those needs. Where possible, serve as a broker in harnessing regional and global support through BCPR to respond to such needs.
• Analyze the socio-economic environment, disaster-risk and institutional context to provide advisory services in the fields of disaster reduction and climate risk management, identifying catalytic areas where disaster and climate risk reduction can be integrated and add value to other, ongoing or planned UNDP support interventions.
• Coordinate UNDP disaster reduction and climate risk management efforts with the other ISDR system partners – government agencies, UN agencies, the World Bank, national and international NGOs, academic and technical institutions -- at the country level. Where suitable (such as in One-UN Pilot Countries), serve as a resource for the ISDR system in ensuring that the national government receives a coherent package of support from the System.
• Identify and follow up on potential opportunities for resource mobilization in support of disaster and climate risk reduction programmes. This may include support from bilateral development partners, the international financial institutions, as well as cost-sharing with the host government. As needed, advise the Country Office on preparation of project proposals for submission to BCPR Project Appraisal Committee (BPAC) for resource allocation.

• Monitor ongoing projects substantively through discussing project work plans, progress and performance; conduct evaluation missions and write TORs for consultants; propose direction and solutions in steering committee meetings, visit project sites to monitor and assess implementation; resolve problems in execution and implementation streamlining relations between national project directors, consultants and executing agencies. Seek complementarities and integration with ongoing projects in other portfolios.

• In post-disaster situations, in coordination with the Regional Disaster Reduction Advisor (and other support available from regional and global level) advise the Country Office on recovery issues including: utilization of emergency grants; post-disaster assessments; formulation of early recovery frameworks/ programmes; reorientation, as appropriate, of existing CO programmes to meet recovery needs; and planning for longer term recovery.

• Distil lessons learned and good practices and share them with the CO, the UNCT, BCPR, the CPR Network and the wider disaster reduction and climate risk management communities of practice. Participate in regional and global practice development meetings on disaster and climate risk reduction.
• Mentor UNDP/ UN system staff members and/ or project personnel working on disaster reduction and climate risk management issues

• Advocate, promote awareness and understanding of the links and mutually supportive goals and objectives of disaster reduction, climate risk management, sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
• As appropriate, on behalf of UNDP/ UN system provide policy level advice to the host government in development of institutional, legislative and policy frameworks for disaster and climate risk reduction.
• As needed, based on country level experience, provide inputs for the formulation of UNDP/ UN system policy, guidelines and practice notes on disaster and climate risk reduction and recovery. Report on key trends in UNDP/ UN system programme portfolio at the country level and its policy implications.
• Facilitate advocacy efforts related to mainstreaming disaster reduction and climate risk management into UNDP/ UN system supported development initiatives in the country.

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Integrity and fairness -- embodies UN values and promotes the well-being of all individuals regardless of gender, religion, race, nationality, or age.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability – communicates effectively with and relates to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives.
• Strong corporate commitment - works to achieve the goals of UNDP as a whole making significant contributions to corporate priorities or initiatives led by other UNDP offices and bureaus

• Knowledge of the international disaster reduction system
• Knowledge of country’s hazards, vulnerabilities and risks
• Ability to provide inputs for disaster and climate risk assessments and its application to risk management decision-making

• Ability to build strong relationships with external actors – cultivate productive relationships with donors, partners and other important institutions and individuals
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to anticipate and understand client needs, formulate clear strategic plans,
• Prioritize interventions, and allocate resources according to priorities
• Ability to develop innovative solutions - encourages and contributes creative solutions to address challenging situations

• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment
• Resourcefulness, initiative, and maturity of judgment

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Advanced university degree in social sciences or discipline relevant to disaster reduction with internationally recognized contributions to the theory and practice of disaster reduction.

Experience:

• Proven record of achievement 5 years of increasingly responsible experience in planning and managing technical co-operation strategies and relevant advocacy programmes in disaster reduction, emergency response and post-disaster recovery.
• Extensive field experience in disaster environments and an in-depth knowledge of issues in the country.
• Application of theoretical knowledge in the design, management and evaluation of complex, multi-disciplinary capacity building programmes involving national governments, civil society and international organizations.
• Well proven analytical and writing skills.
• Demonstrated abilities and contributions to policy and guideline formulation, resource mobilization, team building, team leadership and management, preferably in a capacity related to the UN system.
• Experience in establishing inter-organizational networks and partnerships at the operational level.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Russian and in English essential. Other UN official languages an asset.