Jobs - 50770- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Offi

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Officer - (Open to Filipino Nationals Only)

Location :

Applicants must be prepared to be stationed in one or several of the project areas which include, but not limited to Tacloban City, Ormoc City and Guiuan Municipality, PHILIPPINES

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

31-Oct-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SC-8

Duration of Initial Contract :

Twelve (12) months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Possible extension depending on performance and funding availability

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

Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), one of the strongest typhoons in recorded history, hit the Visayas (Central Philippines) on 08 November 2013 with a force equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane. Rainfall rates reached 30 mm per hour, wind speeds clocked upwards of 315 km/h and massive storm surges went up to 5-6 meters high along the coastal areas. Over a 16 hour period, the “super typhoon,” swept through six provinces in the central Philippines, knocking out power, telecommunications, and water supplies. Along the eastern coast of Samar, Eastern Samar and Leyte, extensive damage was caused by powerful storm surges that were akin to a tsunami. Entire villages were swept away by the sea, claiming thousands of lives and causing heavy infrastructure damage in highly populated areas. On the western coast and mainland areas of Samar and Leyte, severe winds flattened vast areas of farmlands planted with coconut and banana trees. Strong winds also caused damage, although to a lesser extent, along the coasts of Cebu, Panay and Coron.

Hardest hit were the islands of Leyte and Samar, particularly Tacloban City where 90 percent of the infrastructure was destroyed. The latest official figures from government indicate that 1.1 million homes were destroyed, 16.1 million people were affected, and 4.1 million were displaced. At least 6,300 people have been confirmed dead across all areas hit by the typhoon.

Since November 2013, UNDP has provided assistance to the affected LGUs and communities particularly in the fields of debris clearing and management, livelihood, and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM). In line with the government strategy advancing from humanitarian assistance to recovery and rehabilitation, UNDP’s programme of support has also moved from early recovery efforts to longer-term recovery interventions. With funding support from the European Union (EU), UNDP is currently implementing a comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation project in selected Yolanda-affected communities in the Visayas, focusing on the following components: 1) disaster-resilient public infrastructure; 2) sustainable livelihoods; 3) resettlement of displaced populations; and 4) support to recovery coordination and local capacities for disaster risk reduction and management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance of the UNDP Team Leader for Crisis Prevention and Recovery in Manila, and direct supervision of the Project Manager of the UNDP Yolanda Recovery Programme, the DRRM Officer will perform the following functions:

Provide primary technical inputs in the formulation of strategies and approaches to attain intended results for DRRM;
Coordinate with the Project Manager and relevant project staff in preparing annual detailed workplans to achieve DRRM results and ensure complementarity with other programme interventions;
Ensure that DRRM interventions are carried out in accordance with the approved workplan, ensuring that the status of the DRRM deliverables is regularly reviewed against targets and reported to management and concerned entities for proper action;
Monitor the implementation of DRRM activities, identify gaps, issues and risks and assist in addressing these as necessary;
Ensure that UNDP DRRM activities are in line with government policies and priorities and are carried out in accordance with UNDP Yolanda Recovery Programme strategies and contractual obligations;
Provide technical guidance to UNDP DRRM personnel and coach/mentor and propose DRRM capacity building for partners as required;
Facilitate the mainstreaming of DRRM and climate change adaptation (CCA) into other UNDP activities and facilitate the link and mainstreaming of DRR and CCA into local planning processes (i.e. CLUP and CDP);
Act as DRRM resource person during UNDP trainings/workshops;
Prepare written reports on DRRM internally as well as for donors;
Link with other agencies undertaking DRRM for possible collaboration;
Performs other tasks as may be assigned by the Supervisor.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Has excellent analytical and problem-solving skills;
Builds strategic partnerships;
Promotes organizational learning and knowledge-sharing;
Demonstrates client orientation.

Core Competencies:

Demonstrates strong leadership;
Demonstrates sound judgment;
Strategic with ability to conceptualize and operationalize;
Takes initiatives;
Acts as a team player and facilitates teamwork.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree in disaster management, social sciences or related field;
Specialized training in disaster risk reduction and management highly desirable.

Experience:

5 years of relevant experience in DRRM project management and coordination;
Good understanding of Government DRRM structures, legislation and related ordinances including DILG guidelines on the Rationalized Planning System (RPS);
Experience in the use of computers and office software (MS Word, Excel, etc.);
Experience in project implementation in a post-disaster context an advantage;
UN/UNDP experience an advantage.

Language requirements:

English and Filipino;
Knowledge of regional languages in the Visayas an advantage.

Note:

The selected candidate will receive a salary that is commensurate with his/her background and work experience. Interested applicants are requested submit their application ONLINE and complete the UN Personal History Form (P.11), available in our website http://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/operations/jobs/ on or before 31 October 2014. Kindly note that only completed P.11 forms will be reviewed. UNDP is an equal opportunity employer.

Please note that we will contact only the short-listed candidates.