Background

The Capacity for Disaster Reduction Initiative (CADRI) is an inter-agency programme of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (UNDP/BCPR), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). CADRI serves as a vehicle through which the three organizations can maximize their ability to deliver as “one” for disaster risk reduction, focusing on capacity development in support of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA). CADRI was created in 2007 as the successor to the UN Disaster Management Training Programme (UN DMTP), which trained UN staff and governments in disaster management, from 1990-2006. 

The HFA serves as overall guidance for implementing disaster risk reduction worldwide. The HFA clearly states that capacity development is one of the four cross-cutting elements for reducing disaster risk. CADRI works with the UN system and governments at the country level and supports the broader ISDR system to make capacity development an operational element of disaster risk reduction. Services include: training and facilitation, materials development and dissemination, knowledge exchange and networking, capacity development advisory, assessment and planning services.

The Senior Coordinator’s role is to provide strategic direction and management oversight for CADRI’s programme, including responsibility for the day-to-day implementation and effectiveness of CADRI’s activities. The Senior Coordinator reports to the Chief of UNDP/BCPR’s Disaster Reduction and Recovery Team (DRT). He/she liaises closely with the Deputy of ISDR’s secretariat and with the Chief of OCHA’s Emergency Preparedness Section. The Senior Coordinator directly supervises two BCPR staff and oversees the CADRI related work of the three counterparts of OCHA and ISDR assigned to CADRI.  CADRI is hosted by the ISDR secretariat.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction for CADRI’s evolution as a global mechanism for capacity development to advance disaster risk reduction within the UN system, with governments and within the broader ISDR system.
• Manage the implementation of CADRI’s annual workprogramme including the budget, practice development, service delivery, partnerships, and resource mobilization, fostering a quality and results-oriented approach.
• Effectively position CADRI to be a strategic resource of the three organizations for capacity development and for its UN system work, working in partnership with diverse actors, within and external to the UN.
• Manage the staff and operations of CADRI.
• Serve as part of the senior management of BCPR’s DRT to develop and execute policies and strategies that address disaster risk reduction (DRR) issues, including the DRT’s own learning strategy and programme.

• Develop the strategic vision for CADRI, consistent with the rationale for CADRI to assist the three organizations to deliver as “one” for disaster risk reduction, focused on capacity development.
• Develop and oversee the execution of a global, multi-year programme strategy for CADRI that responds to and helps create demand on the part of Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams to help them strategically execute their disaster risk reduction roles and provide support to governments. 
• Selectively and strategically integrate and shape on-going and new activities with the three lead organizations to create a single, unified and coordinated capacity development initiative in support of the achievement of the goals and objectives of the HFA.
• Ensure that the Directors and Deputies of the three organizations can effectively advocate for/represent CADRI within their respective organizations and ongoing activities.
• Keep senior staff in the three organizations informed on CADRI matters as they pertain to Resident/Humanitarian coordinators and UN Country Teams.
• Mobilize resources, develop and oversee a resource mobilization strategy for CADRI, including the financing of core programme costs from the three organizations. Liaise closely with external resource personnel to ensure a coherent donor relations approach for CADRI. Represent CADRI in donor fora in support of resource mobilization activities.

• Prepare and oversee the implementation of CADRI’s annual workplan and budget for implementation as an inter-agency initiative.
• Define the core capacity development service areas and activities that need to be developed and/or undertaken in support of the effective implementation of the annual workplan and the achievement of intended results.
• Monitor the provision of capacity development services to Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams and Governments as called for in CADRI’s workplan and in response to requests.
• Ensure gender concerns and perspectives are integrated into all aspects of CADRI programming and capacity development measures, reflecting the mandates and priorities of the three lead organizations.
• Identify, procure and oversee contractual relationships for the implementation of CADRI’s workprogramme, including institutional contracts and external consultants.
• Ensure that capacity development principles and measures effectively underpin CADRI’s work and that CADRI’s approach to capacity development is consistent with best practices and current thinking, including UNDP’s capacity development practice architecture.
• Serve as an information resource to the broader ISDR system on how to make capacity development a cross-cutting element for disaster risk reduction, incorporating lessons, norms and standards from global experience.  
• Ensure that the CADRI team can report on the results of their activities in accordance with the outcomes identified in CADRI’s programme and annual workplan.

• Develop effective working relationships with personnel of the three organizations including headquarters staff, regional advisors, and national disaster advisors.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration with headquarters, regional and national personnel within the three organizations in relation to all of CADRI’s country and regional level activities.
• Develop strategic partnerships with other UN organizations and programmes that complement or relate to CADRI’s work, e.g. OCHA’s Humanitarian Coordination Strengthening Project (HCSP), UNDP’s Capacity Development Group, UN System Staff College, etc.  
• Establish strategic partnerships and alliances with external partners that can engage with CADRI and augment its own capacity including donors, academia, capacity development providers/resources, regional organizations, women’s organizations, etc.
• Oversee the creation of a pool of “associates” of UN and external partners who are conversant with CADRI’s approach and tools can augment CADRI’s staff. 

• Assign responsibilities for the implementation of CADRI’s workprogramme, consistent with the roles and work of the three organizations and the operational requirements to implement the workplan.
• Supervise the inputs and results of the BCPR/CADRI Programme Analyst in the context of CADRI’s work programme.
• Supervise the work of the DRT’s Training Coordinator to develop and implement the DRT’s own learning strategy.
• Identify learning opportunities (formal and informal) for members of the CADRI team to enhance their knowledge and skills in different capacity development areas, e.g. capacity assessment, organizational network strengthening, etc.
• Provide coaching and feedback to staff to further develop their competencies.
• Create a positive team environment and working relationships between the staff and between the three organizations. 
• Conduct annual performance evaluations of CADRI staff.

• Participate as a member of the DRT and as one of the DRT’s senior staff, contributing to policy and strategic programmatic discussions and decisions.
• Ensure CADRI’s own workprogramme contributes to and is consistent with the DRT’s strategic vision and programmed activities to advance the DRR sub-practice within UNDP, including Resident Coordinators ability to execute their disaster risk reduction roles.
• Develop linkages between CADRI country level work and the DRT’s global programmes and effectively position CADRI’s work to serve as the basis for a more expanded programme of support to Resident Coordinators, UN Country Teams and to governments by the DRT’s global programmes. 
• Contribute to the formulation and implementation of the DRT’s internal learning strategy and programme, including building on the training courses developed by the DRT in 2007/08 and ensuring consistency across the DRT’s training.
• As requested, serve as a resource on capacity development for the DRT team. 
• Serve as officer in charge of the DRT, as requested, during absences of the Team Leader.

Competencies

• Good knowledge of UNDP/UN rules, regulations, policies, procedures and practices
• Good understanding of UNDP programming modalities, particularly in crisis and post-conflict settings
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

• Knowledge of disaster risk reduction principles, approaches and processes
• Understanding of the evolution of the disaster context and field, including the aims and objectives of the ISDR system and the role of the HFA.
• Knowledgeable about the UN’s disaster risk and humanitarian policies, work and practices, including the role and work of the UN system at the country level
• Familiar with capacity related matters that national governments require/face in order to advance DRR, including the need for leadership, ownership and the ability to engage diverse actors and how to integrate these issues into thematic and sector related DRR assistance strategies and skills in the areas of capacity development.
• Outstanding knowledge of facilitation/training, process and change management.
• Familiarity with and use of a wide range of capacity development tools and methodologies
• Familiarity with adult learning theory, instructional design and learning materials development processes.
• Ability to interact with and credibly influence senior decision makers on capacity development related issues related to the disaster risk reduction role and work of the UN system at the country level.

• Ability to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team environment
• Excellent supervisory, team-building, diplomatic and interpersonal skills
• Resourcefulness, initiative and maturity of judgement
• Strong verbal and written communication and advocacy skills

• Familiar with the mandates of the three organizations and able to establish working relationships that take into consideration the respective organizational priorities, culture and evolving needs
• Able to relate to UN agencies, international organizations and institutions, including UN Country Teams, NGOs, both at HQ and field levels.  
• Demonstrated well developed people management, problem solving and conflict resolution skills
• Strong ability to create a team concept, to mentor and develop staff
• Strong network and partnership building skills
• Works effectively with people from all nationalities and background and has respect for diversity

• Prior experience working with multiple/inter-agency coordination mechanisms and processes and/or global level programme management experience.
• Ability to work in an environment requiring liaison and collaboration with diverse actors
• A sound global network of institutional and individual contacts
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity, tact and diplomacy

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced University Degree in one of the following: Public Policy/Administration, Organizational Development, Development Management, International Relations, and Disaster Management.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience of which at least half of that time has been working at the international level in the design, implementation and/or management of programmes for disasters, emergency management, disaster risk management, with a strong capacity development element.  
• Experience working for public international organizations, and particularly UN agencies.
• Proven managerial skills.
• Experience in leading/managing programmes that provide advisory services and analysis, including knowledge product development and dissemination.

Language requirements: 

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English are essential. Working knowledge of other UN official languages (French, Spanish) would be an asset.