Empleos en el PNUD - 41461- Re-advertisement - Disaster Reduction Specialist

Re-advertisement - Disaster Reduction Specialist

Localidad :

Bamako, Malí

Tipo de contrato :

FTA International

Fecha de comienzo del contrato :

Fecha límite de postulación :

19-Feb-14 (Medianoche Nueva York, Estados Unidos)

Nivel de puesto :

P-4

Duración del contrato inicial :

Idiomas requeridos :

Inglés Francés

Duración esperada del puesto :

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Antecedentes

Those who previously applied do not need to apply again.

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 Disaster Reduction Advisors in selected high disaster-risk countries.

Under the overall authority of the RC-RR and the supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme) of the Country Office and the technical supervision of the BCPR Regional Disaster Reduction Advisor for West and Central Africa, the Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor is responsible for providing technical advice and strategic direction for the development and implementation of disaster risk reduction programmes at the country level.

Country Context

Mali - one of the poorest countries in the world with an HDI of 175 out of 187 - experienced rapid economic growth after the 1990s, coupled with a flourishing democracy and relative social stability.

Mali was regarded as a model of African democracy until military seized power in March 2012. This political instability was further compounded when the steady collapse of state control over the north of the country led to the declaration of independence of 'Azawad state', which includes Timbuktu by Tuareg rebels backed by Islamists in April 2012.

It is the largest among the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries by land area, with a population of approximately 13.5 million. Its population is growing at annual rate of three percent. Mali’s social indicators remain among the lowest in the world. The positive performance in terms of economic growth has not translated into improved human development outcomes. The country’s economy is highly dependent on gold mining and agricultural exports such as cotton.

Although swathes of Mali are barren, the country is self-sufficient in food thanks to the fertile Niger river basin in the south and east. However Mali’s agriculture is highly vulnerable to desertification as well as climatic shocks. The vast majority of the people are directly dependent on their environment for their livelihoods (herding, farming or fishing). Mali’s vulnerability is mainly linked to its landlocked position in West Africa surrounded by seven countries, and its Sahelian climate, dry tropical, with high variability alternating drought and intense rainfall. It is also linked, during the rainy season, to the flooding of the two great rivers Niger and Senegal. Between 1980-2007, disasters, including drought, floods and epidemics, affected nearly 3 million people and killed about 3,300 people. Mali experienced fifteen floods events during that period.

Disaster Risk Reduction is a country priority. PRECARICA, a partnership between the Malian government, UNDP, and the Danish Cooperation started in 2009 has enhanced the capacity of the government to better identify risk in terms of drought and other natural hazards through assessing disaster risk at community level. Concurrently UNDP in partnership with GEF supported the strengthening of local capacities to better integrate climate risks in local development plans in rural communities. In early 2012, the UN system (UNDP, OCHA, UNICEF, WFP and FAO) has facilitated a capacity assessment looking at systems, policies and programs in place for disaster risk reduction across sectors. On this basis, preparatory work for a plan that will address food security including livelihood, flood risk management, locust infestation has started.

Building on the foundations of the PRECARIA program, and recommendations of the inter-agency capacity assessment, UNDP will support the strengthening of Disaster Risk Reduction capacities at central and local level with the view to further strengthen the resilience of institutions and communities. This effort will be pursued in close coordination with other partners including the WB Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR).

DRR programming will be integrated with other Crisis Prevention interventions as well as the implementation of the Mali MAF and Action Plan, formulated through the ‘Delivering as One’ modality, which covers the 166 identified poorest communes, which are also the most vulnerable from a food security standpoint.

To strenghten resilience at household, community, local and national level, stronger national and local capacity in DRR is required to ensure that future risks are reduced and adequately responded to. A Disaster Risk reduction Advisor will be deployed for one year to accompany UNDP and the Government in providing of expert input for the preparatory work of a comprehensive disaster risk reduction and recovery strategy that will fit into the framework of broader resilience building efforts.

Deberes y responsabilidades

Provide leadership and technical input for the design, development, and implementation of UNDP/ UN disaster risk reduction initiatives in support of the national governments;
Identify specific needs and demands of the country programmes in different technical areas – climate change, risk identification, urban risk management, pre-disaster recovery planning, post disaster recovery processes – 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;
Analyse the socio-economic environment, disaster-risk and institutional context to provide advisory services in the field of disaster rick reduction and recovery, identifying catalytic areas where disaster risk reduction can be integrated and add value to other, ongoing or planned UNDP support interventions;
Identify and follow up on potential opportunities for resource mobilization in support of disaster 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;
Promote integration of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery programming with other Crisis Prevention and Recovery related interventions (security sector reform, reintegration of ex combatants, conflict prevention and local mediation initiatives) and ensure overall coherence between DRR programming and other resilience building interventions. In particulat the Disaster Risk Reduction Adviser will work closely with the other CPR advisers and Peace and Development Advisor when relevant to ensure that there is a comprehensive approach to resilience building in the country;
Ensure that DRR interventions are programmed following a conflict sensitive approach especially in relation to natural resource management, access to water etc;
Promote gender-responsive Disaster Risk Reduction through through the conduct of gender responsive analysis, advocating for the collection of sex-disaggregated data across various line ministries and agencies on the impact of disasters on men and women; through the conduct of gender-specific needs assessment (including PDNA), through the promotion of women to take up leadership roles in disaster management activities at the community level; through ensuring that gender is integrated into DRR programming and monitoring;
Coordinate UNDP disaster risk reduction 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 UN System.
As required, provide targeted support to the UN RC office for coordinating UN and other relevant stakeholders recovery and disaster risk management efforts;
Contribute substantively to the work of the UN working group on Early Recovery, that UNDP is coordinating ;
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; preparing and planning for longer term recovery and reorientation, as appropriate, of existing CO programmes to meet recovery needs;
As required, provide support to corporate BCPR Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives at global or regional level; in particular contribute to deliverables of the global BCPR DRR workplan, to the implementation of the regional strategy for the Sahel, to the implementation of the corporate resilience building strategy and to the implementation of the BCPR eight points agenda for gender;
Ensure appropriate linkages, coherence and integration between DRR programming and climate change adaptation programming notably through the documentation of lessons learnt from the implementation of the African Climate Adaptation Programme and the Climate Risk Management technical Assistance.

Knowledge management

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

Policy

Advocate, promote awareness and understanding of the links and mutually supportive goals and objectives of disaster reduction, 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 risk reduction and recovery;
As needed, based on country level experience, provide inputs for the formulation of UNDP/ UN system policy; guidelines and practice notes on disaster 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 into UNDP/ UN system supported development initiatives in the country.

Competencias

Core:

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;

Functional:

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

Managerial:

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.

Behavioral:

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

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

Master Degree in social sciences or discipline relevant to disaster reduction with internationally recognised contributions to the theory and practice of disaster reduction.

Experience:

Proven record of achievement over 7 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;
High degree of technical knowledge of disaster risk reduction, ability to quickly analyze and understand the country context, build partnerships, develop innovative solutions and mobilize regional and global knowledge to meet the specific country needs;
Application of theoretical knowledge in the design, management and evaluation of complex, multi-disciplinary capacity building programmes involving national governments, civil society and international organisations. Well proven analytical and writing skills. Demonstrated abilities and contributions to policy and guideline formulation, resource mobilisation, team building, team leadership and management, preferably in a capacity related to the UN system. Experience in establishing inter-organisational networks and partnerships at the operational level.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in French is required. A good knowledge of written and spoken English is also essential.