May 30, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Early Warning Expert to SADC-SHOC Jobs in Kenya

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR has around 140 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences.

Specifically, UNDRR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the international strategy for disaster reduction, now the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people’s lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women of all stakeholder groups in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as Prevention Web, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organization of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

In March 2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015- 2030 was adopted by the UN General Assembly. In alignment with the SFDRR, the African Union (AU) member states developed a new Programme of Action (PoA) for the implementation of the SFDRR in Africa. In addition to the seven global targets of the Sendai Framework, the PoA has an additional 5 targets.

The PoA aims to achieve “substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.” Early Warning Systems (EWS), which ensure people are prepared and ready to act in the event of a disaster, are one of the most effective measures that government can undertake to achieve substantial reduction of disaster losses.

In that light, the PoA, as stipulated in the SFDRR, targets to substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030, and increase the number of countries with, and periodically testing, risk-informed preparedness plans, and response, and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction mechanisms.

However, achieving these targets would require establishment of agile and interactive early warning systems at all levels to facilitate mitigation, response and recovery to increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazards. A regional and continental response has to be enhanced to proactively support member states in mitigating impacts of natural hazards and in event of a disaster.

Observing from the recent disasters on the continent, hazards such as droughts, floods, tropical storms and cyclones, pests and epidemics have constantly affected more than one country simultaneously. Even where such hazards occur locally, the severity in which these events have manifested could easily overwhelm localized response. Many countries face multiple disasters at the same time.

The African Union Commission (AUC) has developed an innovative response: the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme. Endorsed by 55 AU Heads of states in 2022, AMHEWAS represents a significant step towards achieving the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The

programme’s primary objective is to drastically increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning and disaster risk information.

This will play a crucial role in strengthening development, reducing poverty, and promoting resilience as outlined in AUC’s Agenda 2063. Under this framework, UNDRR is recruiting consultants to build capacity of the regional situation room at SADC to improve quality and value of services for early warning, early action and disaster risk reduction at the continental, regional and national levels in Africa.

The Expert for Early Warning Systems will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer, UNDRR Regional Office for Africa, and will work directly with the coordinator in SADC-SHOC in Nacala, Mozambique.

The consultant will work in close coordination with operators at the AUC, and with the technical team within UNDRR and its technical partner organization(s). Specifically, the consultant will support the SHOC multi-hazard situation room at Nacala in:

The day-to-day operations of the situation room in its multi-hazard forecasting and early warning system,

Integrating the SADC situation room with the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action Systems (AMHEWAS) and AUC situation room,

Capacity development and training on impact-based multi-hazard early warning, early and anticipatory action and management and application of risk information to staff of the SHOC and disaster management, meteorological and hydrometeorological institutions of SADC Member States,

Development of the legal/institutional frameworks and standard operating procedures for the SHOC, including on transboundary data sharing arrangements, among others,

Design the regional multi-hazard early warning bulletin in consultation with other the relevant bodies and the provision of bulletins and advisories to SADC member states, including through co-production and regional adjustment of the Continental Watch bulletin,

Diversifying the hazards covered and early warning advisory products produced by the SHOC situation room,

Participate in coordination and technical meetings with the other continental and regional situation rooms,

Other duties to support the operations of the SHOC situation room, as required.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Management, Geography, Hydrology or other relevant fields is required.

A first-level university degree in any of these fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Five (5) years of experience at the national or international level in the implementation or other relevant programmes/projects of Disaster Risk Reduction is required.

Experience in managing early warning or disaster operations projects and working in Africa at regional or national level on Disaster Risk Reduction/Management (DRR/M) is required.

Experience in forecasting, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Early Warning Systems (EWS) is desirable

Experience in coordinating/implementing early action or anticipatory action programmes is desirable.

Experience in management of emergency information, for the generation of Early Warning (EW) messages is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French or Portuguese is desirable.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Early Warning Expert to SADC-SHOC Jobs in Kenya

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