Date of issue: 10 March 2010 / ISDR/C/06/2010
Post Title & Level:Consultant – investment tracking
Duty station:Geneva, Switzerland
Duration:3 months
Vacancy Notice number: ISDR/C/06/2010
Deadline for applications:19 March2010
Date of entry:14April 2010
United Nations Core Values:
Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity
Background:
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human, economic and social risk and losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations.
The implementation of the ISDR is supported by a secretariat lead by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The secretariat’s main functions are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.
In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction adopted the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and represents the key policy framework for reducing risk and to strengthen community resilience. The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, established by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is the main global policy forum for disaster risk reduction, and is complemented by a system of regional, thematic and national platforms, which bring together all relevant stakeholders.
In support of global efforts to increase investment in disaster risk reduction measures, the statements of stakeholders participating in the first session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2007[1], upheld the view that “ international funding should be better coordinated and tracked to ensure that development projects do not inadvertently increase risks by monitoring the type and volume of investments in risk reduction and measuring the performance of investments in reducing risk..”
As follow-up to the call for action on investment, UNISDR convened a multi-stakeholder workshop in January 2009 to begin the facilitation of a process to consider options for putting in place a system to track investments in disaster risk reduction (DRR) as part of a larger effort to increase investment in disaster risk reduction in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action.
The workshop participants agreed that next steps would focus on two phases starting with a scoping study[2] followed by a baseline assessment on the current status of resource tracking and resources. The background produced for the January 2009 workshop outlined some of the key conceptual issues including a working definition of disaster risk reduction investment and suggestions for a tracking methodology. The paper concluded with the view that reviewing how governments invest in disaster risk reduction is a key requirement in establishing a defensible tracking system.
The purpose of this consultancy is to undertake the first phase in a planned two phase exercise. This first phase will focus on the development and roll-out of a scoping study whose purpose is to map institutional resources on disaster risk reduction through a review of institutional resources, methods and practices in the collection, analysis and dissemination of data on disaster risk reduction investments. The second phase will focus on how governments invest in disaster risk reduction.
Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
The consultant will report to the Head of the Resource Management unit.
Functions/Duties and responsibilities:
- Undertake a literature review of relevant documentation in order to develop a clear understanding of the subject and the institutional framework in which the scoping exercise
- is to be rolled out as background to the development of a planned timeline and criteria for assessing the relative merits of the institutions reviewed in the scoping exercise: UN, International NGOs, regional development banks and related institutions like OECD and similar types of data collection and management such as in global data on epidemics.
- Develop a scoping study with clear objectives, a relevant timeline and criteria for assessing institutional resources;
- In cooperation with the Office of the SRSG, formulate a letter to Heads of relevant institutions introducing the study and its objectives and its relations to the larger purpose of increasing investment in DRR with a request to interview officials and access to the extent possible of relevant data, knowledge of information and document management systems including software;
- Develop an interview schedule and mission plan acceptable to UNISDR;
- Conduct interviews;
- Draft and present an Interim report on major findings and any evident trends drawn from interviews and review of the literature. This will include a breakdown of the elements that are common among the top institutes scoped, their differences, their value as sources of information relevant to UNISDR and partners in the ISDR system for tracking and analysis purposes, their rules on access and use of their data, and any additional information that will add value to the study;
- Draft a final report for comment and revise as required;
- Submit a final report
Deliverables/Expected results:
Date
/Deliverable
/Objective
17-04-10
/Literature Review
/To better understand and situate the study in disaster risk reduction context
23-04-10
/Scoping Study
/To develop a scoping study with clear objectives, relevant timeline and criteria for assessing institutional resources
03-05-10
/Letter to Heads of Institutions, drafted, cleared and sent under signature of the SRSG
/To introduce the study to heads of institutions
10-05-10
/Interview schedules and mission plan developed and cleared by UNISDR
/To ensure interviewees represent substantive institutional knowledge and background
(17-21)-05-10
/Interviews conducted and completed
/Timely and representative interviews
04-06-10
/Interim report
/To draft and present an interim report on major findings so far and any trends drawn from interviews and literature review
25-06-10
/Draft final report
/Final report for comment
13-07-10
/Final report
/Final report approved and submitted as a final deliverable
Competencies
Professionalism –Demonstrated ability to undertake research on data collection and data management systems relating to the disaster risk and disaster prevention and response. Demonstrated ability to provide seasoned advice on the organization and management of disaster risk information in multiple institutional settings including UN, International NGOs, regional organizations and banks, insurance companies and the private corporations. Communication–Strong verbal and writing skills for sifting and analyzing complex data, preparing reports and the ability to present and defend difficult positions to senior officials. Vision: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks and to clearly communicate links between the study’s objectives and larger issues relative to the study. Creativity: Original and creative thinking in setting up criteria for scoping studies and evaluation methods for analyzing and presenting findings. Client orientation: Demonstrated ability to identify and meet clients’ needs, provide appropriate solutions and establish productive partnerships with clients. Teamwork: Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries and to establish effective working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
Education: Advanced university degree in social sciences, international studies and development studies, urban planning or other relevant field; or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience in a related area.
Experience: At least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience, including at least 10 years in the area of international work related to disaster risk reduction; resource mobilization and relations with donors and information system design and development.
Language: Fluency in oral and written English. Knowledge of other UN official languages an advantage.
Please email the following documents to the ISDR secretariat at :
- Cover letter, explaining why you consider yourself qualified and motivated for this particular assignment.
- Completed personal history profile form ( this form can be downloaded from the UNISDR website)
It would be appreciated your stating your full name and the ISDR vacancy notice number (ISDR/C/06/2010) as the subject in your e-mail of application.
Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.
[1]As the main body of the ISDR system (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction), the goal of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction is to sustain world-wide momentum to build the resilience of nations and communities to disasters. The Global Platform is convened by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs in his capacity as Chair of the ISDR system and brings together a broad range of partners to assess progress made in implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015, to enhance awareness of disaster risk reduction, share experience and learn from good practice, identify remaining gaps as well as actions to accelerate national and local implementation.
[2]A scoping study would set out he desired scope of the initiative…outline objectives, linkages to international goals and strategies (MDGs, adaptation financing frameworks, HFA…reflect commitments of partners to participate in Phase 11 of the initiative, and set out resource requirements and sources of resources for the initiative (case and in-kind contributions).