Date of issue: 04 December 2009 / ISDR/C/31/2009
Title: Consultant
Duty station: Virtual
Duration: 1 month
Vacancy Notice number: ISDR/C/31/2009
Deadline for applications: 18 December 2009
Date of entry: 1 January 2010
United Nations Core Values:
Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity
BACKGROUND
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 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 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 (WCDR, 18-22 January 2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan) adopted the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters adopted at the WCDR. 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.
Since the mid 90’s African countries began developing multi-stakeholder national coordination mechanisms for disaster management and response, the first being Ethiopia (1995) and Mozambique (1999). Since the establishment of the UNISDR regional Office for Africa in 2002, another 23 African countries established multi-stakeholder national coordination mechanisms, focusing on disaster risk reduction rather than on disaster response and relief, which are often referred to as national platforms for disaster risk reduction.
Several African countries have been implementing the HFA and are planning to establish National Platforms for DRR, to coordinate their efforts, among them Namibia. The government of Namibia has requested UNISDR to support the establishment of the Namibia National Platform for DRR and guide preparations by advising on a potential set-up.
To identify the best institutional mechanism for the establishment of a National Platform for DRR, existing coordination mechanisms and frameworks need to be analyzed and capacities evaluated, to guide the national counterparts in their efforts.
UNISDR Africa is therefore seeking a consultant to carry out an analysis of existing institutional mechanisms to establish a National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Namibia
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Under the supervision of the Coordinator of the UNISDR Regional Office for Africa, the Programme Officer in charge of the project, in close collaboration with the Emergency Management Unit, Office of the Prime Minister in Namibia, the consultant will:
1. Carry out a detailed analysis of the institutional context of Namibia, identify challenges and opportunities in the implementation of the HFA and activities of DRR
2. Carry out an analysis of the structure, capacity and DRR related tasks carried out by the Emergency Management Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister, which is the national focal institution for DRR in Namibia, and the National Emergency Management Committee, which is an existing national coordination mechanism, which could function as a National Platform.
3. Draw up an inventory of other current and potential stakeholders for DRR in Namibia, and to analyze and identify to what extent they could collaborate and act within a proposed framework of a National Platform for DRR to implement the HFA and the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR.
4. Propose a structure, composition and terms of reference for a national coordination mechanism/National Platform for DRR in Namibia, based on findings of the analysis.
These analyses represent a first step for further support the establishment for a sustainable and functional National Platform in Namibia.
At the end of the consultation, the consultant will draw up a mission report, which will present the following parts to describe the results produced from the analysis in Namibia. It will be based on the main following chapters:
· A brief overview of the national context and the general environment for DRR in Namibia (hazards, disasters, institutional set-up, stakeholders, main current initiatives, outlook).
· Results from the detailed institutional analysis (on the basis of a SWOT exercise) of the Directorate Disaster Risk Management and the National Emergency Management Committee, in relation with its implementation of the HFA and its future role in the national platform for DRR.
· An overall presentation of the potential stakeholders of the NP (with more detailed descriptive notes in the appendix), by describing their current or potential contributions to DRR, according to the guidelines of NPs and the HFA (Stakeholder analysis).
· Recommendations for actions to be taken to establish a national platform for DRR in Namibia, given its specific context, to help it carry out its mission on DRR according to the HFA. Recommendations will be put under categories and resources will be proposed to be allocated (an estimation of the resources needed for their implementation will be made) as well managers and beneficiaries, and a work plan schedule for implementation will be proposed.
Timeframe:
· Work plan with list of reference materials – within 1 week after the starting date
· Outline of mission report – within two weeks after staring date
· Draft mission report – within three weeks after starting date
· Final mission report – before completion of consultancy
Competencies:
Professionalism; Communication; Planning and organizing; Client orientation;
· Education: Advanced university degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in development studies, social sciences, environmental sciences or other related field.
· Work experience: Minimum 8 years work experience with disaster risk reduction or related fields. Experience in Africa and in particular in the SADC region is an added advantage.
· Languages: Fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.
Please email the following documents to the ISDR secretariat at
1. Cover letter, explaining why you consider yourself qualified and motivated for this particular position
2. Completed personal history profile (P-11 Form)
It would be appreciated your stating your full name and the ISDR Consultancy vacancy notice number (ISDR/C/31/2009) as the subject in your e-mail of application.
Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.