Advisor on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change

ADVISOR ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Location :Islamabad, PAKISTANApplication Deadline :31-Mar-13Additional CategoryEnvironment and EnergyType of Contract :FTA InternationalPost Level :P-5Languages Required :
English  Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)01-Apr-2013Duration of Initial Contract :One Year

Background

Background

The risk categorization of the Global Assessment Report for Disaster Risk Reduction 2009 places Pakistan in the ‘High’ risk category in terms of economic vulnerability, resilience to natural disaster loss and development limitations. Flood, drought, landslides, earthquakes and cyclones are the major hazards affecting Pakistan. In the recent past Pakistan has suffered a number of major socio-natural disasters, including the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, the 2010 and 2011 floods, each of which resulted in severe impacts on the population and the economy with substantial damages to livelihoods, health, education, infrastructure and other development sectors. In 2010, over 20 million people were affected, while in 2011 the damage was more localised, yet affecting 5 million people. In addition, seasonal and localized floods, droughts, and GLOFs have led to displacement and loss of life and livelihoods.

Climate change is also expected to increase the impact of natural hazards in Pakistan and disaster risk reduction measure constitutes effective and no-regret adaptation strategies.

Context

The Government of Pakistan approved the National Disaster Management Ordinance in 2007, based on Hyogo Framework for Action, in order to establish a national disaster management system in the country. At the national level the National Disaster Management Commission with a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) were established. A National Disaster Risk Management Framework was prepared by NDMA in March 2007.

NDMA is working to provide Pakistan with a National Disaster Management Plan and is also developing a National Disaster Management Policy. The latter includes provision for mainstreaming DRR within the strategies and programmes of all spending ministries within the Government of Pakistan.

The Ministry of Climate Change is mandated with all aspects of Climate Change; policies, strategies and programming, which include disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change. Work on disaster risk issues related to climate change is underway, for instance through the Second National Communication and the National Adaptation Framework is in progress.

Whilst NDMA leads on DRR policy, strategy and coordination, implementation of DRR programmes has been devolved to the Provinces under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, enacted in 2010. Provinces have established Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and an FDMA has been established for FATA.

Whilst these developments are positive, there is a need to generate broader commitment across the Government of Pakistan for DRR and to build resilience to multiple hazards. Despite the increasing risk, investment in DRR to build resilience to hazards within communities and within the economy has been woefully low: the share of bilateral aid spent on DRR between 2005 and 2009 was only 0.9%, against 12.2% in Bangladesh, 8.7% in India and 4.5% in Nepal (Disaster Risk Reduction: Spending Where It Should Count, Global Trends, March 2012)

The United Nations has defined disaster risk management as a priority and will work in two areas to support the successful implementation of the National DRR Policy:

Supporting the international effort to secure high level political engagement within the Government of Pakistan: There are a number of Global and Regional DRM initiatives where Pakistan can play a central role, including the Political Champions Group 2012 for greater political focus and investment in disaster resilience; the Istanbul Process- Heart of Asia Disaster Management Confidence Building Measures; Initiatives of the Disaster Management Centre of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC); and the regional groupings connected to the Countries in the Central Asia. In addition work is underway within Pakistan to raise the profile of DRR, including support the World Bank is providing to NDMA to strengthen risk assessment, calculate the fiscal cost of emergency response and develop options for risk financing which are sustainable within the Government of Pakistan’s budget envelope.

Increased focus on DRR within the UN country programme: Pakistan is a pilot UN Delivering as One country. The first UN joint programme on DRM started in 2009 will continue to the end of 2012. The New One Programme (OP II) for 2013-2017 includes “Increased national resilience to disasters, crises and external shocks” as one of its six strategic priority areas. A number of key planning documents, including the One Programme and Damage Needs Assessments outline elements of reconstruction priorities and the key areas of DRR focus for Pakistan.

Following initial short term support to the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in March/April 2012, longer term strengthening of the Resident Coordinators Office has been recommended to advance the disaster risk reduction agenda.

• Open the political space for disaster risk reduction within planning and financing of development sectors in Pakistan.
• Aligning and prioritizing multi-lateral and bilateral programmes with national and local priorities.
• Mapping DRR-related strategic initiatives with the objective of creating a shared understanding among key partners and laying the foundations for a national DRR framework.
• Championing, campaigning and communicating key disaster risk reduction principles in Pakistan.

Organizational setting and reporting

The Advisor will provide expert advice and support the UNRC/UNCT’s functions regarding disaster risk reduction as set out in UNRCs TORs. The Advisor will coordinate with the One UN DRM Team and provide timely policy and strategic guidance as required.

The Advisor will liaise with the Senior Officials of the National Focal Point for the Hyogo Framework for Action (National Disaster Management Authority), UN DRM Team, the national and provincial multi- sectoral and multi- stakeholder coordination mechanisms, regional and global UNISDR system coordination mechanisms for DRR, and UNISDR Asia Pacific Office in the function as the Advisor.

DRR Advisor will directly report to the UNRC.

NOTE: Islamabad, Pakistan is a non-family duty station 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:

Responsibilities   

• Within the overarching vision articulated by the government of Pakistan and in particular the DRM Plan, as well as the international support to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation provided by multi-lateral, bilateral and INGOs, the Advisor will work under the overall supervision and guidane of the UNRC.  

Description of responsibilities:   

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the UNRC, the DRR Advisor is responsible for:

• Working with the UN and the wider international community to secure high level political engagement in DRR within Pakistan;
• Providing the strategic direction to system-wide work on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (UN system and other actors); 
• Coordinating with National and Provincial DRR-CCA agencies and actors for DRR-CCA inclusive development programming; 
• Guiding the strategic positioning of DRR and CCA in the context of the UN and the Government of Pakistan development efforts and in particular the ongoing devolution embedded in the 18 th Constitutional Amendment;
• Providing leadership to the development of strategic partnerships and connectivity with the regional and global UNISDR system processes commitments and support.

Function / Expected Results   

• Work with the UN and the wider international community to secure high level political engagement in DRR within Pakistan  
• Work with the UNRC/HC to support the joint work with the World Bank and other donors to raise the political profile of DRR across the GoP, encourage GoP engagement with the Political Champions Group of 2012.  
• Provide substantive and strategic guidance to the GoP and UNRC for the Post- 2015 DRR and Development Agenda (MDG) consultations to ensure national sustainable development priorities are inclusive of DRR and CCA  
• Participate in regional and global practice development meetings on disaster risk reduction.  

Function / Expected Results   

• Provide strategic direction to the system-wide work on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (UN system and other actors)  
• Review of the main policy and planning documents related to DRR and CCA and identify strategic priorities for well coordinated DRR and CCA integrated programme planning and implementation in Pakistan  
• Advice UNRC/UNCT on system –wide DRR and CCA integration strategies in the specific context of Pakistan  
• Provide strategic inputs for the formulation of UN system policy, guidelines and practice notes on disaster risk reduction, recovery and CCA in Pakistan, work with the One UN DRM Team in the planning and implementation of the new One Programme (OP II) for 2013-2017.  
• Through UNHC promote the integration of DRR and CCA in response, cluster activities and transition to recovery.  
• Working with OCHA and the UN system partners to support the implementation of the Transformative Agenda, in liaison with the Like- Minded donor group  
• Strengthen international partners engagement on DRR around key programmatic areas (flagship initiatives) moving away from project support.  

Function / Expected Results   

• Coordinate with National and Provincial DRR-CCA agencies and actors for DRR-CCA inclusive development programming in Pakistan  
• Coordinate with the relevant Departments and Units of the GoP, UN agencies, donors and other partners to ensure that the DRR and CCA programmes contribute to the GoP national development plan and strategy, to the New One Programme (OP II)  
• Promote active engagement of development institutions, including at lower administrative levels (Provincial, District and other), identify catalytic areas where disaster risk reduction and CCA can be integrated in the development planning and programing for value addition and efficiency  
• Provide technical guidance in integrating DRR and CCA into UNCT and GoP programme planning, implementation and monitoring  

Function / Expected Results    

• Guide the strategic positioning of DRR and CCA in the context of the UN and the Government of Pakistan development efforts and in particular the ongoing devolution embedded in the 18th Constitutional Amendment.  
• Promote concerted effort to analyze losses from disasters and impacts on people, livelihoods and economy (hazard, risk and vulnerability analysis), working with the National Working Group on Risk Assessments, consisting of GoP, World Bank, UN agencies and Universities. to provide evidence base risk assessments and risk financing  
• Encourage initiatives that demonstrate effectiveness of investment in DRR, in resilience building to develop persuasive case for greater political leadership-measure investments, cost-benefit of addressing resilience and disaster risk in public and private investments offsetting of existing risk; risk assessments and risk financing which provide evidence of the prohibitive fiscal cost of disaster response in Pakistan  
• Assist the Government of Pakistan in its efforts to monitor progress against the Hyogo Framework for Action and other regional and international related commitments.  
• Contribute to UNs advocacy and communication efforts on disaster risk reduction and CCA with analysis and sharing of lessons and good practices with wider community of practice  

Provide leadership to the development of strategic partnerships and connectivity with the regional and global UNISDR system processes commitments and support   

• Based on identified needs by the authorities in different technical areas such as risk identification, early warning, help build partnerships at the national, regional or global levels to meet those needs. Serve as a broker in harnessing regional and global support through ISDR system partners to respond to such needs.  
• Advice and assist the DRR and CCA stakeholders to understand the links from policy to the grassroots and guide in tapping the resource available under the umbrella of green fund (or any new mechanisms which may come in support of UNFCCC)

Competencies

The position requires a degree of technical knowledge of: 

• Disaster risk reduction and climate change issues, 
• 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. 

Corporate Competencies: 

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN values and ethical standards 
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN 
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability 
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism 
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills
• 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 
• 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  

Knowledge Management and Learning  

• Promotes a knowledge-sharing and learning culture in the office 
• In-depth knowledge on development issues 
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice 
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills 
• Knowledge of UNDP/UN policies and programmes in crisis and post-crisis situations 
• Knowledge of UNDP/UN regulations, rules, policies, procedures and practices; operations 

Development and Operational Effectiveness  

• Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting 
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development programmes and projects, mobilize resources 
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office software and experience with web-based management systems 
• Ability to lead implementation of new systems (business side), and effect staff behavioural/ attitude change 

Management and Leadership  

• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback 
• Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills 
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude 
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills 
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors 
• Remains calm, in control and composed even under pressure 
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities 
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills 
• Communicates effectively with staff at all levels of the organization 
• Acts with tact and diplomacy. 
• Proves outgoing and comfortable in handling external relations at all levels. 
• Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors. 
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities. 
• Demonstrates compelling communication skills and cross-cultural effectiveness. 
• Demonstrates excellent political / conflict analysis, experience in bilateral and/or multilateral 
• negotiations, and negotiating and training / facilitation skills. 
• Possesses the ability to convey difficult issues and positions to senior officials, proven political judgment, sensitivity to local cultures.   

Required Skills and Experience

Education:   

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in social sciences or discipline relevant to disaster reduction with internationally recognized contributions to the theory and practice of disaster reduction.  

Experience: 

• Proven record of achievement over 10 years of increasingly responsible experience, at least 7 years in developing countries, preferably in South Asia in planning and managing technical co-operation strategies and relevant advocacy programmes in disaster reduction, emergency response and post-disaster recovery, climate change adaptation.  
• Extensive field experience in disaster environments and an in-depth knowledge of issues in the country.
• Application of theoretical knowledge in the design, management and evaluation of complex, multi-disciplinary capacity building programmes involving national governments, civil society and international organizations.  
• Well proven analytical and writing skills. Demonstrated abilities and contributions to policy and guideline formulation, resource mobilization, team building, team leadership and management, preferably in a capacity related to the UN system.  
• Experience in establishing inter-organizational networks and partnerships at the operational level.  

Language:   

• Fluency in English is essential. Other UN official languages an asset.  

FC: 04500 

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