Consultancy: Socio-economic impacts of multi-hazards including biological hazards/COVID19

Background:

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) holds scientific and intellectual leaderships in the field of natural hazards management and the risk reduction through its multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral initiatives; international scientific collaboration and its Academic Networks, Chairs and Programmes. The Organization operates at the interface between natural and social sciences, education, culture and communication to foster socio-economic and ecological resilience in areas prone to natural hazard. UNESCO assists counties in building and strengthening capacities in risks prevention.  It plays a vital role in supporting Member States in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030), in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.

The Sendai Framework for DRR aim is to achieve the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health of people. The Framework addresses the mitigation of risks to reduce drop in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.  It also addresses the institutional measures that prevent hazards and vulnerability to disasters.

The project entitled ‘Urgent Interventions to strengthen the Socio-Ecological System Resilience in MENA Region’ funded by the Government of Japan, is designed to provide instruments and tools to strengthen ecological resilience and boost the readiness of communities in addressing and managing natural hazards in risks prone areas.  The project is implemented in Egypt and Jordan, in close coordination with UNESCO Amman Office. The project’s position is located in the Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States in Cairo, Egypt.

Assignment:

Within the framework of the Ecology and Earth Sciences Programme of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States in Cairo (UCO), under the overall supervision of the Director of UCO and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Ecology and Earth Sciences (EES) at UCO, the consultant shall undertake studies on the socio-economic impacts of natural hazards including biological hazards (Pandemics/COVID19) in the three (3) sites in Egypt targeted by the project.

To this end, the consultant shall undertake the following tasks:

• Identify and analyze potential risks of natural hazards including biological hazards such as COVID19;
• Assess the following:
  • Public perceptions of natural hazards risk including biological hazards /COVID 19,
  • Knowledge and perceptions  of precautionary principles,
  • Community willingness to prepare for emergencies measures at local levels;
• Evaluate the socio-economic impacts of identified potential natural hazards (including biological hazards/COVID19).

The evaluation should address possible and real impacts on:

• Local economy;
• Employment;
• Youth and women;
• Market dynamics (i.e. market opportunities and changes following economic recession or pausing in times of/post-natural natural hazards and biological hazards events);
• Values of positive and negative externalities on the environment, society and economy;
• Any other site specifics.

• Assess infrastructure resilience in times of natural hazards and biological hazards, and during the recovery and post-recovery phases;
• Map the dynamic of the social capital including how local community groups are linked together and interact with each other and existing and             potential local partnerships to ensure strong/well rounded community groups.

Coordination/Consultation:

• Regular contact, on weekly basis with EES Programme Specialist and the project team at UCO on the advancement of the assignment and copy the Programme Specialist, the project’s coordinator and assistant on all correspondences made for the purpose of this consultancy;
• Assist in the communication and coordination with representatives of the Member State as well as UNESCO National Commission, and relevant institutions and community members for the provision of the material and information needed to perform this consultancy;
• Coordinate with UNESCO Project’s coordinator to ensure effective implementation and management of the consultancy assignment;
• Assist in the coordination with relevant national and local stakeholders for data collection as deemed necessary;
• Address the feedback provided by the Project team, the project’s evaluator and the consortium of the project in a timely manner on deliverables;
• Perform other tasks as needed for this consultancy assignment.

Deliverables:

1. Inception reports including: [1] methodologies of work and material for defining the cohorts for the studies in the targeted sites; mapping social capital; social and market dynamics during natural hazards including biological hazards/COVID19, [2] approaches and material used for the valuation of positive and negative externalities, [3] Workplan and timeline.
2. Portfolio including the following sections:
   • Identification and analysis of the potential risks of natural hazards including biological hazards such as COVID19 in the 3 targeted sites;
   • Risk perceptions, precautionary principles perceptions and knowledge, and willingness to put in place local mechanism for emergencies measures;
   • Economic value (positive and negative externalities) of the impact of natural hazards including biological/COVID19 on the environment, economy and society;
   • Market and infrastructure resilience assessment and map of social capital including options for new job opportunities during the recovery and post-recovery phases;
   • Guidelines for public response and recovery policies and planning, and market elasticity to address new job opportunities.

TIMETABLE

The consultant shall submit the deliverables by the following dates

1. Inception report including methodology of work plan, schedule and timeline: July 15, 2020
2. Risk analysis and perceptions, precautionary principles and willingness for emergency preparedness: Oct. 15, 2020
3. Economic value of the impact on the environment, economy and society including externalities: Dec. 15, 2021
4. Market and infrastructure assessment and mapping including options for new job opportunities in and during recovery and post-recovery phases: Jan. 15, 2021
5. Guidelines for public DRR policies and planning, recovery plans and market elasticity to address new job opportunities: Jan. 15, 2021
6. Items 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 submitted further for necessary revision: Feb. 05, 2021

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

University degree (preferably at the Masters or PhD level or equivalent) in economy, environmental economy, economy of natural hazards, or in other fields closely related to the focus of the consultancy assignment.

Work Experience

Three to six years of relevant professional experience focused on one or more of the areas cited below:

• Economy,
• Economy of Natural Hazards,
• Environmental economy and environmental risk management.

Languages

Fluency (oral and written) in both English and Arabic is required.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Skills/Competencies

• Professional knowledge about, and direct experience in, environmental economy and valuation, environmental and socio-economic risk assessment and analysis, ideally on multi-hazards including biological hazards;
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Excellent networking, partnership building and interpersonal skills;
• Good computer and other IT skills including social media;
• Proven ability to work in a multicultural environment and as part of a team.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to submit additional documents including their CV and financial proposal in the Employment History.

UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.

UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.