Consultant

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 and economic and social losses.

A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations.

In adopting ISDR, the United Nations General Assembly also endorsed the establishment of the ISDR secretariat (UNISDR). The main functions of the secretariat are policy coordination, advocacy and information/knowledge management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

The 2005 World Conference on Disaster Reduction held in Kobe, Japan, represents a landmark in worldwide understanding and commitment to implement a disaster risk reduction agenda. This commitment was captured in the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters adopted at this conference.

The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementing the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction until 2015. It provides the basic concepts, prescribes expected outcomes, strategic goals, priority areas for action and assigns tasks to stakeholders at different operational levels to reach the expected outcome.

The UN General Assembly and ECOSOC Resolution of 8 May 2001, A/56/68-E/2001/63, requested the ISDR to draft an “agreed terminology on disaster reduction in order to provide a common understanding of disaster reduction and related concepts”.

Based on the mandate given by the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 “to update and widely disseminate international standard terminology related to disaster risk reduction, at least in all official United Nations languages, for use in programme and institutions development, operations, research, training curricula and public information programmes”, the UNISDR Secretariat will develop an updated standard terminology on disaster risk reduction in all six UN languages, which will be launched at the 2009 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. 

The updated terminologies are based on broad consideration of different international sources and the input of experts and practitioners in several international venues, regional discussions and national settings.

The different language versions will be based on one standard English version but will consider specific language requirements and will require its own systematic process of consultation and engagement with disaster risk reduction experts who are fluent in the language concerned.

Duties and Responsibilities:

- Prepare draft terminology (Chinese) for disaster risk reduction experts in China based on the English version of the 2009 ISDR terminology. The terminology covers in 9 pages 44 key disaster risk reduction terms. (16 March); 

- Liaise with key Chinese disaster risk reduction experts for translation and validation of the terminology (through-out); 

- Assist the UNISDR Secretariat with the validation process, by convening a meeting of an expert group to provide consensus on a final version (23 March); 

- Assist the UNISDR Secretariat to prepare a final version (6 April).

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:

This work can be carried out anywhere in the world (virtual). The consultant will report to the Senior Programme Officer – Policy Unit.

Results expected:

- Draft terminology in Chinese prepared by 16 March 2009.
 
- Comprehensive validation process facilitated. 

- National expert meeting organised and comments on revising the terminology collated. 

- Draft final version prepared (6 April).

Competencies:

Professionalism - Ability to manage processes, interpret/analyze a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and activity problems. Knowledge of issues related to disaster risk reduction and/or development.

Planning and Organizing - Demonstrate effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner.

Technological Awareness - Fully proficient computer skills, particularly in using relevant information databases, internet services, contact sources.

Communication - Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally. Be able to make external contacts when necessary.

Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree in disaster risk management or other disciplines linked to disaster reduction or a combination of a higher education qualification and extensive experience in one of the above areas.
 
Experience: Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in the areas associated with this consultancy.
Language skills: Fluency in written and spoken English and Chinese.

Other skills: Experience in the field of disaster risk reduction; strong liaison with the Chinese disaster risk reduction community, including the national platform, academia, and disaster risk reduction experts.