Coordinator for the Global Alliance on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector (GADRRRES)

The Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector (GADRRRES) is a multi-stakeholder mechanism composed of UN agencies, international organizations and regional networks, contributing to a global culture of safety and resilience in the education sector.

UNESCO is recruiting a consultant to provide coordination support and technical assistance to  help GADRRRES advance its mission.

Overview of the functions of the post

The Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector (GADRRRES) is a multi-stakeholder mechanism of an entirely voluntary nature composed of UN agencies, international organizations and regional networks. Its mission is to strengthen global coordination, information and knowledge, as well as advocacy towards protecting the education system from the impacts of “shocks, stresses, hazards and threats of all kinds” and to ultimately contribute to a global culture of safety and resilience in the education sector.

In the face of growing risks – and their interconnectedness and compounding  impacts – for children and learners globally, GADRRRES initiated the update of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF) in November 2020 with the aim to strengthen the collaboration and collective impact of humanitarian and development actors involved in education-related planning processes. The CSSF grew from the school safety advocacy work of the 1990s and 2000s and was articulated by the Asia Coalition for School Safety and endorsed by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education in 2012. Since then, it has been adopted and adapted by education authorities in more than 60 countries, and regional intergovernmental organizations in Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The strategic objectives of the GADRRRES are:

1. To strengthen global coordination and collective impact for school safety.
2. To advocate for Comprehensive School Safety.
3. To improve global information, resources and knowledge management, research and capacity-development for Comprehensive School Safety.

The work of the GADRRRES is in support of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015- 2030. UNDRR is a member of GADRRRES. It is also aligned with and in support of Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Safe Schools Declaration on protecting education in armed conflict and the Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Minimum Standards for Education.

Scope of the assignment

Under the authority of the ADG for Education, the direction of DIR/E30 and direct supervision of the Chief/E30/EME and within the framework of UNESCO’s statutory documents, 41C/4 and 41C/5, the incumbent will serve as a consultant to provide coordination support and technical assistance to help GADRRRES advance its mission. In collaboration with UNESCO and UNICEF (GADRRRES alternate chairs) as well as GADRRRES membership and partners, he/she will also lead a consultation process on ways to improve GADRRRES, building on the findings of a recent Collective Impact Evaluation and other internal/external discussions. He/she will then support the production of a roadmap for the recommendations formulated as an outcome of the process.

Specifically, the coordinator’s role will cover the following functions:

• Coordination, e.g. development of work plans and lead tracking and reporting on work plan implementation; facilitation of quarterly Steering Committee calls
• Communication, e.g. support of maintenance of GADRRRES website and social media; development and dissemination of quarterly external and internal newsletters
• Knowledge and information management, e.g. support GADRRRES working groups; draft the monthly newsletters
• Advocacy, e.g. socialization of the Comprehensive Safe School Framework 2022-2030; organization of external meetings and special events
• Monitoring and learning, e.g. lead an internal consultation process on GADRRRES evaluation (see above)
• Resource mobilization, e.g. collaborate with GADRRRES membership to develop a roadmap for resource mobilization.
• Any other tasks associated with the role.

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

Academic qualifications

• Completed full-time advanced degree (Master's degree or equivalent) at a university or equivalent institution in education, social sciences or a related field, prior to commencing the assignment

Professional experience and skills

• Minimum of 5 years of international relevant professional experience in the areas of work of the GADRRRES.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in coordination roles; field experience in the UN, international organization or national NGO.
• Familiarity/working directly with UN/multilateral organizations and professional networks related to areas of work of the GADRRRES.
• Experience in budgeting, financial reporting and fundraising.
• Knowledge of the development and humanitarian communities, coordination mechanisms and platforms, including donors, governments, the UN system and relevant international and regional organizations.
• Excellent command of English and good knowledge of other official UN language.
• Excellent knowledge of computer systems and office-related software.
• Team player with strong interpersonal, organizational and communication skills, including the ability to interact with a variety of actors and work effectively and respectfully in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to manage heavy workloads and work across time zones.

Desirable qualifications

Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).

Selection and recruitment process

Please note that all candidates must submit their proposal by email to the following email address: pv.klenner-forttes@unesco.org and provide complete and accurate information. The application should comprise:

1. A Technical Proposal consisting of

• an up-to-date curriculum vitae, and
• an approach for the assignment, considering the areas of work of the GADRRRES and comments to the Terms of Reference, if any (in brief).

2. The amount to be charged for the assignment considering a monthly rate, which should be quoted in US dollars or euros only.

Your proposal and any supporting documents must be in English.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in terms of the criteria in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organisation the best value for money.

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.