Programme officer, L-4

Vacancy Notice number: ISDR/G/11/2008

Date of entry: 1 August 2008

United Nations Core Values:
Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity

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 (Res/54/219) endorsed the establishment of an institutional framework for its implementation consisting of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Disaster Reduction (IATF/DR) and the inter-agency secretariat (ISDR secretariat).

The main functions of the secretariat 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) took place and 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 the WCDR.

The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in the coming years and it constitutes an unprecedented conceptual shift that takes account of the complexity of action in disaster risk reduction and the large variety of actors whose inputs are required in the pursuit of this objective. It provides the basic concepts and prescribes and expected outcome; details three strategic goals for disaster risk reduction and a set of five priority areas for action; and assigns tasks to stakeholders at difference operational levels to reach the expected outcome.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate and initiate activities with international and regional partners, in particular Japan based expert institutions on disaster risk reduction, to support national efforts and initiatives related to the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) activities such as International Recovery Platform, Human Security and others.
• Promote collaborative efforts between and within inter-agency and multi-stakeholder entities for the implementation of the HFA, situated in Japan.
• Undertake survey initiatives, review, analyze and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare conclusions. Identification of gaps and priorities in risk reduction at national and regional levels.
• Coordinate outreach activities; design and conduct workshops, seminars, etc., make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Establish collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels within the East Asia sub-region.
• Liaise and provide support to national platforms, thematic platforms, regional network of national platforms and other regional partners/organisations in the development and implementation of work plans and strategies in line with HFA, on behalf of UN/ISDR secretariat.
• Support activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepare related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc).
• Prepare project documents to implement DRR activities and produce other written materials, reports, studies papers for publications to promote DRR programmes and activities.
• Collaborate with and support initiatives taken by the ISDR specialised regional collaborative centres and thematic groups relating to recovery, early warning, drought, earthquake, flood and other hazards.
• Serve as liaison with other international and regional organization’s based in Japan, such as UNU (Tokyo), UN/HABITAT (Fukuoka), UNEP (Osaka), UNCRED (Nagoya and Kobe), WHO (Kobe), UNDP (Tokyo), ILO (Tokyo) and others.
• Facilitate contacts between the ISDR secretariat and relevant Japanese academic, scientific and governmental institutions.
• Assist the Human Security Unit of OCHA in promoting the concept of human security and in raising awareness in Japan, communicating with government offices as well as other entities, and where appropriate, mobilizing resources for the UN Trust Fund for Human Security. Promote linkages between the disaster risk reduction agenda and the human security concept, which may include the development of projects with relevant partners for the Human Security Fund in the area of disaster risk reduction.
• Lead and/or participate in field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties, etc.
• Perform other duties as required.


Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
The position is located in the secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN/ISDR), in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan under the overall guidance of the Director and reporting to the Senior Programme Officer and Regional Coordinator for Asia and the Pacific.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
Staff at all levels, within UN/ISDR and the disaster risk reduction community as well as national counterparts. Representatives of other UN agencies and other UN specialized agencies; member state personnel with responsibility for disaster risk reduction; non-governmental organization representatives; and representatives and officials in national governments, international and regional organizations, IFIs, and research institutes.

Results Expected:
Development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of assigned programme and initiatives. Provision of thorough, well reasoned contributions (e.g. background papers, analysis, sections of reports/studies, inputs to publications, etc.) Development and maintenance of effective working relationships. Efficient use of resources.

Competencies:

Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to disaster risk reduction (in the field of political affairs, sustainable development policy and humanitarian action); practical experience in project management; good research, analytical and problem-solving skills, including ability to identify and participate in the resolution of issues/problems; familiarity with and experience in the use of various research methodologies and sources; ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments give; ability to plan own work and manage conflicting priorities.

Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated planning and organizational skills and ability to coordinate the work of others, work to tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/activities.

Gender Mainstreaming: Provide leadership and take responsibility for ensuring appropriate attention to both gender balance and geographic representation in staffing and to incorporating gender perspectives into the substantive work.

Judgment/Decision-making: Demonstrated sound judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a range of issues/problems. Client

Orientation: Ability to identify clients’ needs and develop appropriate solutions; ability to establish and maintain productive partnerships with clients.

Creativity: Ability to actively seek to improve programmes/services, offer new and different options to solve problems/meet client needs, and promote and persuade others to consider new ideas.

Technology Awareness: Solid computer skills.

Teamwork: Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, including gender balance.

Communication: Effective communication (spoken, written and presentational) skills, including ability to defend and explain difficult issues and positions to staff including senior officials.

Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree preferably in political science, development studies, administration or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.

Experience: At least 7 years progressively responsible in the areas associated with this post, such as areas of social, economic, environment and/or humanitarian spheres, development, programme evaluation, or coordination, policy analysis, or environment.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is essential. Knowledge of other official UN languages an advantage. Knowledge of Japanese is an asset.

Other skills: Experience in sustainable development issues, project monitoring, and policy development; knowledge of current international issues pertaining to risk reduction, sustainable development, economic and social vulnerability concerns. Knowledge of disaster risk reduction, key institutions and agencies involved in disaster risk reduction activities and the Hyogo Framework for Action. Working experience in developing countries. Basic knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies, guidelines. Basic knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies, guidelines.