Technical specialist in disaster risk reduction

Background

The International Technical Adviser Disaster Risk Reduction (ITA DRR) is responsible for providing policy and technical guidance for the management of UNDP-supported Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) programmes. The ITA DRR analyzes the disaster risk situation of the country; the existing policy and legal frameworks and Malawi’s political, social and economic trends to determine risks and opportunities for efficient and effective disaster risk management. Based on analytical and evaluation results, the ITA DRR provides advice on the need for policy/legal reviews related to disaster preparedness, management and early recovery.

Annually, the Government reviews progress with the implementation of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategies (MGDS) and the achievement of development targets including Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The ITA DRR participates in the reviews and ensures that disaster risk management and early recovery are integrated in the MGDS, sectoral plans and district development plans (DDP). He/she provides technical assistance in the review process and based on this, provides policy direction to both Government and donor community.

Using the approach of ‘Delivering As One’, the ITA DRR ensures that there is policy coherence in the areas of Disaster Risk Management including Early Recovery. In this context, the ITA DRR will play a key role in building capacity in mainstreaming disaster risk management in national, sectoral and district development planning processes and in particular the implementation of the One UN Plan. This will be done through his/her participation in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the UNDAF, the CPD, the CPAP, UNDAF Cluster AWPs and AWPs for UNDP supported DRR programs/projects.

The ITA DRR provides technical guidance to Government officers, UNVs, Consultants and Junior Professional Officers (JPOs) and CSOs working on UNDP supported DRR activities. As a UNDP staff, occasionally, the ITA prepares policy briefs for presentation to UNDP management team, program staff and Government-development partner fora to inform policy decision-making processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of Key Functions
- Policy and programme reviews and formulation
- Programme development, monitoring and evaluation
- Strategic partnership building and resource mobilization
- Capacity development for mainstreaming disaster risk management in national, sectoral and district development plans
- Data analysis and verification
- Knowledge management and networking
- One UN Plan Project Management following national implementation and UNDP’s rules, regulations and procedures.

Responsibilities
- Define and formulate National Policy Framework for DRR, and Disaster Risk Management Policy developed.
- Conduct MGDS reviews that ensure that disaster risk reduction indicators and targets are included and develop roadmap for DRR.
- Integration of disaster risk management including gender issues and human rights in sectoral and district development plans and national budgets that are gender and rights-based.
- Assist DodMA in analytical and policy development work, and the production of high quality policy or knowledge products.
- Joint programmes identified, developed and funded.
- Develop DRR Monitoring and Evaluation indicators and Framework; develop and implement District Disaster Preparedness/Contingency Plans.
- Develop and implement District Disaster Risk Management Plans, develop hazard and risk maps for disaster prone areas.
- Establishment, development and maintenance of mutually beneficial strategic and relevant partnerships with Government, NGOs and community groups, the press and media, the business sector, the education sector etc. Establish.
- Establishment of networks with experts of national and regional offices of the UN System, international development organizations, sub-regional and regional associations, affiliations and bodies (inter-governmental, non-government or private sector) and prominent private sector organizations.
- Mobilization of additional resources.
- Develop tools and training materials for mainstreaming disaster risk management into national, sectoral and district development plans.
- Present lessons learnt, best practices and policy briefs packaged different fora.
- Develop district-level preparedness and mainstreaming activities.
- Develop tools and training materials for assessments.
- Develop assessments and disaster reporting formats.
- Database created at DODMA and up-dated periodically.
- Ensure timely collection and verification of data for emergency response in time for emergency response.
- Ability to analyse data and present reports to National Disaster Management Committee and Development Partner fora.
- Putting in place management information system (MIS).
- Identifying and linking global, regional and national DRR knowledge networks.
- Creating and updating of DRR website periodically.
- Capturing knowledge of national, regional and global know-how in the subject area, and producing knowledge-based products.
- Capturing and recording of program results in knowledge products to communicate results and impact.
- Promotion of learning environment and systematic information sharing within the UNDP/Government team.

Competencies

Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Familiarity with legal frameworks and policies on trans-boundary waters and human rights issues;
- Experience with client and result oriented approaches;
- Experienced team worker, with additional leadership capacities, and mentoring and conflict resolution skills
- Experience with change management involving government institutions;
- Familiarities with gender mainstreaming and other cross cutting issues.

Management and Leadership
- Skills and knowledge in supporting strategic advice on the mainstreaming of DRR, sustainable environment and climate change concerns into poverty reduction strategies, developmental plans and government budgets in the context of poverty reduction and sustainable development;
- Ability to advise partners and develop programmes on disaster risk reduction and emergency planning;
- Ability to advise partners and develop programmes for knowledge management on mainstreaming disaster risk management into development and sectoral planning processes;
- Ability to develop guidelines for mainstreaming cross-cutting issues including disaster risk reduction, climate change, gender, human rights, HIV and AIDS in development planning processes;
- Ability to advise on problems with full technical competency leading to fact-based and practical recommendations and creative solutions;

Development and Operational Effectiveness
- Ability to produce high-quality outputs including policy briefs and data in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs;
- Ability to focus on impact and results for the client, promoting and living by an ethic of client service.
- Ability to form international and national networking partnerships for resource mobilization and knowledge exchange.
- Ability to lead strategic planning processes, results-based management and reporting, including monitoring
- Knowledge of financial and administrative reporting, in particular of donor funded projects
- Knowledge of current information and communication technology
- Ability to lead, mentor, advise and inspire staff in effecting changes in business processes and implementation, including necessary behavioural / attitudinal change.

Required Skills and Experience

Education
- At least a master’s degree in Agriculture and Food Security, Disaster Risk Management, Climate Risk Management, Political Science; Multidisciplinary educational background required.

Experience
- At least 7 years of experience in the field of Disaster and Climate Risk Management and development, including specialized experience in emergency response, policy development, land and water resources management, water supply and sanitation. Multi-disciplinary professional experience preferred.
- Extended experience in initiating project development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
- Proven experience in resource mobilization from governments, foundations and private sector.