Brief details about Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Specialist:
Qualifications of Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Specialist :
- Location: Nairobi, Kenya
- Vacancy No: 27329
- Salary: N/A
- Organization: International Personnel Service Agreement
- Deadline: 07/09/2025, 08:29 AM
About
Information about the organization that has offered the job:
Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serves as the central organization for sustainable development within the UN system and actively promotes collective action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Operating at headquarters, regional, and country levels, UNDP’s policy work spans from local expertise to global perspectives. The organization invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network that combines field-based and global technical expertise to support UNDP country offices through policy advice, technical expertise, financial resources, and partnerships.
The Crisis Bureau, part of the GPN, oversees UNDP’s crisis-related strategies, integrating risk into development programs and advocating for innovative, knowledge-driven approaches. Meanwhile, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) focuses on integrating disaster risk reduction into sustainable development and recovery efforts. The team provides policy and program support, emphasizing resilience building at national, sub-national, and sectoral levels.
UNDP is recruiting a Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Specialist for the “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities” Project, part of the Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme. This initiative aligns with the Sendai Framework and aims to prevent and reduce risks while enhancing resilience in ACP countries. The project emphasizes a holistic, inclusive, and gender-transformative approach, aligning with global agendas such as the Paris Agreement, Agenda for Humanity, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Ultimately, it seeks to contribute to the overall achievement of international goals through integrated, conflict-sensitive, and comprehensive strategies. In addition, the Specialist will foresee the development of the UNDP Urban Resilience offer in Africa, towards the implementation of the African Union Commission’s continental framework: the Africa Urban Resilience Programme (AURP). The AURP provides a framework for the development of risk reduction and resilience-building efforts in African cities and urban centres.
Duties and Responsibilities
The DRR & Resilience Specialist is based in Nairobi to provide day-to-day support to targeted countries in Africa, and to assist the project team and UNDP COs in the implementation of agreed interventions of the project, in accordance with the project document and the contribution agreement with the European Commission. The DRR & Resilience Specialist will be responsible the design and delivery of technical assistance and capacity development activities at both regional and country-level under the following Outputs:
- Provided integrated solutions for risk-informed development planning and budgeting in Western Africa, Central Africa, and Eastern Africa;
- Increased risk awareness of communities and local stakeholders to take action that reduces risk in Western Africa, Central Africa and Eastern Africa;
- Strengthened post-disaster recovery capacities in all ACP regions.
Provide technical support to COs and regional team for implementation of the project activities
- Provide technical inputs for the design, development, and implementation of agreed project’s activities at country and regional level;
- Lead project implementation in the 5 targeted countries;
- Participate in field missions to countries in support of project implementation and monitoring;
- Assist the Project Manager in mobilizing goods and services to support project activities, including drafting TORs and works/product requirements and specifications;
- Contribute to or facilitate regular implementation meetings with COs;
- Provide regular updates on the project implementation to the project team and DRT Africa and in particular, identify challenges, needs or gaps and suggest solutions to overcome them.
Facilitate knowledge management
- Contribute to the compilation, analysis, reporting and codifying of project’s results and lessons learned from country offices, foster cross-country learning and collaboration;
- Identify and contribute to the facilitation of South-South exchanges and experiences sharing where valuable;
- Provide inputs to country offices (COs) with requests for information on best practices and experiences on disaster risk reduction and recovery together with partners and expert institutions;
- Encourage and support targeted COs to capture good practices through blogs, videos, photo essays etc. and promote on social media and other regional channels;
- Ensure project communication is in accordance with the visibility rules and communication standards of EU and UNDP.
Build Strategic partnership and resource mobilization
- Participate in coordination meetings and contribute to the strong collaboration and coordination with the partners’ project and in particular with EU, UNDRR and OACPS;
- Together with the project manager, the DRT Africa Team Leader and the regional specialist, identify opportunities and contribute to the development and nurturing of partnerships with the regional economic communities in Africa, the African Union Commission, donors and stakeholders key for the project;
- Support the DRT’s engagement in partnership through reporting and developing briefing notes and background information when required;
- Support resource mobilization efforts through technical support to the development of concept notes and proposals and contribute to resource mobilization.
Ensure Communications and visibility
- Work with the Project Manager to identify opportunities and support communications and visibility activities.
- Coordinate with partners on the development of joint communication products across the thematic areas of focus.
- Facilitate development of publications of key reports/products on disaster risk reduction.
- Facilitate engagement with key stakeholders, including mapping of emerging priorities and key events.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The DRR & Resilience Specialist works under the direct supervision of the Brussels-based Project Manager for the UNDP- UNDRR “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities” Project. On a day-to-day basis, the DRR & Resilience Specialist will work closely with the Resilience Hub in Nairobi and the other Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Officer working under this project.
Competencies
CORE
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross Functional & Technical Competencies
Business Direction and Strategy: System Thinking:
- Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management: Project management
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals
Business Management : Partnerships Management
- Build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil
society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Business Management : Communication
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels
2030 Agenda Planet: Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
- Risk Governance: Disaster and Climate Risk Governance
2030 Agenda Planet: Nature
- Climate Change Adaptation
2030 Agenda: Prosperity
- Recovery Solutions Human Mobility:
- Resilience: Community-Based Resilience Building
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Urban Studies and Planning, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Disaster Management, or a relevant related field of studies is required. Or
- A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years (with Master’s degree) or 7 years (with Bachelor’s degree) of relevant work, in fields of disaster risk reduction, resilience-building or climate change adaptation, including in supporting policy and programme advice in the areas of disaster risk reduction, resilience building and recovery, urban risk management, urban planning or urban development in different development contexts is required.
Required Skills
- Proven track record, knowledge and experience in the field of disaster risk reduction, urban resilience and recovery;
- Knowledge/Experience of urban development and management, urban risk reduction, disaster risk reduction and climate change concepts, frameworks and principles;
Desired Skills
- Experience in either, public sectors (national or multilateral, including UN), or private sectors (academia, non- governmental sector, corporate) is an asset;
- Experience with the workings of the UN, European Union institutions and the Secretariat of the ACP Group of States is an asset;
- Coordination experience working with intergovernmental organizations, governments, development partners, and international organizations is an asset;
- Experience in supporting programme design, coordination, implementation and project management processes is an asset;
- Experience in working in fast-paced environments including in international/multi-country settings is desired;
- Knowledge and experience in working with multiple stakeholder involving AU, RECs, Member States, and Development Partners such as the UN systems and other development organizations is desired;
- Experience in office management and administration Demonstrated ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners (public, private, academic, civil society, business community leaders) is desired;
- At least 6 months of experience working in Africa on urban risk reduction and/or climate change adaptation and/or recovery in an urban context is desired;
- Proven Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge is desired;
- Proven ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel is desired.
Required Languages
- Fluency in English and French is required.
- Fluency in another UN official language is desirable
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.