Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. In March 2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030 was adopted by the UN General Assembly. In alignment with the SFDRR, the African Union (AU) member states developed a new Programme of Action (PoA) for the implementation of the SFDRR in Africa. In addition to the seven global targets of the Sendai Framework, the PoA has an additional 5 targets. The PoA aims to achieve “substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.”   Early warning systems (EWS) are key elements of disaster risk reduction, resilience building and climate change adaptation. An effective Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) includes four pillars: 1) disaster risk knowledge; 2) observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting; 3) warning dissemination and communication; 4) preparedness and response capabilities.  The UN Secretary General (UNSG) in 2022 launched the Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/early-warnings-for-all, aimed at providing a global EWS coverage by 2027.  A regional and continental response has to be enhanced to proactively support member states in mitigating impacts of natural hazards and in event of a disaster. Observing from the recent disasters on the Sahel region, hazards such as droughts, floods, heavy winds and epidemics have constantly affected more than one country simultaneously. Even where such hazards occur locally, the severity in which these events have manifested could easily overwhelm localized response. EWS which ensure people are prepared and ready to act in the event of a disaster, are one of the most effective measures the government can undertake to substantially reduce disaster losses. In that light, the SFDRR targets to substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030, and increase the number of countries with and periodically testing, risk-informed preparedness plans, and response, and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction mechanisms, in line with the target 4 of the Programme of Action to implement the SFDRR in Africa . In addition, the African Union Commission (AUC) has developed an innovative response through the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme. Endorsed by 55 AU Heads of State in 2022, AMHEWAS marked a significant advancement towards achieving the goals of the SFDRR 2015-2030. The primary objective of the programme is to significantly enhance the availability and accessibility of multi-hazard early warning and disaster risk information. This will be instrumental in strengthening development, reducing poverty, and promoting resilience, as outlined in the AUC’s Agenda 2063and EW4ALL. With funding from the Sweden government, UNDRR in collaboration with UNDP and AGRHYMET supporting the strengthening of the collaboration on sharing and using of information between national and regional institutions in the Sahel region, with two countries (Niger, Senegal) as a pilot. Under the project ‘’ Strengthening capacities for disaster risk reduction and adaptation for resilience in the Sahel region: fostering risk-informed solutions for sustainable development”, UNDRR aim to strengthen disaster data analysis as well as improve the early warning system at national and regional levels through the integration of regional risk information into the national early warning / early actions mechanisms within the AMHEWAS framework.   Duties and responsibilities The EWS specialist will undertake the following responsibilities: Conduct a desk study on the existing and/or active early warning procedures/ protocols/ agreement in the Sahel region to exchange hazards, impact-based forecasts, advisories and warnings between countries or between countries and regional institutions (ACMAD, AMHEWAS/AUC) with a focus on Niger; Consult the national key stakeholders in Niger on their needs of risk information for Early Warning and early action for the various hazards to which they are exposed, especially flood, drought, food security and conflict; Analyze the country’s needs based on the services such as hazards and impact-based forecasts provided by regional or continental institutions; Analyze the institutional arrangement in Niger for the production of information and dissemination of early warnings from national to local level; Propose mechanisms to strengthen the coordination between national institutions and regional institutions involved in the production of risk information or hazards and impact-based forecasts for the region or the continent; Identify and analyze the communication system in place in Niger from the national to the local level and between the national and regional institutions to share information and data related hazards and disasters; Identify key information in the situation reports and bulletins produced by AUC ACMAD, AGRHYMET and ECOWAS situation rooms or operation centre that can contribute to improving early warning at national and local levels; Liaise with the Head of Service Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation (DRM/CCA) of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on all activities related to information sharing from national and regional institutions; Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) with the information collected during the consultation or improve the existing ones to facilitate the exchange of information between national and regional institutions, taking into account roles and responsibilities for early warning and action and other operational aspects, as needed; Organize and support joint regional training and national training / exercise on the SOP / protocol developed for its validation by the national actors; Familiarize the national stakeholders with AMHEWAS reference documents; Anticipate obstacles realistically and plan for contingencies – create plans that factor in time for unexpected problems and uncertainties. The consultant will be guided by a work plan outlining deliverables to be endorsed by UNDRR.  The consultant will be home based and will be under supervision of the Programme Management officer, Risk Knowledge.

Advanced university degree in areas relevant to disaster risk reduction, early warning, meteorology, social sciences, or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be acceptable in lieu of the advanced university degree. At least 7 years of experience in the areas of disaster risk assessment, early warning systems, risk analysis relevant to EWS, anticipatory action or disaster prevention is required.  Experience of leading or contributing to managing or creating coordination mechanisms at a strategic level for disaster risk reduction or early warning and action initiatives is required.  Experience in convening and organizing multi-stakeholder partnerships, events, or consultations is desirable. Direct work experience with at least one major government institution or international organization working on early warning/early action or disaster risk reduction/ risk knowledge is desirable.

English and French are the official UN languages. For this position, fluency in French is required and knowledge of English is required.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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