Result of Service

Facilitate the establishment of a continental impact based EWS for Early Action and Transboundary Risk Management through: • The improvement of risk understanding; • Expansion of early warning and early/anticipatory action products offered by ECOWAS to its member states • Substantially improve the use of advisories offered by AMHEWAS and ECOWAS at national level and by humanitarian partners • Capacitation of other situation rooms at AUC, ACMAD, RECs and Member States through a common web-based platform and Standard Operating Procedures.

Work Location

Abuja Nigeria

Expected duration

8 months

Duties and Responsibilities

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 coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the international strategy for disaster reduction, now the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people’s lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women of all stakeholder groups in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as Prevention Web, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organization of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission is the engine room of all ECOWAS programmes, projects and activities. This ECOWAS administrative instrument was transformed from an Executive Secretariat to a Commission in 2007 in fulfilment of a decision to that effect taken the previous year in Niamey, Niger Republic. In the wisdom of the Heads of States and Governments, the change of nomenclature and administrative structure is to make ECOWAS adapt better to the international environment, bringing about more equity, transparency and greater functionality in accordance with global best practices. The Commission is in a better position to support ECOWAS member states to build their capacities for programme implementation. Having taken the historic decision to transform the ECOWAS Secretariat into a Commission, Heads of State and Government also endorsed institutional reforms covering all arms of ECOWAS. By implementing the transformation process faithfully, ECOWAS is re-positioned to fulfil the mandate of its founding fathers and meet emerging challenges. ECOWAS is taking ownership of the grand objectives designed to improve the living conditions of the citizenry, ensure economic growth and create an environment conducive to development and meaningful integration. 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), 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 PoA, as stipulated in 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 2022, the Secretary General launched the initiative Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) with the ambitious target of protecting all people of the earth with an early warning system by 2027. The African Union Commission (AUC) has developed an innovative programme for improving Early Warning system in the continent: the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) was endorsed by the AU Heads of State and Governments in 2022, the Programme represents a significant step towards achieving the goals of the SFDRR 2015-2030 and EW4ALL. The programme’s primary objective is to drastically increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning and disaster risk information. This will play a crucial role in strengthening development, reducing poverty, and promoting resilience as outlined in AUC’s Agenda 2063. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is hiring a senior consultant to work with the African Union Commission’s (AUC) Disaster Risk Reduction Unit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the development of a training manual for the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action (AMHEWAS) programme. AMHEWAS is composed by a network of centres located at AUC and ACMAD, at Regional Economic Communities – including ECOWAS – and within Member States. The programme, supported by the Government of Italy, aims at building the capacity of the African Union Commission, African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and Member States to effectively collect, exchange and analyse Risk information relevant to impact based Early Warning Systems (EWS) for Early Action and Trans-boundary Risk Management. The Disaster Operation Centre of ECOWAS was inaugurated in June 2023, and it is under the Department of Human Development and Social Affairs. Under this framework, UNDRR is recruiting a National Consultant to build the capacity of the regional situation room at ECOWAS and improve the quality and value of services for Disaster risk reduction at the continental, regional, and national levels in Africa. Duties and Responsibilities: The Expert for Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Disaster Operations will work under the overall supervision of the UNDRR Regional Office for Africa and will work with the team of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Risk Reduction Division and in coordination with the Head of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Risk Reduction Division at ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. Duties and Responsibilities: The National consultant will be based at the ECOWAS Disaster Operation Centre in Abuja, Nigeria, working in close coordination with operators at the AUC, ACMAD, IGAD, ECCAS, and AGRHYMET situation rooms, the technical team within UNDRR, and the technical partner organisation, the CIMA Research Foundation. The Consultant will liaise the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate and the National Early Warning and Response mechanisms , Specifically, the consultant will support the ECOWAS Disaster Operation Centre in: i. Improving the informational production of AMHEWAS and contextualize to ECOWAS region ii. Pro-actively engage other centres, such as AGRYMETH and Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres from WMO into AMHEWAS, facilitating the exchange of risk data and products generated by the centres and their involvement at the operational level in the generation of AMHEWAS informational products. Develop dedicated SoPs in coordinating with AUC and AMHEWAS partners iii. Facilitate the coordination of the ECOWAS Disaster Situation Room with the ECOWAS Conflict Early Warning System, identify operational links and procedures for operational and real-time exchange of information iv. Support the organisation of Anticipatory Action Dialogue meetings in coordination with AUC, collect feedback on Continental Watch and disaster situation reports and strengthen the capacities of MS in their operational use v. collect data and information from Member States and Partners, including satellite information for diversifying the hazards covered and improvement of the quality and timing of products produced by the situation room, vi. strengthening regional coordination for early and anticipatory action. In the exercise of his/her functions, the consultant shall: • Support the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs in the smooth operation of the ECOWAS Disaster Operation Centre; • Actively contribute to the operation of the Disaster Operation Centre, including supporting the ECOWAS Management in drafting memos and plans for the sustainability of the centre; • Mainstream the use of Continental Watch and Disaster Situation Report in Member States and Humanitarian Organizations, collect feedback; • Convene anticipatory action dialogues meetings with MS in coordination with AUC, as well as regular regional meetings with relevant regional stakeholders and keep concise minutes of the meetings; • Participate in coordination and technical meetings and ensure exchange of information with the other continental and regional situation rooms; with the continental and other regional situation rooms and relevant technical bodies; • Coordinate use of EWS software (myDEWETRA) for exchange of early warning information withing AMHEWAS; • Liaise with EWS experts at AUC, ACMAD, IGAD, ECCAS, SADC and with hydro meteorological experts at Centre Regional de Formation et d’Application en Agrométéorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle (AGHRYMET), to improve the existing mechanism and procedure for the coordination of data exchange at the continental and the regional levels; • Pro-actively engage other centres, such as AGRYMETH and Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres from WMO into AMHEWAS, facilitating the exchange of risk data and products generated by the centres and their involvement at operational level in the generation of AMHEWAS informational products. Develop dedicated SoPs in coordinating with AUC and AMHEWAS partners • Facilitate the coordination of ECOWAS Disaster Situation Room with ECOWAS Conflict Early Warning System, identify operational links and procedure for operational and real-time exchange of information • Provide input for the AUC situation room for EWS and situation reports and coordinate the preparation of bulletins and situation reports based on information collected through the new regional coordination mechanism established; • Initiate work to diversify the hazards covered and the early warning products offered by ECOWAS to its member states; • Initiate work to strengthen capacity in the ECOWAS region on impact-based early warning, taking into consideration risk information including vulnerability and exposure; • Initiate work to strengthen coordination in the ECOWAS region on anticipatory action; • Anticipate obstacles realistically and plan for contingencies – create plans that factor in time for unexpected problems and uncertainties; • Ensure reporting on project implementation; and • Establish mechanisms to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Management, Geography, Hydrology or other relevant fields is required. A first-level university degree in any field in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Five (5) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes or other relevant field is required. Experience in managing early warning or disaster operations projects and working in Africa at regional or national level on Disaster Risk Reduction/Management (DRR/M) is required. Experience as a professional forecaster, including data management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Early Warning Systems (EWS) management of emergency information, coordination of people and tasks, for the generation of Early Warning (EW) messages is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English and knowledge of French is required

Additional Information

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

No Fee

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.