Result of Service

The consultancy will therefore reach the initial implementation in Guatemala for the early warning for all initiative under pillar 1 and will also improve the dialogue among the different stakeholders involved, including improving risk knowledge, strengthening monitoring and analysis capabilities, enhancing communication and dissemination systems, and building response capacity.

Work Location

Guatemala

Expected duration

5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background

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 140 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 catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

The Swiss Cooperation with its new Disaster Risk Governance programme in Central America is supporting three projects and three implementing partners, CEPREDENAC (Centro de Coordinación para la Prevención de los Desastres en América Central y República Dominicana), UNDRR (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction) and OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), based on a single theory of change and common objectives. The three strategic partners identified have a mandate, permanence in the region, territorial anchorage, trust, credibility, and experience in issues relevant to the programme.

With the programme it is expected that in the medium and long term more lives will be saved, and disaster losses and damages will be reduced, due to more effective, inclusive, and principled disaster and risk management, and that the population will suffer less from disasters, ultimately increasing the resilience of the vulnerable population of Central America to disasters. One of the results is based on Early warning systems (EWS).

Early warning systems (EWS) are key elements of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, as they help reduce or avoid the detrimental impacts of hazardous events. To be effective, early warning systems need to be risk-informed, multi-hazard, multi-sectorial, target communities most at risk, disseminate messages and warnings efficiently, ensure preparedness, and support early action. Multi-Hazad Early warning systems include four pillars: 1) disaster risk knowledge; 2) observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting; 3) warning dissemination and communication; 4) preparedness and response capabilities. The four pillars of an MHEWS (Multi Hazard Early Warning Systems) need a governance architecture enabling interactions among those responsible for each of the components, framing their implementation within the overall disaster risk management (DRM) governance mechanisms (Interpillar).

Multi-sector and multi-stakeholder coordination, involvement of communities at risk, having an enabling institutional and legislative environment, clear roles and responsibilities, and adequate operational capacities, are essential for effective and consistent Early Warning Systems. The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) is a special initiative of the United Nation Secretary General, which aims to spearheading action to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by 2027.

The Early Warnings For All initiative was formally launched by the UN Secretary-General in November 2022 at the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh. The Initiative calls for the whole world to be covered by early warning systems by the end of 2027. EW4All is co-led by WMO (World Meteorological Organization) and UNDRR and supported by pillar leads ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies). Additional implementing partners include FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), GEO (Group of Earth Observation) Secretariat, IOM (International Organization for Migration), OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordiation of Humanitarian Affairs), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), REAP (Risk-informed Early Action Partnership), WFP (World Food Programme) and others. EW4All aims to promote collaboration and synergies across all partners working on the promotion, design, implementation, development and monitoring of single, cluster and multi-hazard early warning systems.

The Executive Action Plan for the Initiative outlines the initial actions required to achieve universal coverage of multi-hazard early warning systems within five years, and sets out the pathway to implementation.

The implementation process should be guided by the stakeholder coordination mechanism established or confirmed in the national consultative workshop. Each EW4All Pillar has developed a detailed 18-month workplan and a 5-year implementation strategy, which should be consulted and used as guidance and blueprint. A key focus of this initiative is to promote a coordinated, cross pillar approach that priorities strong coordination. A monitoring framework has been established for use in countries, and technical support is also available to strengthen reporting on Target G of the Sendai Framework, which tracks progress on Early Warning systems.

The consultancy will support the initial activities planned to be implemented in Guatemala for the roll-out phase of the EW4All Initiative, in particular for Pillar 1 on Disaster Risk Knowledge and support the inter-pillar work (governance); and including facilitating dialogue among pillar leaders, INSIVUMEH (Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanologia, Meteorologia e Hidrología) as the national focal point and other national stakeholders, members of the United Nations Country Team in the country, and other important partners.

Technical support for this position will be provided by the UNDRR Regional Office – The Americas and the Caribbean under the supervision of the External Relations Officer, the Sendai Framework Monitoring Officer and the Programme Officer focal point for early warning.

Duties and responsibilities

1. Provide support to UNDRR, in particular for Pillar 1 on Disaster Risk Knowledge and support the inter-pillar work (governance); and through it to the United National Country Team (UNCT) and the National focal point of the EW4All initiative (Ministry of Environment and National Institute of Seismology, Volcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology INSIVUMEH) by helping facilitate, where needed:

a. Stakeholder mapping of national, regional and global actors (government, UNCT (United Nations Country Team), NGO (non-governmental organization), CSOs (Civil Society Organizations), etc.) and existing coordination mechanisms engaged in multi-hazard early warning systems.

b. In coordination with national authorities, and other stakeholders, organize a national consultative workshop to launch the initiative, and take stock of status of multi-hazard early warning systems in the country in particular for Pillar 1 on disaster risk knowledge, and establish, or agree on a coordination mechanism that will facilitate the identification of gaps, and the preparation of a roadmaps for addressing them.

c. Develop a report stating the advancement on disaster risk knowledge and governance mechanisms for MHEWS in Guatemala. The report should compile and integrate information related to national risk assessments, including hazard, exposure, vulnerability as well as other relevant sectorial assessments. The report will contribute to the development of the multi-pillar and interpillar Gap Analysis.

d. In close coordination with national authorities and other Pillar leaders, contribute to developing a gap analysis across all four pillars of multi-hazard early warnings, and the inter-pillar component. The gap analysis aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses on each of the pillars and highlight areas for improvement.

e. Support the identification or establishment of a coordination mechanism in country to strengthen multi-stakeholder and inclusive collaboration to achieve an end-to-end multi-hazard early warning system. The mechanism should prioritize national multi-sectorial disaster risk management platforms.

f. In close coordination with other pillar leaders and national stakeholders, contribute to formulating a draft national roadmap that sets out how to bridge the identified gaps, and outline the key actions, technical support and capacities required to establish and improve multi-hazard early warning systems and their effectiveness, as well as agreed timelines and budget.

g. Support any further actions towards furthering the implementation of the EW4All initiative, upon the request of UNDRR or to our request coming to UNDRR.

2. Liaise with the Regional Offices of pillar lead agencies (UNDRR, WMO, ITU, IFRC) as required to facilitate streamlined communication across the UN resident coordinator office, country officials and pillar lead agencies.

3. Raise awareness and promote advocacy for the EW4All initiative at country-level and among the UN Country Team, including sharing information products, convening meetings, making presentations, media outreach and communications, etc.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree in disaster risk reduction, climate change, sustainable development, or other related areas is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree) in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
– At least 4 years of experience in disaster risk reduction is required.
– Work experience with national stakeholders in areas of disaster risk management, climate change, early warning systems, or identification of vulnerabilities and exposures, etc. is required.
– Experience with information management systems is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in Spanish is required. Working knowledge in English or another UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

*FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

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.