Result of Service

Support for the development of the national disaster loss database.
Risk data collation (RiX) on on hazards, vulnerability, exposure – of priority to national stakeholders.
Technical expertise to the delivery of data collection/validation/training and analysis workshops.

Work Location

Home based – Madagascar

Expected duration

4 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/ASG), UNDRR has over 100 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 UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) straddles both development and humanitarian action. The Sendai Framework includes multiple direct linkages to humanitarian action, including links to preparedness, early warning, recovery and ‘build back better’. Through its guiding role in Sendai Framework implementation, UNDRR also contributes to enhanced Risk and Vulnerability Information for better humanitarian planning and response. Through the UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience, UNDRR plays a leadership role in integrating DRR across the UN system and contributes to providing a bridge between development and humanitarian communities. Through the UN Plan of Action, the UN System commits to strengthen its joint ability ‘to effectively support national and local communities in early warning, preparedness, response and recovery’ (Result 2.2).
UNDRR works on risk knowledge and builds partnerships for the generation, use and governance of hazard, exposure and vulnerability data. The risk knowledge programme enhances access to quality risk data, including disaster loss data. Key partners include the UN system, national ministries and agencies and diverse partners who are providers of risk information.
UNDRR promotes the generation, application and governance of risk, loss and Sendai Framework data for open access by Governments and UN-partners. UNDRR supports this endeavor with the help of three connected modules; DesInventar, a harmonized disaster loss database; the Sendai Framework Monitor, an analytics module tracking annual progress on the Sendai Framework implementation; and the Risk Information Exchange (RiX), a living repository of open-source, global, regional and national risk data.
RiX aggregates information on hazards, exposure and vulnerability, and structural information like administrative boundaries, topographic maps, satellite data, hydro-met data, macro-economic data, and human development indicators disaggregated sub-nationally if possible – across a broad range of risk areas, from biological, hydrometeorological, environmental to technological, societal and climate change. It makes accessible risk data from government ministries and departments, disaster management and civil protection agencies, sector planners, finance and investment officials, bilateral and multilateral organizations; NGOs and INGOs; researchers; and the private sector. The RiX does not aim to duplicate existing risk and climate data, instead it wants to shine the light on risk information and analysis generated in traditionally siloed climate change, humanitarian and development networks.

The consultant will engage in the implementation of the UNDRR component of the programme “Resilience building and Disaster Response Management in the Indian Ocean” co-funded by the European Union in partnership with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and implemented by UNDRR in close collaboration with the national DRR authorities (i.e., Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC) and Cellule de Prévention et d’appui à la Gestion des Urgences (CPGU)). The project has been designed to accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework in the Indian Ocean island States, specifically to achieve Targets (e) and (g) of the Sendai Framework through contributions to ensure stronger coordination at regional level and institutional capacities for DRR at national level, in support Early Warning Systems (EWS) efforts.

The consultant is also expected to understand the various uses cases of risk, loss and Sendai Framework data and information and support the generation of a robust evidence-base for the respective analysis efforts, such as for Early Warning or the for the annual Common Country Assessments (CCA).

Institutional Arrangements
This opportunity is based in Antananarivo. The consultant will report remotely to the Associate Programme Management Officer and the Risk Knowledge Programme Management Officer at the Regional Office for Africa, under the overall supervision of the Deputy Chief of Office and to the Risk Knowledge as well as Partnership Branch, as appropriate. He/She will further work to ensure close coordination with the national DRR stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

A: Support for the development of the national disaster loss database (60% time)
The consultant will work in close collaboration with the national DRR authority to enhance the collection, management and governance and application of disaster loss data. He/She will also support the national authority in reporting on the Sendai Framework Monitor. Strong engagement with other the national DRR stakeholders, particularly members of the national DRR platform will be required. Upon agreement with the above, the consultant will:
– Data management: conducting a diagnostic of disaster loss data; provide recommendations for the harmonization of data across DesInventar and SFM at national level, including the hazard list and data collection tools;
– Collection of loss data: supporting the government in the collection of disaster loss data to enhance the Government’s and partners’ access to risk information and reporting on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. As much as possible, all data should be disaggregated to the maximum degree possible by sex, age, disability status, economic, geographic/administrative area, etc;
– Governance of loss data: conducting a mapping of institutions and organisations who collect disaster loss data and the tools they employ /produce an overview of other government bodies and organizations who collect data on disaster and climate related losses – describe the data, the sources of this data, the methodologies used;
– Providing recommendations on how to enhance institutional linkages to facilitate the sharing of disaster loss data among sectors and institutions; support the National DRR authorities in developing institutional channels for data sharing with selected sectors; support the national authority in strengthening institutional arrangements (e.g., internal SOPs, MoUs with other organizations) for the collection and use of loss data;
– Supporting the national authority in the process of validating the newly collected loss data;
– Promoting awareness across relevant national institutions of disaster loss data (collected as per the Sendai Framework indicators) and the tools available for the management and analysis of disaster loss data (DesInventar and SFM) to enhance their capacity to collect, monitor and archive disaster data; Consolidate loss databases and facilitate agreement on the use of such information for disaster management purposes – particularly in relation to preparedness;
– Application / use of loss data: undertaking relevant analysis of collected/existing disaster loss data; support the National DRR authority in producing analysis reports, using existing and new disaster loss data from DesInventar; design and roll out a dissemination plan to make the analysis relevant to selected sectors.

B: Risk data collation (RiX) and risk information for preparedness and early warning – 40% time
– Preparing a preliminary list of risk information (on hazards, vulnerability, exposure) – of priority to national stakeholders;
– Liaise with UNDRR and its technical partners to support the assessment of the legal provisions related to data management, data collection, access and revision cycles. Recommending steps to improve access to risk information.
– Assess the type of information management systems in use for managing and sharing risk assessment results: data platforms for management and visualization, software systems in use, modules, analytical functionalities, automated linkages, operational architecture, etc. (including an overview of risk information available on Geonode Madagascar)
– Collect meta-data about applicable information management systems in the country (software, models, storage, sharing, information management strategies, etc.).

C: Overall roll out of risk knowledge activities
– Facilitating, and contributing substantive inputs into training workshops on risk data, loss data, data management, data governance, data literacy.
– Working closely with host agency as needed, assess capacity development gaps and opportunities to inform all training and capacity building activities to enhance risk knowledge;
– Facilitating consultations with UN and national authorities.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree in disaster risk, risk analysis and management, risk modelling (including hazard, vulnerability and exposure) or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
Minimum 5 years of experience in disaster risk reduction, information management, statistics, data analysis, management of quantitative and qualitative data systems, data integration and projection, knowledge of mapping/GIS software as well as relevant humanitarian and/or development work is required.
A good knowledge of the national, regional and international context on DRM/DRR as well as Familiarity with government knowledge management resources (sector, macro, sub-national) is required.
Excellent analytical, writing and consultation skills with the ability to gather, analyze and synthesize information, and present it in a clear, concise format, is required.
Experience with quantitative risk assessment, risk modelling and disaster risk metrics is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in English and French is required. Proficiency in any other UN languages is desirable.

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.