The expected Outcome is:

• Develop National DRR Platform proposal and structure;
• Zero-Draft of the National Strategy for DRR 2030 that coherent with the national adaptation plan and is aligned to Sendai Framework’s 10 key elements;
• Revised draft of the updated National Strategy for DRR based on feedback of national institutions in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders; and
• Final updated National Strategy for DRR that is coherent with the national adaptation plan based on feedback from the final national consultation, for further submission to the National Sendai Focal Point to pursue further endorsements.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

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), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction has over 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction 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 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.

This consultancy position is home based in the selected country. The consultant will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Deputy Chief of Office of UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) and in coordination with the Associated Programme Officer based in Cairo.

Duties and Responsibilities

The three main policy documents of the Post-2015 Agenda stress the need to strengthen disaster and climate resilience; namely the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030, several goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Climate Agreement and the New Urban Agenda (Habitat III). So far, these agendas are not fully streamlined, although cross-cutting approaches have a strong potential to improve disaster risk reduction, adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and to foster sustainable development.
UNDRR globally is launching an initiative that aims to bring coherence between the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement in national policies and strategies at country level, with focus on least developed countries in the pilot phase. In the Arab states, the initiative will be pursued in four priority countries; namely, Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritania and Sudan. Due to the language criterion, this JO will be for the three countries that are French speakers; Comoros, Djibouti, and Mauritania.
To pursue the implementation of the initiative in the country, UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) is seeking the expertise of a National Consultant for each identified country to oversee and coordinate the implementation of the Coherence initiative between Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change (CC) at the national level.

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Deputy Chief of Office of UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) and in coordination with the Associated Programme Officer based in Cairo, the National Consultant will carry out the following duties:

1. Undertake a desk review of the relevant Words into Action Guidelines for Developing National DRR Strategies, Arab Strategy for DRR 2030, National Adaptation Plan, Policy Coherence: Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy to examine points of entry for enhanced alignment with Sendai Framework and Arab Strategy for DRR 2030 and the National Adaptation Plan;
2. Develop the National DRR Platform structure in consultation with the National Sendai Focal Point and its member institutions, towards enhancing partnerships among all in-country DRR and climate change stakeholders;
3. Lead the updating of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy in line with Sendai Framework and in coherence with National Adaptation Plan and the country’s National Vision, in consultation with the National DRR Platform members and related stakeholders;
4. Develop the zero-draft of the updated National DRR Strategy and undertake follow-up consultations with member institutions in the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and relevant stakeholders to solicit their views and feedback;
5. Revise the zero-draft of the updated National DRR Strategy based on feedback of national institutions;
6. Facilitate a final national on-site/virtual consultation workshop on the revised draft of the updated National DRR Strategy to solicit final comments or agreement; and
7. Finalize the updated National DRR Strategy (2030) based on feedback from the final national consultation workshop, for submission to the National Sendai Focal Point to pursue further endorsements.

Skills:
• Knowledge and understanding of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction/ Hyogo Framework for Action and the Arab Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction is required.
• Highly developed analytical skills are required.
• Excellent knowledge of disaster management and multi-disciplinary development approaches in general is desirable;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills is required.
• Knowledge of disaster risk reduction policies and strategies in the Arab region is desirable;
• Familiar with global practice and best practices in DRR and Climate Change is desirable;
• Knowledge of MS Office, Excel, Power Point, Adobe Reader.Academic Qualifications:
• Advanced University Degree in Development, Environmental Affairs, Public Health, Disaster Risk Management or any other related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:
• At Least 5 years of work experience in research and analysis in disaster risk reduction or related area is required.
• Experience in policy and strategy design, disaster risk reduction and health legislation, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement is desirable

Language:
• Fluency in French (both oral and written) is required
• Working knowledge of Arabic (written and oral) is desirable