Result of Service

Optimizing multi-hazard early warning (MHEW) capabilities, ensuring that Djibouti Government can effectively leverage climate and risk data to protect communities and mitigate disaster impacts.

Work Location

Home Based

Expected duration

1Oct2026 - 31Mar2027

Duties and Responsibilities

Established 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 than 160 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. In the context of the UN Secretary-Generals initiative on Early Warnings for All (EW4All), the CREWS endorsed a project to strengthen the capacity of Djiboutian authorities to produce, deliver, and disseminate Multi-hazards Early Warning Systems. This project is implemented by the CREWS implementing partners World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and UNDRR in collaboration with the Djibouti National Meteorological Agency (ANM), Djibouti Center for Scientific Studies and Research (CERD) and the Executive Secretariat for Risk and Disaster Management (SEGRC). The project was launched in 2024 and has significantly strengthened disaster risk knowledge among national and sub national authorities. It already enhanced skills in applying risk data for multi hazard early warning systems (MHEWS), improved national capacities to identify gaps in managing hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and impact data, and reinforced coordination mechanisms. The planned consultancy will support the coordination and implementation of UNDRR’s CREWS project activities ensuring alignment between other disaster risk reduction and early warning activities and will in addition reinforce the capacity of the national early warning systems initiative. Duties and Responsibilities This national consultancy will be home-based and will work in close collaboration with the office of the Sendai Framework focal point for Djibouti, the Executive Secretariat of Disaster Risk Management (SEGRC), under the supervision of the Chief of UNDRR’s Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS). The national consultant will support the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the CREWS Djibouti project, ensuring alignment with ongoing and planned disaster risk reduction and early warning activities in Djibouti. - Coordinates CREWS Djibouti project activities in close collaboration with UNDRR ROAS, SEGRC, and other relevant government and non-governmental partners, as well as the Resident Coordinator’s Office, the United Nations Country Team and Resident Coordinator Office in Djibouti. - Support the national coordination mechanism for EW4All in Djibouti which is led by SEGRC. - Provides substantive support for disaster risk reduction policy coordination, including the review and analysis of emerging development issues and trends in Djibouti. - Assists in organizing and facilitating workshops, trainings and meetings in Djibouti, in collaboration with the UNDRR ROAS, SEGRC and other implementing partners. - Organizes regular coordination and monitoring meetings at technical involving relevant partners as well as CREWS project Steering Committee meetings to ensure an efficient implementation of the project and alignment with other disaster risk reduction and early warning activities. - In close coordination with UNDP, supports data and risk analysis activities and assists implementing partners to establish the situation room by coordinating a knowledge exchange between ICPAC and SEGRC. - Supports the organization of a SIMEX exercise involving all relevant partners in Djibouti to text the operation of the national and subregional simulation rooms. - Contributes to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. project narrative reports, draft background papers, concept notes and agendas, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications for CREWS Djibouti project. - Coordinates and provides operational and substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences and related events, including proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposing participants, preparing background documents and presentations, handling logistical arrangements, and supporting follow-up actions, as required. - Supports the consultant that will develop the Terms of Reference of the National DRR platform by providing relevant inputs and engaging relevant counterparts. - Assist in preparing a disaster risk reduction impact story for Djibouti for national, regional and global dissemination. The following deliverables are expected from the assignment: 1. Inception and monthly progress reports on achievements and challenges using the format shared by UNDRR. It is expected that the progress reports include evidence for example, list of participation of events, consultations, simulation exercise, impact story to demonstrate that relevant partners engaged and other project related activities, and list of written inputs provided and contributions drafted to reports. 2. At least three (additional two) national workshops organized, including on (1) launching the early warning mechanism, (2) reviewing the gender-responsive and disability inclusive DRR guidance, (3) the validation of the multi-dimensional risk analysis, (4) the project validation workshop and well as the (5) consultation of the Terms of Reference of the National DRR Platform. 3. Technical coordination meetings organized on a monthly basis and Steering Committee meetings twice a year. The deliverables should be presented so that they are understandable, useful and relevant for the above-listed audiences.

Qualifications/special skills

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in information systems, information technologies, computer science, disaster and emergency management, or related area is required 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.
A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in disaster risk reduction, early warning systems and working with multiple partners and stakeholders is required;
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in project coordination, conducting consultation processes and organization of events is required; Confirmed expertise in risk and disaster management is required, with significant national-level experience;
Experience in managing disaster risk data sets and understanding of risk analysis is desired;
Experience in Microsoft Office Applications is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, Fluency in spoken and written English and French is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desired. The official United Nations Secretariat languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

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.

Consultant for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Early Warning Coordination in Djibouti