National DRR/Anticipatory Action Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Viet Nam works closely with national ministries, local authorities, and development partners to identify priorities and design programmes that strengthen food security, sustainable agriculture, and climate resilience. The office supports Viet Nam in mobilizing resources from bilateral and multilateral partners, including through project formulation, donor coordination, and technical implementation. In line with FAO’s global strategic framework and the regional priorities of the Asia and the Pacific Office, FAO Viet Nam ensures that its assistance is multidisciplinary, evidence-based, and aligned with government policies. It also serves as the focal point for translating FAO’s global expertise into practical action that responds to Viet Nam’s evolving agricultural and rural development needs.

A growing portfolio in Viet Nam is the Anticipatory Action (AA) agenda, an innovative approach which systematically links early warnings to actions designed to protect families and their assets ahead of a hazard. To further this agenda, FAO Viet Nam is, in cooperation with Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA), implementing the project "Strengthening community resilience with anticipatory action in Viet Nam" (GCP/VIE/065/AUL), supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The project aims to institutionalize a nationally led, multi-level anticipatory action system and strengthen national capacities, particularly at the commune level, while positioning the country as a regional leader in ASEAN.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision from FAO Viet Nam’s Assistant FAOR. S/he will work closely with FAO Viet Nam Disaster Risk Management Technical Specialist and in close collaboration with RAP’s Emergency and Resilience Officer.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will ensure the timely, technically sound, and well-coordinated implementation of project activities in line with the approved work plan.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National DRR/Anticipatory Action Specialist will be responsible for the following tasks during the first year of the project implementation:

Project Inception, Site Selection, and Baseline Assessment

•     Provide technical support to the development of a self-assessment capacity assessment tool. 
•     Assist in developing the methodology and Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Baseline Capacity Assessment, and participate in the assessment to evaluate existing government systems, identify gaps, and inform the design of technical support.
•     Support the preparation of the final assessment report, including the formulation of clear recommendations.
•     Provide logistical and technical support for the organization of a project kick-off workshop.

Policy Advocacy, Legal Frameworks, and Technical Standards

•     Provide technical assistance to support the inclusion of Anticipatory Action in the revision of the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control
•     Assist in drafting contextualized technical standards for harmonized anticipatory action systems that integrate both government and partner actions, with a focus on typhoons, typhoon-induced floods, and drought.
•     Support the identification of appropriate approaches for institutionalizing anticipatory action

Enhance Forecast Systems, Commune Risk Mapping, and AA Tools

•     Assist FAO technical experts in reviewing and finalizing the Composite Drought Index (CDI), ensuring alignment with the methodologies and monitoring systems of key stakeholders, and support the preparation of tools for El Niño and drought anticipatory actions
•     Provide technical support in identifying priority hotspot communes and defining risk mapping criteria in alignment with national DRM standards and recent administrative changes.
•     Facilitate the collection and integration of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability data, including ID Poor socioeconomic and gender-disaggregated data, and assist in the development of multi-hazard risk maps for selected hotspots using GIS tools.
•     Support the review of past events (e.g. Typhoon Yagi in 2024 and the Ca Mau drought in 2024) and provide technical inputs to the development of use cases for impact forecasting and a common information-sharing platform.
Capacity Building Efforts
•     Support the delivery of the capacity building on AA to local and national partners of the project based on baseline capacity assessment results, based on the findings of Act 1.1.
•     Support organizing a workshop bringing together provinces already engaging in AA and early warning communication alongside VDDMA and partners to ensure wider ownership and harmonization. 
•     Support the promotion of Early Warning Systems and Anticipatory Action

Activation of Anticipatory Action (AA)

•     Assist in reviewing forecast information, trigger thresholds, and Anticipatory Action Protocols (AAPs) to support timely activation of agreed early actions. 
•     Contribute to the timely implementation of anticipatory actions in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 
•     Support the monitoring of activation processes, document implementation progress, challenges, and lessons learned, and contribute to technical reporting.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 
  
•     Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Climate Change, Disaster Risk Management, Agriculture, Public Policy, or a closely related field. 
•     At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation, and/or emergency response in Viet Nam. Specific experience in Anticipatory Action (AA) is required. 
•     Working knowledge (Level C) of English. Fluency in Vietnamese.
•     Must be a National of Viet Nam.

Technical /Functional Skills:

•     Strong Government Partnership and Policy Advocacy: Proven track record of working closely with the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VDDMA) and provincial authorities. Deep understanding of Viet Nam's legal frameworks for DRM, specifically the Law on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the national CBDRM programme (Decision 553/QD-TTg). 
•     Anticipatory Action Expertise: Demonstrated hands-on experience from previous Anticipatory Action pilots in Viet Nam. This includes practical knowledge of drafting Anticipatory Action Protocols (AAPs), developing provincial Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and facilitating simulation exercises for hazards like typhoons and droughts. 
•     Early Warning & Data Integration Skills: Familiarity with multi-hazard risk mapping and impact forecasting. Ability to coordinate with technical agencies like NCHMF to translate meteorological data (e.g., the Composite Drought Index - CDI) into actionable triggers for communities. 
•     Social Protection & Targeting Nexus: Strong understanding of linking Anticipatory Action with national social protection systems, particularly experience or knowledge in leveraging the national poverty registry (ID Poor) for rapid, inclusive, and gender-responsive beneficiary targeting. 
•     Assessment & Coordination: Excellent skills in designing baseline capacity assessments, delivering capacity-building activities, organizing high-visibility project events/workshops, and fostering strategic.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement