National Disaster Risk Reduction consultant - Maldives

Ultimate result of service Understanding and knowledge of tracking of data on disaster-related losses and damages in critical infrastructure sectors (transport, power, telecommunications, and water and sewage) is strengthened among staff of organizations working in these sectors in Maldives.

Male, Maldives

2.5 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/ASG), UNDRR has over 150 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. Disaster risk reduction (DRR) straddles both development and humanitarian action. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction includes multiple direct linkages to humanitarian action, including links to preparedness, early warning, recovery and 'build back better'. UNDRR provides policy and normative expertise and plays a convening role to scale up risk reduction in humanitarian action, addressing root causes of humanitarian crises and reducing humanitarian needs. This includes engagement in strategic partnerships on displacement, risk financing and social protection, as well as overarching advocacy and knowledge management to strengthen humanitarian-development collaboration. 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). The UN Plan of Action on DRR for Resilience (United Nations, 2016) promotes disaster risk reduction as an "integrating element within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". Such integration provides a "practical and tangible bridge" between development and humanitarian communities and serves as a "rallying point" between key stakeholders that share the aim of reducing climate and disaster risk at global to local levels. With this mandate, UNDRR is undertaking a project with CDRI's support entitled Enhancing availability, quality, and use of risk information for critical infrastructure to reduce disaster risk, increase resilience and strengthen early warning systems in Kiribati, Maldives and Timor-Leste. This two-year project over 2025-27 aims to enhance the availability, accessibility, quality, and use of disaster risk information for critical infrastructure to reduce disaster risk, reduce downtime and increase resilience in Kiribati, Maldives and Timor-Leste. The project strengthens disaster risk data systems and early warning capabilities in Kiribati, Maldives, and Timor-Leste to reduce risk, minimize disruptions, and enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure and services. It will evaluate existing capacities and identify gaps in disaster loss tracking, focusing on infrastructure, early warning mechanisms, and disaggregated data to support evidence-based decision-making. Governments and stakeholders will receive training on risk data collection, sharing, and utilization, fostering inclusive and resilient development. It consists of two objectives: 1. Enhanced systems and capacities in Kiribati, Maldives and Timor-Leste to systematically track disaster losses and damages in critical infrastructure sectors. The project focuses on the following sectors:

• Kiribati: Water, health, education, agriculture/fisheries, transport, ICT, power;
• Maldives: Transport, power, telecommunications, water and sewage;
• Timor-Leste: Health, transport, early warning infrastructure. 2. Strengthened evidence-based decision-making in Kiribati, Maldives and Timor-Leste through enhancing understanding of usability and application of disaster losses and damages data to risk inform sector planning and financing in critical infrastructure sectors. In particular in Maldives, until now there have been strong engagements with organizations in the sectors of transport, power, telecommunications, and water and sewage covering both the service providers and the regulators. Orientation sessions with organizations in transport and power sectors have already been conducted. On the other hand NDMA and UNDRR are also working together to strengthen the IT based loss and damage tracking system in Maldives Based on this background, the duties and responsibilities of the consultant will include the following. The consultant will be home-based, working closely with the National Disaster Management Authority of Maldives
• Undertake dedicated orientation sessions for organizations in telecommunications and water and sewage sectors in Maldives on tracking of disaster related losses and damages.
• Conduct a workshop/training for ministries, decision-makers and technical personnel in targeted critical sectors (transport, power, telecommunications, and water and sewage) and other stakeholders (including at-risk groups) on methodologies and protocols to collect, track and share data on disaster-related losses and damages in critical infrastructure and services, including from a GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion) perspective.
• Develop a guidance note for data sharing in the context of Maldives among the concerned institutions in the targeted critical sectors (transport, power, telecommunications, and water and sewage) on methodologies and protocols to collect, track and share data on disaster-related losses and damages in infrastructure and services, including with a focus on applicable GEDSI related data.

Minimum 7 (seven) years of experience in DRR, climate change, or a related area Experience of implementing projects in coordination with government institutions in Maldives Experience in capacity development on DRR related issues Experience in working with data on disaster-related losses and damages

Fluency in English and Maldivian (Dhivehi) language is required.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

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.