Strengthening the recording of hazardous events, impacts, damages and losses in Colombia

At the end of the consultancy, Colombia will have a consolidated and harmonized database on hazardous events, impacts, damages and/or losses, with the 2026–2027 El Niño event serving as a priority application for strengthening the systematic recording and analysis of disaster impacts. The consultancy will have strengthened the collection and systematization of information from the different entities responsible for recording disaster impacts, contributing to a better understanding of the impacts associated with El Niño and the hazards monitored during the exercise. The consultancy will provide an analysis of the main impacts recorded and identify information gaps, methodological and institutional challenges and opportunities to improve impact monitoring and quantification. Particular attention will be given to data disaggregation by gender and disability, geographical and temporal coverage, triggering mechanisms and cascading effects, as well as the quality, completeness and traceability of disaster impact and loss information. The recommendations will contribute to strengthening national disaster impact and loss recording mechanisms, improving coordination and information flows across the institutions involved, facilitating interoperability with the DELTA Resilience system and providing inputs for national reporting through the Sendai Framework Monitor. The experience and lessons learned will also provide practical inputs to strengthen the application of DELTA Resilience for the systematic recording and monitoring of hazardous events and their impacts, damages and losses.

Bogota D.C., Colombia

8 months

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 160 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses, and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It 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 framework of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, and particularly its Priority 1: Understanding disaster risk, this consultancy will also contribute to strengthening national mechanisms for the collection and management of information on hazardous events, damages and losses, while promoting and facilitating the use of the new-generation Disaster & Hazardous Events, Losses and Damages Tracking & Analysis (DELTA) Resilience system. It specifically aims to strengthen the systematic monitoring of disaster impacts associated with the 2026–2027 El Niño event in Colombia. Under the supervision of the Risk Knowledge Officer at UNDRR's Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean and in coordination with the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres – UNGRD), the consultant will be responsible for collecting, systematizing and consolidating information on hazardous events, damages and/or losses in Colombia. The monitoring will consider a broad range of relevant hazards, with particular attention to drought, extreme heat, wildfires, including wildland-urban interface fires, frost and, where relevant, floods as well as hazardous and disaster events associated to 2026–2027 El Niño event in Colombia. Information shall be collected following the methodology defined by UNDRR and the structure of the DELTA Resilience system. The consultant will systematically record information on the characterization of hazardous events, including their classification according to the Hazard Information Profiles (HIPs), their geographical extent and temporal characteristics, impacts on people (including sex, age and disability disaggregation) and affected sectors, damages, losses and disruptions, response measures and anticipatory actions, as well as information sources and other metadata required to ensure the quality and completeness of records. The consultant will coordinate with relevant subnational and/or sectoral entities in Colombia responsible for the collection and management of disaster damage and loss information to identify information sources, strengthen coordination among institutions and document the main methodological challenges related to the monitoring and quantification of impacts associated with the 2026–2027 El Niño event. This will include documenting challenges related to the availability, quality and level of disaggregation of data and the relationships between hazardous events and their impacts. Acknowledging that El Niño typically manifests in Colombia in the form of rainfall deficit and extreme heat, which in turn facilitate the conditions to trigger wildfires, the timely compilation of loss and damage information, specifically those related to the loss of ecosystem services, can support the development of quantitative evidence to use such information in the strengthening of early warning systems, as well as in the development and improvement of anticipatory action (e.g., better definition of triggers and thresholds). Based on the information collected, the consultant will develop a consolidated database and analyse the impacts of the 2026–2027 El Niño event in Colombia. The consultant will also identify information gaps, lessons learned and opportunities to strengthen national impact monitoring and recording mechanisms, with particular attention to the availability of data disaggregated by gender and disability, triggering mechanisms, cascading effects and the integration of information into the DELTA Resilience system. The consultant will prepare technical reports and materials to communicate and disseminate the results, including a PowerPoint presentation and a case study documenting Colombia's experience for dissemination through UNDRR's knowledge repository. Finally, the consultant will support the presentation of the main results through a webinar. The position will be based in Bogotá D.C., Colombia supporting the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). The consultant will report to the Risk Knowledge Officer at UNDRR's Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean and will work in close coordination with UNGRD and other relevant institutions.

Advanced university degree in engineering, geography, environmental sciences, disaster risk management, statistics, economics, territorial planning or another related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with at least two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the collection, analysis and/or estimation of disaster damages and losses is required. Experience in database management and analysis is required. Experience working with government institutions responsible for disaster risk reduction is desirable. Experience with national disaster information systems is desirable.

English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in Spanish is required. Knowledge of English or French is desired.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. *FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

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.