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Technical Specialist, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Job Vacancy in Lilongwe, Malawi

Othuke Andrew Akpeli017 mins

 

Location
: Lilongwe, MALAWI
Application
Deadline : 25-Oct-12
Type
of Contract : FTA International
Post
Level : P-4 Languages
Required
: English  
Starting
Date :(date when the selected candidate is expected to start) 02-Dec-2012
Duration
of Initial Contract : One Year, with possibility of renewal  
Background
Following
the new UNDP CPD 2012-2016 and the UNDAF for 2012-2016, the five year programme
support document (PSD) on disaster risk management (DRM) in Malawi is fully
aligned to the Hyogo framework for Action (HFA) and its 2009 and 2011 revisions
comprised in the Global Assessment Reports (www.isdr.org/gar) and MGDS-II
(2011–2016).
Key
areas targeted include:
(1)
strong linkages between poverty and population vulnerability to disaster
shocks;
(2)
Disaster shocks, damages and losses;
(3)
institutional and policy landscape;
(4)
UN coordination mechanism in DRM and DRR;
(5)
risk profiles; and
(6)
implications of climate change, variability, and adaptation to socio-economic
development.
 The
PSD will aim at achieving the outputs of:
(a)
Disaster risk management is mainstreamed in national development plans,
policies and programmes;
 (b) Data and knowledge on the impact of
natural disasters collected and made accessible to decision makers in
Government, Private Sector, Civil Society, development partners and communities;
and
(c)
Coordination mechanisms and implementation arrangements for DRM/DRR established
and used at national level and in the 15 disaster-prone districts.
In
the new PSD, the concept of disaster risk management includes the spectrum of
disaster risk reduction, preparedness, risk mitigations, and early recovery
response. This is in line with and will operationalize the new national
Disaster Risk Management Policy, which is likely to be approved by Cabinet in
2012, and which was developed with UNDP assistance
Under
the overall guidance of the Deputy Resident Representative (Programme), and
under the day-to-day supervision by the ARR of the DRR/environment unit of the
UNDP country office in Malawi, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Advisor will be housed in the Department of Disaster Management Affairs
(DoDMA), under the Office of the President (OPC). The adviser will provide
expert advice to support the development, implementation, coordination and
management of the new DRM programme; institutionalize and maintain donor
intelligence, strategic partnership and resource mobilization; and undertake
advocacy and IEC. The advisor will work alongside the OPC staff to support
capacity building and on the job learning on a day to day basis. 
Duties and
Responsibilities
Provide
top-notch expertise and advice to UNDP and DoDMA / OPC with regard to
development of policy, regulations, methodologies and working instruments in
the fields of disaster risk reduction and management, and other related areas:
  • Thorough
    analysis of the governance, political, and socio-economic situation of the
    country, esp. considering the current Governmentâ    €™s DRM policy processes;
  • Technically
    contribute to the development of poverty-orientated policies, national
    strategies and legal instruments in the fields of DRM in partnership with
    strategic partners and in the different national sectors;
  • Identification
    of strategic and innovative areas of cooperation with interested
    development partners in supporting DRM;
  • Strategic
    review of the Malawiâ    €™s
    DRM system and in particular support the strengthening of disaster risk
    reduction and enhancing preparedness, e.g. the Humanitarian Country Team
    (HCT);
  • Support
    the elaboration of guidelines, methodologies, manuals and supporting
    documentation relevant to DRM and the new DRM Policy;
  •  Support
    the development of methodologies and guidelines for the integration of
    cross-cutting issues particularly in relation to gender; and
  • Skills
    transfer and capacity development in DoDMA through trainings, on-the-job
    coaching, briefings and study sessions, etc.
Strengthen
the capacity of DoDMA / OPC for the implementation, management, coordination,
monitoring and evaluation of the new DRM programme and DRM Policy:
  • Support
    DoDMA in assuming leadership and strategic oversight of the planning,
    budgeting, implementation and monitoring of the new DRM programme, in line
    with the new DRM Policy;
  • Effective
    application of the Results-Based Management (RBM) tools, establishment of
    management targets and monitoring and achievement of results;
  • Provision
    of strategic advice in the formulation, implementation, and revision of
    the operational planning and budgeting system for the new DRM Programme
    ensuring its alignment with existing Government planning and budgeting
    instruments;
  • Support
    the effective operation of the governmentâ    €™s
    DRM coordination structure as well as the UN inter-agency HCT mechanism,
    based on the new Policy and revised Disaster Preparedness Act;
  • Ensure
    effective monitoring and impact evaluation of the new DRM programme and
    introducing adjustments to programme design and implementation strategies
    as/when necessary in consultation with key stakeholders;
  • Support
    the development of reporting systems and the elaboration of consolidated
    annual progress reports for the new DRM Programme;
  • Support
    the recruitment of technical advisors and short-term consultants for
    reviewing and evaluating their impact and contribution to the Programme;
    and
  • Support
    effective liaison and coordination with UNDP and other National Programme
    Partners (actual and potential) to ensure a coordinated, harmonized and
    integrated approach which guarantees ongoing financial and technical
    support for its development and consolidation.
Ensure
effective management of the new DRM programme focusing on quality control of
the full cycle of programming from formulation, monitoring, implementation, and
reviews:
  • Leadership
    and guidance in the implementation of the DRM programme including not only
    UNDP-financed programme but also the activities to be carried out through
    other development partners;
  • Effective
    application of RBM tools, establishment of management targets and
    monitoring and achievement of results;
  • Strategic
    oversight of planning, budgeting, implementing and monitoring of the DRM
    programme, tracking use of resources in accordance with UNDP rules and
    regulations, as well as policies and procedures;
  • Effective
    monitoring, measuring the impacts of the DRM programme on a regular basis.
    Constant monitoring and analysis of the programme environment, timely adjustments
    of programme;
  • Team
    work with the government colleagues, as well as with colleagues in the
    country office and the UN system;
  • Contribution
    to the learning initiative in the government as well as in the UNDP CO,
    and to the knowledge management initiatives, particularly for government
    and UNDP.
Facilitate
and maintains strategic partnerships and resource mobilization:
  • Development
    of partnerships for achieving effective resource mobilization to achieve
    programme outcomes;
  • Establishment
    and coordination of partnerships with UN agencies, bilateral and
    multilateral donors, government institutions, organized private sector,
    CSOs and other stakeholders;
  • Contribute
    to the sector working group (SWG) to help bridge the potential gap between
    the government and development partners;
  • Preparation
    of briefings on possible areas of cooperation and identification of
    opportunities for cost-sharing;
  • Contribution
    to the establishment of cooperation and inter-change between national and
    sub-national institutions and key national and international stakeholders;
    and
  • Technical
    support and expert advice in the formulation, implementation, monitoring,
    and reviews of the UNDAF, UNDP country programme, and the UN Joint
    Programmes and Programming for UNDAF outcome 1.3 and 1.4.
Undertakes
advocacy and information, education and communication (IEC), focusing on:
  • Facilitating
    a process of creating and raising the level of awareness on issues
    emerging in the fields of DRM;
  • Successes
    and best practices generated and communicated, with the aim of informing
    the national-level policy and political dialogue in the fields;
  • Providing
    specialist advice on a timely basis to UNDP and the UN System on
    significant policy measures being considered or implemented by the
    Government in the fields of DRM;
  • Creating
    high-level advocacy on relevant development policies and programmes in
    relation to DRM across the representatives of top echelon of the countryâ    €™s stakeholders;
  • Determining
    appropriate media for reaching out to the public and design strategies for
    reaching target groups;
  • Support
    the development guidelines and methodologies for the dissemination of
    information to local communities in a simplified form; and
  • Promotion
    of South-South collaboration in support for exchange of information and
    experience with other countries.
Competencies
Corporate
Competencies:
  • Promotes
    the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP.
  • Demonstrates
    integrity by modeling the UNâ    €™s
    values and ethical standards.
  • Displays
    cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and
    adaptability.
Functional
Competencies:
Technical
knowledge
  • Demonstrates
    a thorough understanding of the issues and challenges related to disaster
    risk management.
  • Exhibits
    a good knowledge of institutional development and capacity development
    issues.
  • Displays
    process, transparency and accountability in the country.
Development
and Operational Effectiveness
  • Ability
    to lead and contribute to strategic planning, change processes,
    results-based management, work planning, and reporting.
  • Ability
    to formulate and manage budgets, oversight of implementation, monitoring
    and evaluation of development projects.
  • Ability
    to apply development theory to the specific country context to identify
    creative, practical approaches to overcome challenging situations.
  • Ability
    to build and sustain effective partnerships with UN Agencies and main
    constituents, advocate effectively, communicate sensitively across
    different constituencies.
  • Ability
    to mobilise resources and undertake cost-recovery.
  • Ability
    to implement new systems and effect behavioural and attitudinal change.
Knowledge
and Information Management and Learning
  • Facilitates
    a knowledge and information sharing and learning culture.
  • Has
    good knowledge on UNDP programme and operational issues.
  • Actively
    works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more
    Practice Areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills.
  • Has
    knowledge of UNDP/UN policies and programme in disaster risk reduction.
Management
and Leadership
  • Builds
    strong relationships with stakeholders and clients, focuses on impact and
    results for clients, and respond positively to feedback.
  • Ability
    to establish effective working relations in a multicultural team
    environment.
  • Excellent
    interpersonal skills.
  • Consistently
    approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
  • Demonstrates
    strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Demonstrates
    capacity to communicate effectively; resource management; capacity to plan
    and organize programmes effectively.
  • Demonstrates
    resourcefulness, initiative and mature judgment.
  • Demonstrates
    openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
  • Patience
    to work under pressure and maintains positive outlook and humour.
Required
Skills and Experience
Education:
  • Master’s degree in Disaster Risk
    Management or a related field.
Experience:
  • At
    least 7 years practical experience on a similar position in DRM at
    international or national level.
  • Experience
    in developing countries, preferably in the Africa region.
  • Thorough
    knowledge of legislation and policies related to DRM, as well as
    international and regional discourse on DRM.
  • Comprehensive
    knowledge, experience, and record of achievements in providing quality
    advisory services to governments in disaster risk reduction and management
    and related issues is essential.
  • International
    experience in institutional capacity building on DRM.
  • Conceptual
    and strategic analytical capacity to analyze and articulate complex issues
    that require a coordinated UN response is critical for success.
  • Demonstrated
    problem-solving skills and ability to use sound judgment in applying
    technical expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems.
  • Strong
    negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement.
Language
Requirements:
  • English.
UNDP
is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality
and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons
with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be
treated with the strictest confidence.
Click Here to Apply
Closing
Date: Thursday, 25 October 2012
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