National Disaster Risk Management Expert

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System. It serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s policy work carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, forms a continuous spectrum of in-depth local knowledge to cutting-edge global perspectives and advocacy. In this context, UNDP invests in the Global Policy Network (GPN), a network of field-based and global technical expertise across a wide range of knowledge domains and in support of the signature solutions and organizational capabilities envisioned in the Strategic Plan.

The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UN Guiding Principles) is widely recognized as the most authoritative, normative framework guiding efforts to reduce or eliminate the adverse impact of business operations on human rights. Experts have described it as the single most important innovation in promoting sustainable business practices in the last 25 years – a role that is reinforced by its inclusion as one of the Means of Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda).

UNDP has operated in Ethiopia since 1981. Since then, UNDP has focused on providing Ethiopia with strategic support to build national capacity and enhance the country’s development results in the areas of poverty reduction and economic growth, democratic governance as well as climate resilient development. UNDP is currently assisting the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) to overcome its structural challenges as it strives to become a democratic, peaceful and prosperous middle-income country. It supports a successful transition to democratic governance, address drivers of conflict to consolidate and build peace, foster enabling conditions for expanded job creation by the private sector (especially SMEs) and accelerate the transition to a green economy resilient to climate change. Gender equality and women’s empowerment are embedded across all areas of work.

UNDP is seeking to recruit a National United Nations Volunteer (UNV) for the UNDP-UNDRR “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities” Project, which is a component of the Intra-ACP Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) ACP-EU Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme.

The project has the overarching goal to prevent new/reduce existing risk and help ACP countries and communities recover from and enhance their resilience to disasters, according to the priorities set out in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It builds on the UNDP legacy of long-term sustainable approaches to development, anchored in natural resource management, resilience building and governance with a transformative disaster/climate risk lens to reduce risks across entire systems. It is equally based on the extensive and successful UNDRR leadership and coordination in capacity building and development of all stakeholders, ranging from regional and national authorities, academia, private sector and civil society organizations through an inclusive approach that puts the communities at the centre of its action and their governments on the steering seat as the lead for ownership and sustainability of the actions. Through four outputs that are aligned to three of the four priorities of the Sendai Framework, this joint UNDP/UNDRR Project will strengthen disaster risk reduction capacities of ACP regional institutions, build risk governance capacity in ACP countries, and enhance recovery processes and community level action in order to save lives. The approach will contribute to the achievement of many goals highlighted in international agendas such as the Sendai Framework, Paris Agreement, Agenda for Humanity, New Urban Agenda, and not last the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, it will pursue a holistic, conflict sensitive, whole-of-government/society, gender transformative, and leave no one behind approach.

The National United Nations Volunteer (UNV) works under the direct supervision of the project’s focal point at the Ethiopia UNDP Country office of the “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities” Project, with secondary reporting to the Nairobi-based Regional Specialist.

Project Management Support:

• Coordinating the implementation of project activities with the different UNDP teams, UNDP Country Office, partners and other stakeholders while ensuring
mainstreaming of disaster, climate change, human rights and gender considerations in implemented actions.
• Provide substantive and administrative support to the preparation of country missions, meetings and other consultations.
• Contribute to the drafting, review and/or revision of the ToRs and other technical documents related to the project activities.
• Provide research support the delivery of technical policy advice and programme support that responds to regional and country office needs related to the Project.
• Prepare various written outputs, as may be required (e.g. draft background papers, concept notes, briefing notes and talking points).
• Set up a dynamic data collection system to ensure that project results are measured regularly and propose any necessary corrections.
• Ensure the proper implementation of the project at national level, in line with work plans, contributing to the achievement of expected results and the impact of the
project, in collaboration with the UNDP teams and in accordance with its rules and procedures.

Reporting, and Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Collect, synthesize and monitor information on the progress made in the implementation of the project in line with UNDP’s DRR, climate change, and resilience
portfolio at national level.
• Analyse documents and reports submitted by implementing partners and ensure that they are of good quality.
• Coordinate reporting on DRR, climate change and resilience (e.g., annual reports, progress reports, donor reports, annual reports, etc.).
• Put in place mechanisms to ensure a good flow of information on project implementation between the national level and the regional level.
• Provide regular information/data for updating UNDP platforms.
• Provide inputs for the preparation of the project reports (including monthly, quarterly and annual reports).
• Participate in the various meetings relating to the project and take part in all relevant initiatives related to the project and implemented by the partners involved.
• Alert the national and regional teams of any delays in the implementation of the project and suggest ways of reorienting the activities concerned.

Stakeholder Coordination and Partnership-building:

• Ensure effective participation and ownership of all stakeholders in the various activities at national level.
• Facilitate regular exchanges between key partners and stakeholders at the national level to inform them on the project status and seek alignment with
complementary initiatives.
• Support the development of effective partnership and working relationships with UNDP partners including UN agencies, implementing partners, government
institutions, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, CSOs and the private sector.
• Contribute to the preparation of project documents or concept notes based on the needs expressed by actors at national level, lessons learned and good practices.


Learning and knowledge sharing:

• Liaise with Project Team, UNDP CO teams, UN Agencies and other partners on knowledge-sharing, through identification and synthesis of information resources,
lessons learnt and best practices.
• Capture in different formats, the good practices and lessons learnt from the implementation of the project at national level.
• Contribute to the development of knowledge products and tools.
• Contribute to the establishment of a knowledge management system and the sharing of lessons learnt in relation to project results, prepare and produce case
studies as required.
• Support communications and advocacy outreach on key achievements.
• Enhance visibility of the regional project action on DRR, climate, risks and resilience in social media and other platforms such as websites, by ensuring regular
updates and maintaining quality and relevance of content.
• Make contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.