NUNV Disaster Risk Reduction Officer (Child Centered DRR) - New Delhi

UNICEF India Country Office's Country Programme 2018-2022 identifies risk informed programming as one of its programming principles to ensure programme effectiveness in achieving better results for children threatened by natural and man-made hazards and disasters. UNICEF commitment corroborates the wider UNCT engagement for disaster resilience and climate action to mitigate impact of natural and man-made disasters on UN Supported GOI programmes. The UN Volunteer position is created to support UNICEF Disaster Risk Reduction Section's objective to develop Government, partners and UNICEF Staff capacities and provide technical resources to strengthen the resilience of children, communities and development systems to natural hazards, climate change and civil strife.

Living Conditions

New Delhi, the capital of India, is a bustling metropolis that has an amazing mix of modernization and carefully preserved antiquity. Delhi features an atypical version of the humid subtropical climate. From April to October the weather is hot. The monsoon arrives at the end of June, along with an increase in humidity. The brief, mild winter starts in late November, peaks in January and heavy fog often occurs. Different kinds of accommodation are available in Delhi, though it is most common to stay in rented apartment or guest houses. The cost will vary depending on individual wishes and requirements as well as location. Transport options include the metro rail, buses, radio cabs, auto-rikshaws etc. There are different phone networks available (fixed and mobile) and internet access is easy. However, to obtain a phone connection you are required to submit a photo and valid ID proof. The electricity network is 220 volts. Delhi is in security phase zero (0), so there is no security concern at this moment. Although English is generally used for official and business purposes, Hindi is the official language and is spoken by most of the people. Punjabi and Urdu are also commonly spoken.

As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan.

Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers

The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.

Travel to duty station (if applicable) and a Settling-In-Grant will be provided in the event the duty station is not within commuting distance from the place of recruitment. The applicable monthly Volunteer Living Allowance of Rs. 42,473.67 (Rupees Forty-Two Thousand Four-Hundred Seventy-Three and Paise Sixty-Seven only) is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents), as well as final repatriation (if applicable) and resettlement allowance for satisfactory service.

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Chief, DRR Section, the UNV will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Support the Section's focal point for adolescent programming and as such contribute to provide technical input into UNICEF India Country Office's convergent programming on adolescents. This will include contribution to Child Protection led Generation Unlimited (GenU) initiatives as well as liaison with existing coalitions for child centered DRR including the "Child Youth Alliance for Resilience in India", UNV and the Red Cross to promote and facilitate youth and volunteer engagement for resilience, building safer and more secure environment for children.
• Support the focal point for Health and DRR to establish disaster and climate risk impact on the sector and facilitate risk informed programming in the health sector, including air pollution mitigation
• Support risk information and overall knowledge management and capacity development activities to facilitate child centered risk informed programming.
• Support the focal point for advocacy and communication to improve visibility of DRR Section's and DRR Network achievement. In this regard work closely with UNICEF's Communication & Advocacy Section.
• Support the Section in its engagement in the UNCT Result Group 5 on Sustainable Energy, Climate Change and Disaster Resilience
• Any other business related to the area of work

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day);
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country;
• Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities.  
• Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.;
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers;
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Results/expected outputs

As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including:

• Youth DRR Engagement Strategy document developed and rolled-out to support children and youth as agents of change for disaster risk reduction and climate change, which will be part of the on-going and planned UNICEF supported initiatives for adolescents and facilitate youth participation in child centered risk reduction.
• Impact of disaster and climate risk on the health sector documents and in collaboration with the DRR and Health team, evidence applied to risk inform (adapt) UNICEF supported GOI programmes in the health sector
• UNICEF ICO's contribution to inter-agency engagement to mitigate air pollution ensured (including support to State activities)
• DRR Section and Network's visibility and overall advocacy improved through improved reporting of results, tools and other production on various internal and external platforms including websites and social media
• Overall contribution to other DRR Section support work streams provided
• Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment
• A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed

Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNICEF; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNICEF procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;

Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNICEF in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority;

Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues;

Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment.

Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;

Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary;

Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNICEF’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values. 

Master's Degree in social science, Disaster Risk Management, public administration, public health, nutrition, WASH, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines.

Candidates from other background with experience of working on disaster risk management or climate change can also apply.

At-least 2 years of relevant work experience is mandatory.

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme which welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.

United Nations Volunteers reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this opening for other openings with United Nations Volunteers with similar assignment description, experience and educational requirements.