Crisis Risks & Early Warning Specialist

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.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Job Purpose and Organizational Context

UNDP is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and 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 contiguous spectrum of deep 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. Within the GPN, the Crisis Bureau guides UNDP’s corporate crisis-related strategies and vision for crisis prevention, response and recovery.

One of the areas of responsibility of UNDP’s Crisis Bureau is to ensure that UNDP is well positioned to anticipate and to respond in the timeliest and most effective manner to crisis, primarily regarding sudden onset crises and complex protracted crises, triggered by natural disasters, armed conflicts, and health crises alike.  The Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Team (CFPET) provides crisis risk and early warning support to HQ and to Country Offices (COs) to address their needs in contextual risk analysis, adaptation, early action and—acknowledging unique contextual circumstances as well as unique CO requirements—provide tailored support.

As part of its supporting role, the Crisis Bureau has developed the Crisis Risk Dashboard (CRD), a platform that facilitates integrated risk analysis by drawing from diverse quantitative and qualitative data, transforming the data to analysis, and visualizing the resulting information as a resource for the organization to more effectively manage crisis-related risks, and to ensure development initiatives that are risk-informed.

The Crisis and Fragility Policy and Engagement Team is seeking a Crisis Risk and Early Warning Specialist to support the organization's analytical capacities, notably through the development and management of CRDs. The Crisis Risk and Early Warning Specialist will be responsible for the following:

1)    Support the application and expansion of the Crisis Risk Dashboard (CRD)
2)    Contribute to the design and application of methodologies for multidimensional risk   analysis;
3)    Take part in internal and inter-agency decision-making mechanisms for early warning and horizon scanning;
4)    Capacity building and knowledge management.

1)     Support the application and expansion of the Crisis Risk Dashboard (CRD)

• Provide support to HQ, Regional Hubs and Country Offices to define requirements for risk analysis and early warning, and translate these requirements into Crisis Risk Dashboard implementation plans, in support of risk-informed responses;
• Liaise with relevant staff to ensure coherence and synergies with UNDP’s corporate tools and processes related to risk management and context assessment;
• Gather feedback from users in Regional Hubs and Country Offices and translate it into actionable modifications for CRD applications, as well as in guidance material.
• Support technological innovation by identifying new data sources and new functionalities for the CRD, including by remaining abreast of existing relevant initiatives in the UN, donors, civil society, private sector and academia

2)     Contribute to the design and application of methodologies for multidimensional risk analysis

• Support the roll-out, design and development of solutions for multidimensional contextual risk analysis;
• Contribute to the work of the Crisis Fragility Policy and Engagement Team on designing and implementing a UNDP Strategy on Fragility, and in particular on developing a UNDP framework and model to understand and analyze the multidimensional aspects of fragility;
• Liaise with other technical teams in the Global Policy Network to bring together different approaches and methodologies for contextual assessments.

3)     Take part in internal and inter-agency decision-making mechanisms for early warning and horizon scanning

• Represent UNDP in Headquarters-based working groups and mechanisms for early warning, such as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee group on early warning early action and readiness;
• Support UNDP Regional Bureaux in their participation in the Regional Monthly Reviews (RMR) process and in Inter-Agency Task Forces when required;
• Contribute to UNDP internal processes for horizon scanning, crisis preparedness and crisis response.

4)     Capacity building and knowledge management

• Coordinate the development of training material on crisis risk analysis, early warning and preparedness;
• Support planning, organization and facilitation of expert workshops and consultations on crisis risk analysis, and related tools for early warning;
• Contribute to establishing a repository of methodologies, best practices and available expertise on early warning, risk analysis / monitoring, scenario planning, including through literature review and expert consultations, and by maintaining a dedicated database of resources.

Core

Innovation

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work.

Leadership

• Ability to persuade others to follow.

People Management

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.

Communication

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.

Delivery

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.

Technical/Functional

Trends and emerging areas analytics

• Ability to scan the horizon and identify approaches and initiatives to bring into policy and programme design.

Early Warning

• Knowledge of early warning and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Knowledge Management

• Ability to efficiently handle and share information and knowledge.

Data analysis and visualization

• Ability to evaluate, transform and model data to derive relevant findings- undertake & provide analysis of data to assess Org performance and or global trends.

Education:

• Master's degree in social policy, public policy, politics, economics, development studies or a related area.

Experience:

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional development experience at the national and international level with particular emphasis in the areas of crisis-prone contexts;
• Experience in designing / maintaining data-based early warning solutions at Headquarters and field level;
• Knowledge of, and first-hand experience with contextual analysis methodologies related to crisis early warning (conflict analysis, risk analysis, context assessments etc.);
• Experience working within the UN system, preferably with UNDP, in the area of early warning, risk management, conflict prevention, disaster risk reduction or emergency preparedness.
• Proficiency in the use of information management tools, particularly Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft SharePoint, GIS cartographic platforms, and big data platforms for early warning.

Language Requirements:    

• Proficiency in English;
• Working knowledge of French or Spanish desirable.

Other:    

• Non-Smoking environment.

Important information for US Permanent Residents ('Green Card' holders)

Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment. 

UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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