Santiago Network

The Santiago Network was established under the Warsaw International Mechanism for loss and damage (WIM) in 2019 as a mechanism to catalyse technical assistance (by relevant organizations, bodies, networks, and experts, or OBNEs), to avert, minimize and address loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change at the local, national, and regional level. The technical assistance is for developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. To streamline the process, terms of reference for the Santiago Network were adopted in 2022, including establishing its hosted secretariat to coordinate its functions, an Advisory Board to provide oversight and guidance, and a network of members to provide technical assistance. 

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) were selected as the hosts of the Santiago Network Secretariat in 2023. The Santiago Network Secretariat administers, through UNOPS, the funds provided to the Santiago Network to support technical assistance, in accordance with the respective regulations and rules of UNOPS. 

Technical assistance through the network will be provided in a demand-driven manner and developed through an inclusive and country-led process, taking into account the needs of vulnerable people, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

The Santiago Network is further guided by six functions. Among them:

• Effective implementation of the functions of the WIM;

• Catalysing demand-driven technical assistance, including by identifying, prioritizing, and communicating technical assistance needs and priorities;

• Facilitating and catalysing collaboration, coordination, coherence and synergies among OBNEs to deliver technical assistance effectively and efficiently;

• Facilitating the consideration of a wide range of topics;

• Facilitating the development and sharing of knowledge and information on loss and damage; and

• Facilitating access to finance, capacity building and technology through technical assistance.

Catalysing technical assistance through the Santiago Network

The scope of technical assistance includes a wide range of topics relevant to averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change. Requests for technical assistance are further guided by the Guidelines and procedures for responding to requests for technical assistance that articulate the criteria governing requests for technical assistance, and the process for making and responding to requests, as well as provide the template for developing countries to submit requests. OBNEs designated as members of the Santiago Network will be able to respond to these requests in keeping with the established open and transparent process. The provision of technical assistance must also be aligned with the Guidelines on preventing potential and addressing actual and perceived conflicts of interest in relation to the Santiago network.

Country and policy context

Namibia has been experiencing high frequency and intensity of droughts and floods. Between 1992 and 2024, Namibia declared a state of emergency on account of drought on six occasions. Moreover, communities are becoming increasingly vulnerable, and a significant number has been pushed into extreme poverty by recurrent climate-related disasters. The 2024/25 drought was particularly severe, and has been described as the worst disaster the country has ever experienced, as it left approximately 42% of the population food insecure. In 2024/2025, as part of the nationwide drought relief programme, the government redirected approximately N$1,9 billion (equivalent to USD 89 million) of its national resources earmarked for development to support affected communities. It is against this background that support is requested to assist the country to build a long-term solution to these recurrent disasters, especially droughts and floods.

Challenges that continue to affect the country’s actions relating to losses and damages, some of which are noted above, include the following:

1. Lack of financing frameworks and sufficient finance to support country response to disasters and resources for affected communities to build back better;

2. Lack of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system to support effective anticipatory action anchored on a clear institutional and policy framework;

3. Limited human and financial capacities to support recovery efforts to restore communities after disasters;

4. Growing impact from loss and damage that forces resources earmarked for resilience and development to be redirected to disaster response activities.

In future, such losses and damages could be significantly minimized if the country had well-structured and coordinated early warning systems in place to support anticipatory actions. To address the country’s fragmented early warning components, there is a need for an integrated multi-hazard early warning framework upon which development of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system will be anchored. This framework will enhance risk informed planning and decision making.

A number of policy documents outline the needs and priorities for Namibia in the context of climate change and loss and damage. Namibia’s Nationally Determined Contribution prioritises the development of a multi-hazard early warning system. Disaster risk management policies and the national development plan help streamline climate and disaster risk reduction and promote community resilience. 

While policies have established relevant institutions and management frameworks, Namibia requires technical assistance to further strengthen its coordination capacity around loss and damage, particularly with regards to planning, financing and implementing related initiatives.

Background documents relevant to the call for proposals:

• Nationally Determined Contribution

• National Disaster Risk Management Policy (2009) and the Disaster Risk Management Act No. 10 of 2012

• Sixth National Development Plan

• National Risk Profile

Objectives and expected impact of the technical assistance

The objective of the technical assistance is to develop a framework that provides the institutional anchoring of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system. It is envisaged that an early warning framework to be developed through this technical assistance from the Santiago Network will complement efforts to access the Green Climate Fund to develop an integrated multi-hazard early warning system by anchoring that system institutionally. Ultimately, the achievement of this objective is expected to increase the resilience of communities to withstand and cope with climate-induced risks. 

Santiago Network Membership

While membership in the Santiago Network is not a prerequisite for selection, the successful expert will be expected to achieve or maintain membership prior to commencement of the assignment, in line with the Santiago Network’s Guidelines for OBNEs. Please find more information on becoming a member here. To become a member of the Santiago Network, please register on theSantiago Network portal, then complete and submit your expression of interest. You can upload all attachments directly to the form in the portal.

The Technical Assistance Consultant will originate and develop a framework that provides the institutional anchoring of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system for Namibia. This involves innovating and creating novel approaches to address the country's specific needs and challenges related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. The consultant will provide expert advice, lead substantive components of the technical assistance, and drive improvements in the country's capacity to avert, minimize, and address loss and damage.

1. Early Warning Framework Development

• Originating and developing a framework for institutional anchoring of an integrated multi-hazard early warning system in Namibia.
• Innovating and creating novel approaches to address the country's specific needs and challenges related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
• Providing expert advice on the development and implementation of the early warning framework.
• Leading the needs assessment and gap analysis for the development of the framework.
• Designing a multi-hazard early warning system roadmap and draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the National Emergency Operation Center.
• Formulating an integrated multi-hazard early warning framework.

2. Validation and Training Material Development

• Planning and executing stakeholder mapping to identify key institutions and individuals for validation.
• Leading the validation process of the draft early warning framework, integrating findings into the final framework.
• Designing and developing training exercises and materials, including a manual for implementing the framework, a summary slide deck, and presenter speaking notes.

3. Santiago Network Membership

• Achieving or maintaining membership in the Santiago Network prior to commencement of the assignment, in line with the Santiago Network’s Guidelines for OBNEs.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) preferably in development studies, international relations, political science, environmental sciences and climate change, economics, social sciences, or related field with 9 years of relevant experience OR
• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in any of the above or related fields with 7 years of relevant experience is required

Required

• A minimum of 7 years of proven experience with an advanced university degree (or 9 years with a first-level university degree) in implementing similar types of technical assistance/activities.

• Experience in project and programme management, involving technical assistance to developing countries on climate action, particularly on climate change adaptation and/or disaster risk reduction is required.

• Demonstrated experience in implementing projects and initiatives related to early warning systems and frameworks in African states, particularly the  Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action Systems (AMHEWAS); the operations of the African Union situation room; the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)  Humanitarian and Emergency Operation Center (SHOC)  and other Disaster Risk Reduction frameworks in southern Africa and/or Namibia is required. 

Desired

• Professional experience in dealing with topics related to averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with the effects of climate change and familiarity with the UNFCCC, Paris Agreement and Sendai Frameworks.

  
  

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes. 
• Please note that UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments. 
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities. 
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here. 
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda. 
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.