Early Warning and Early Action System Expert – Climate Hazards

Facilitate the establishment of a continental impact based EWS for Early Action and Transboundary Risk Management through: • Develop, in coordination with other partners, an operational product on drought risk information of AMHEWAS and expansion to other Climate hazard. • Improve coordination of AMHEWAS Situation Room, ACMAD and Regional Economic Communities producing drought informational products to strengthen collaboration and foster alignment of drought early warning products across continental, regional and national level • Improve capacity of AMHEWAS partners, centres and member states to develop and integrate drought early warning

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

12 Months

Background: Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNDRR has around 140 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNDRR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the international strategy for disaster reduction, now the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2015-2030; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women of all stakeholder groups in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as Prevention Web, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organization of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. In March 2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015- 2030 was adopted by the UN General Assembly. In alignment with the SFDRR, the African Union (AU) member states developed a new Programme of Action (PoA) for the implementation of the SFDRR in Africa. In addition to the seven global targets of the Sendai Framework, the PoA has an additional 5 targets. The PoA aims to achieve "substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries." Early Warning Systems (EWS), which ensure people are prepared and ready to act in the event of a disaster, are one of the most effective measures that government can undertake to achieve substantial reduction of disaster losses. In that light, the PoA, as stipulated in the SFDRR, targets to substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030, and increase the number of countries with, and periodically testing, risk-informed preparedness plans, and response, and post-disaster recovery and reconstruction mechanisms. However, achieving these targets would require establishment of agile and interactive early warning systems at all levels to facilitate mitigation, response and recovery to increasing frequency and intensity of natural hazards. A regional and continental response has to be enhanced to proactively support member states in mitigating impacts of natural hazards and in event of a disaster. Observing from the recent disasters on the continent, hazards such as droughts, floods, tropical storms and cyclones, pests and epidemics have constantly affected more than one country simultaneously. Even where such hazards occur locally, the severity in which these events have manifested could easily overwhelm localized response. Many countries face multiple disasters at the same time. The African Union Commission (AUC) has developed an innovative response: the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme. Endorsed by AU Heads of states in 2022, AMHEWAS represents a significant step towards achieving the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. The programme's primary objective is to drastically increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning and disaster risk information. This will play a crucial role in strengthening development, reducing poverty, and promoting resilience as outlined in AUC's Agenda 2063. Duties and Responsibilities: The consultant will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and will work in close coordination with operators at the Africa Union Commmission (AUC),African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development ( ACMAD), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and AGRHYMET situation rooms and with the technical team within UNDRR and the technical partner organisation the CIMA Research Foundation. Specifically, The Early Warning and Early Action Expert -Climate hazard, will support AMHEWAS in: • Support the operations of the AMHEWAS programme, including the activities of the DRR Unit • Support mainstreaming and use AMHEWAS products in regional organizations, member states and humanitarian agencies • Participate in coordination and technical meetings and ensure exchange of information with the other continental, regional situation rooms and other relevant technical bodies • Facilitate user engagement and feedback on AMHEWAS products to support continuous improvement of the different products • Actively engage with various stakeholders to advocate for integration of drought early warning into disaster risk policies and development • Liaise with EWS and Disaster Risk experts at ACMAD, IGAD, ECCAS, SADC, and national drought management authorities in Member States to improve the existing mechanisms and procedure for the coordination of data exchange at the continental, regional and national levels • Support continuous improvement and innovation of AMHEWAS products and services to enhance their relevance and usability including leveraging emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning In the exercise of the functions, the consultant shall: 1. 1. Lead the development and continuous enhancement of AMHEWAS drought information services, in collaboration with other stakeholders (RECs, RCCs, CIMA, AUC departments, Member States), ensuring that Africa Drought Watch outputs meet decision needs for contingency planning and early action. 2. Lead the coordination of relevant institutions producing drought monitoring and early warning informational products including AUC AMHEWAS Situation Room, ACMAD, RECs, RCCs, Member States and partners to strengthen collaboration and foster alignment of drought early warning products across continental, regional and national level 3. Facilitate periodic drought situation assessments and coordinate the co-production and dissemination of drought products 4. Design and deliver targeted Africa Drought Watch webinar series to support Member States, RECs and partners in integrating drought early warning into planning, preparedness and DRM decision processes. 5. Convene regional and continental dialogues with RECs, RCCs and Member States to build consensus on proactive drought governance and institutional adoption and operationalization of the Africa Drought Watch risk assessments 6. Lead development and institutionalization of proactive drought action standard operating procedures (SoP) across AUC departments, RECs and Member States to facilitate the integration of Africa Drought Watch alerts into contingency planning, early response and anticipatory financing and identify operational links and procedures for operational and real-time exchange of information and data between AMHEWAS implementing institutions and partners 7. Support the convening of anticipatory action coordination dialogues pre-drought events with RECs, Member States and partners to align early actions and coordinate response planning based on Africa Drought Watch. 8. Support research and knowledge management on anticipatory actions best practices on drought 9. Support capacity building of AMHEWAS partners and member states to develop drought early warnings leveraging on AMHEWAS products 10. Support strategic improvement of AMHEWAS multi-hazard information systems beyond ADW and provide technical support to the AMHEWAS Situation Room to diversify the hazards covered 11. Develop recommendations for improving drought products at continental, regional and national level 12. Support capacity building of AUC, partners and RECs to develop and integrate drought informational products through various activities including webinars, 13. Contribute to conceptualization and design of new projects to advance AMHEWAS and support development of funding proposals 14. Facilitate strategic networking to advance drought service and AMHEWAS programme The Consultant will work Under the overall supervision of UNDRR Programme Management Officer and working closely with AUC Programme Management Officer on a daily basis.

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Management, Geography, Hydrology or other relevant fields is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Five (5) years of relevant experience at the national or international level in implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes with a focus on drought and climate hazards is required. Experience in managing early warning or disaster operations projects with a focus on drought and climate hazards,and working in Africa at regional or national level on Disaster Risk Reduction/Management (DRR/M) is required. Experience as a professional forecaster, including data management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Early Warning Systems (EWS) management of emergency information, coordination of people and tasks, for the generation of Early Warning (EW) messages for drought and/or climate hazards is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.