Early Warning Expert

The smooth implementation of the Water at the Heart of Climate Action (WHCA) project activities identified in the country workplan with a focus on Pillar 1 and contribute to the coordination of implementing consortium partners and ensuring that OPM can access more funding for early warning.

Home based

6 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 efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with U.N. Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is organizing a Disaster Preparedness ECHO and Partners Workshop in Abuja, Nigeria from 13–15 October 2026, with participant arrival on 12 October 2026. This workshop is organized with funding from the Project “Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Solidarity to Reduce Disaster Impacts and Humanitarian Needs in West Africa.” The event will convene approximately 200 participants and include plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and a marketplace/exhibition space for partners. To ensure effective delivery of the event, UNDRR requires dedicated Event Support Personnel to assist with coordination, logistics, and on-site implementation. Duties and Responsibilities - This consultancy will support the roll-out of the early warning project in Uganda, focussing on the risk knowledge thematic focus are, and in collaboration with other pillars/thematic focus areas. - Support national stakeholders in the establishment and operationalisation of the national situation in Uganda, including the operationalization of the situation room and its linkage to Emergency coordination centres and the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Action System (AMHEWAS) programme - Lead the in-country coordination of WHCA in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), UNDRR and the consortium coordinator. - Planning for and delivery of the WHCA country project activities in Uganda and strengthen multi-hazard early warning systems (EWS) and community resilience against water-related climate disasters. - Facilitate capacity development, risk data governance, and technical assessments. - Provide logistical and technical facilitation support for conducting capacity building workshops/ consultations on Water at heart under Climate Action project with government counterparts and stakeholders at national and local level. - Support the data maturity assessment, risk data governance, and trainings on Multi hazard risk assessments in Sudan. - The assignment will include project related travel, as necessary. The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Management Officer at the Regional Office for Africa

An advanced university degree (master's degree) in areas relevant to disaster risk reduction, early warning, meteorology, climatology, geomatics, hydrology, and hydrogeology 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. At least five (5) years of experience in the areas of disaster risk assessment, early warning systems, and risk analysis relevant to EWS, anticipatory action and disaster prevention is required. Experience with early warning/early action, including being familiar with hydrometeorological hazards (flood, landslides, drought, etc.) assessment and mapping, vulnerability assessment and weather forecast, and monitoring is required. Experience of leading or contributing to strategy country-led development initiatives is required. Experience in convening and organizing multi-stakeholder partnerships, events, or consultations is desirable. Experience with at least one government institution or international organization working on early warning/early action or disaster risk reduction/risk knowledge is required. Experience in capacity strengthening and resource mobilization is desirable.

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

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.