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Programme Specialist: Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery

Istanbul

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Istanbul
  • Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Environment
    • Security policy
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Conflict prevention
    • Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

APPLICANTS WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED NEED NOT RE-APPLY
 
Background

 
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.

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 is carried out at HQ, Regional and Country Office levels, and 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.  UNDP’s Crisis Bureau, under its recent Offer 2.0, aims to galvanize the organization’s efforts to support programme countries to build resilience by strengthening capacities to prevent, anticipate, respond to, and recover from the impacts of crises and shocks on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These efforts are geared towards reducing countries’ reliance on external humanitarian relief and peace interventions; and risk-informing development planning and decision-making so that development investments minimize the creation of new risks. 

 The Crisis Bureau’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (DRT) for Building Resilience Team provides integrated policy and programme support on disaster risk reduction and recovery in the context of UNDP’s broader approach to resilience building. The Team specifically fosters the integration of risk reduction as a key element in sustainable development and recovery at national, sub-national and sectoral level. Whilst working in close collaboration with related fields such as climate change, governance, conflict prevention and livelihoods, the Team focuses its support on the following thematic areas: 

  • Disaster and Climate Resilience 
  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Risk Governance 
  • Risk Information, Early Warning and Preparedness 
  • Recovery Preparedness, Assessments and Implementation 
  • Urban and Community Risk Management and Resilience. 
Job Purpose and Organizational Context
 
Under the overall guidance of the DRT team leader in the Istanbul Regional Hub, the Programme Specialist, on DRR, Response and Recovery, based in Istanbul is responsible for contributing policy and programme advisory services to Country Offices and utilizing the products and tools relevant to the thematic area of Risk Informed Development (RID), Disaster Risk Reduction, Response, Recovery, Early Warning Systems, and Preparedness. S/he acts in response to requests from country offices and in collaboration with other thematic teams to ensure effective coordination/collaboration in promotion of risk informed agenda in such areas like climate change, governance, green development, urban development, SDG financing, etc. Working to ensure the execution of quality and coherent policy and programme advisory services within their region and across other regions as well as alignment with the Strategic Plan, the Programme Specialist advances the mission of the UNDP and increases the credibility and recognition in this thematic area. S/he is responsible for performing and contributing to the following:
  • Programme Support and Policy Advice 
  • Policy Research and Development 
  • Policy Positioning and Representation
  • Partnerships and Resource Mobilization 
  • Knowledge Management

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Programme Support and Policy Advice on RID, DRR, response and recovery:

  • Conduct relevant analysis and guidance and prepare initial drafts of technical policy advice and programme support documents that responds to country office needs.
  • Support country offices in integrating policy advice in country programme frameworks and projects.
  • Prepare materials to support the application of integrated multi-disciplinary approaches, to meet policy and programming needs in line with corporate guidance and standards.
  • Provide support to roll out and application of relevant risk management tools across country typologies. 
  • Incorporate gender equality and human rights’-based approach in policy and programming work; and
  • Support UNDP SURGE for country offices. 
  • Coordinate regional projects implementation.
2. Support Policy Development on RID, DRR, response and recovery 
  • Conduct analysis of data, case evidence and research findings to distill relevant lessons from projects and programmes to support policy development and innovation.
  • Review and assess policies in relevant thematic area with the objective to identify gaps and opportunities for development of new policies and to guide the overall team priorities and workplans. 
  • Contribute to development of guidance in the specific thematic area, and related tools for the implementation of global policy standards, including coordinating testing and rolling out of tools and methodologies.
  • Take part in the process of analyzing, improving and adapting policies for different contexts on key emerging policy agendas based on policy initiatives designed. 
  • Provide context input to support the quality assurance of policy services and foster policy innovation in the specific thematic area to enhance programme delivery.

3. Policy Positioning and Representation

  • Conduct research and analysis and draft materials to support mobilizing, fostering and strengthening strategic partnerships with UN entities and other relevant bodies. 
  • Draft and aid the development of briefings and speeches, as applicable, especially for country-specific meetings.
  • Prepare materials to aid in advocating the importance of the thematic area in various fora, including academia and civil society, with a view to deepen related political commitment and related reforms; and
  • Support team’s engagement in UN interagency coordination in relevant policy areas by providing research insight in specific thematic area, especially when country focused. 

4. Partnerships and Resource Mobilization

  • Undertake research for partnership building and resource mobilization, developing first draft of papers and marketing materials, and participating in relevant country-focused external meetings, in line with the Bureau’s partnership and resource mobilization strategy.
  • Perform analysis and research to support the implementation of regional partnership strategies with UN and external partner institutions, including governments, private sector, academia, NGOs, and CSOs; and 
  • Participate in relevant external meetings, including resource mobilization, partnership and advocacy activities with UN partners, permanent missions, and external stakeholders.

5. Knowledge Management on RID, DRR, response and recovery:

  • Keep an up-to-date library of knowledge related to the thematic area at region-specific level and proactively share documents with team members and respond to their specific requests for information; and 
  • Contribute to the development and review of knowledge products in close coordination with HQ and Regional Hub teams by analyzing and sharing lessons learnt and programme evaluation results.  
Competencies

Core
Achieve Results:

  • Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact.

Think Innovatively:

  • Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems.

Learn Continuously:

  • Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences.

Adapt with Agility: 

  • Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands.

Act with Determination:

  • Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results.

Engage and Partner:

  • Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration

Enable Diversity and Inclusion:

  • Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:

  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery - Disaster Recovery Policy, Planning and Programming:
    Knowledge of process and experience of supporting national governments to achieve efficiency in planning, implementing and monitoring recovery;
  • Ability to advice, guide and design governments and UNDP country offices to develop comprehensive recovery programmes to assist recovery preparedness and post disaster recovery to build back better and sustainably.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery - Post Disaster Needs Assessment and Recovery Planning:

  • Ability to lead UNDP support to national governments, UN system, multilateral agencies in conducting joint assessments and developing recovery plans.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery - Disaster Risk Reduction:

  • Knowledge of disaster risk reduction, climate change key concepts, tools and methodologies and ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations.

Partnership Management - Multi-stakeholder Engagement:

  • Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive partnerships .

Knowledge - Knowledge Generation:

  • Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge and guidance, relevant for context or responsive to a shared need.

Knowledge - Knowledge Facilitation:

  • Ability to animate individuals and communities of contributors to participate and share, internally and externally.
Required Skills and Experience
 
Education:
  • Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in economics, international affairs, governance, social/natural sciences, engineering or related disciplines.
Experience:
  • A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience providing policy advice and programme support in the general area of Risk Informed Development, Disaster Risk Reduction, Recovery, Early Warning Systems, and Preparedness in different development contexts. 
  • 7 years’ experience will be necessary if in possession of bachelor’s degree only.
  • Experience working in developing country settings is required and experience in crisis contexts is an asset.
Language Requirement:
  • Fluency in English is required. 
  • Fluency in Russian or any other UN language is highly desirable.  
Note:
Please note that continuance of appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.
 
APPLICANTS WHO PREVIOUSLY APPLIED NEED NOT RE-APPLY

 
Disclaimer

 

 
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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This vacancy is now closed.
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