Senior Project Officer (ECHO)

Location :	Nairobi, Kenya
Organizational Unit/Agency:	UNISDR
Application Deadline :	24th August 2012
Type of Contract :	Service Contract
Post Level :	SB4-
Languages Required :	English; Swahili;
Starting Date : (date when the selected canditate is expected to start)	15th October 2012
Duration of Initial Contract :	1 year
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Background
Created in December 1999, the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) 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, UNISDR has over 100 staff located in its HQ in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNISDR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; 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 in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as PreventionWeb, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. UNISDR Regional Office for Africa will be implementing an ECHO funded project entitled “Integrated Drought/Disaster Risk Reduction in the Horn of Africa (GHA)”.  The project is designed to target government institutions in charge of drought risk reduction as well as practitioners and community members in drought prone areas in Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia as well as the IGAD and EAC Secretariats.  Building on existing initiatives, UNISDR supports state and non-state actors to integrate disaster risk reduction in development and relief efforts. UNISDR is looking for a National Officer based in Kenya to support the overall management of the project and follows up on the implementation of the project in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Regional Economic Commissions (IGAD and EAC) through field missions, interventions where necessary and reporting in close liaision with the national and regional DRR Advisors working under this project as well as UNISDR Staff in Nairobi.
Duties and Responsibilities
General function Under the direct supervision of the head of the UNISDR Regional Office for Africa, and the Programme Officer in charge of overall coordination, the project officer will manage and follow up on all activities outlined in the project proposal and support implementation of the regional activities. Specific responsibilities, duties and tasks: Maintain daily contact with DRR Advisors in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, IGAD Secretariat and IGAD Secretariat. Check with host institutions of the DRR Advisors on a monthly basis to follow up on the performance of the advisors and check if other needs or challenges arise and make suggestions on how to overcome those. Stay in touch with other ECHO implementing partners and feed back to UNISDR on requests for technical support from their side. Follow up implementation of regional activities outlined in the project. Follow up on development of publications planned in the project and ensure timely delivery. Ensure that project activities are carried out in accordance with the time table of the project. Go on monitoring missions when requested. Provide inputs to UNISDR publications and reports. Ensure coordination among state and non-state partners for all national project activities as appropriate, as well as close cooperation with the other ECHO coordinating partners. Ensure proofs and verification of activities undertaken and support project reporting tasks. Outputs National activities carried out in a timely manner and reports on time. Host institutions satisfied with technical assistance provided by UNISDR Regional activities carried out in a timely manner. ECHO implementing partners satisfied with technical assistance and coordination from UNISDR. Publications defined in the project proposal published on time, latest one month before end of project implementation time. Documentation of activities and Reporting ensured.
Competencies
Good research and analytical skills. Good drafting skills. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team.
Terms of Service The Service Contract is a modality of hiring of UNDP development project personnel, where UNDP at the request of an executing entity, or implementing partner under the harmonized operational modalities or where UNDP itself serves as executing entity/implementing partner of a development project provides personnel contracting services to support execution or implementation of the project. This is a non-staff contract under the Service Contract modality of hiring of the UNDP. Individuals engaged under a SC serve in their individual capacity and not as representatives of a government institution, corporative body or other authority external to UNDP. Therefore the incumbents shall not be considered as staff of UNDP, the UN system or the Government and therefore are not entitled to any diplomatic privileges, or to any other special status or conditions.
Required Skills and Expertise Education:
Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree or equivalent) in development studies, social sciences, environmental sciences or other related field. A bachelor’s degree in the required fields with 5 years of relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of the Masters degree.
Experience:
Minimum 3 years of work experience in disaster risk reduction, project management and early warning systems. Experience in community-based disaster risk management and multi-stakeholder coordination. Good knowledge of International Development Issues and/or Disaster Management.
Language and IT Skills:
Fluency in English (oral/written). Fluency in local languages an asset. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Word and Excel.
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.
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