Disaster Data Specialist Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) was established in December 1999 and serves as the designated focal point within the United Nations system for coordinating efforts to reduce disasters. The organization aims to ensure synergies among disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities across the UN and regional organizations, operating in both developed and less developed countries. UNDRR is led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG) and has over 150 staff members located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as in regional offices. The organization plays a crucial role in guiding, monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which is essential for both development and humanitarian action. UNDRR collaborates with UN Member States and a diverse range of partners, including civil society, the private sector, and the science and technology community, to enhance global awareness and action towards reducing disaster risk. Through its initiatives, UNDRR promotes the generation and application of disaster loss and damage data to support evidence-based decision-making, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of disaster preparedness, early warning, recovery, and resilience-building efforts.

Job Overview:
The Disaster Data Specialist Consultant will play a pivotal role in supporting the government of Liberia in managing disaster data, with a specific focus on consolidating and utilizing disaster loss and damage data to facilitate disaster risk reduction actions, particularly in the areas of early warnings and early actions. This consultancy will involve extensive consultations and coordination with national institutions that are responsible for collecting, consolidating, treating, and utilizing disaster data. The consultant will be expected to develop a comprehensive understanding of the current institutional landscape surrounding disaster data management, evaluate existing policies and frameworks, and identify stakeholders involved in this process. The role will also require the consultant to propose a workplan and capacity-building strategies aimed at enhancing the consistency and effectiveness of disaster data collection and management, ensuring that the data is accessible and usable for decision-making purposes. The consultant will work closely with various agencies and stakeholders to achieve these objectives, ultimately contributing to the successful implementation of disaster risk reduction initiatives in the country.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will report to the Program Manager - Risk Knowledge and will collaborate closely with national institutions to evaluate and identify opportunities for enhancing the production, access, and use of disaster loss and damage data. The consultant's duties will include: A. Understanding the current institutional landscape of disaster loss and damage data management:

• Collecting and analyzing existing policies and institutional frameworks while identifying stakeholders involved in managing disaster data;
• Conducting an inventory of current disaster loss and damage data quality and accessibility, including data sources, collection mechanisms, and data-sharing protocols;
• Evaluating the information management platforms and tools used by government agencies for data collection, storage, analysis, access, and use;
• Assessing the technical and human resource capacities of national institutions involved in disaster data management;
• Understanding the current use of disaster loss and damage data in early warning systems and frameworks. B. Development of a workplan and capacity-building plan:
• Proposing or reviewing a workplan that outlines roles, responsibilities, and collaboration mechanisms for stakeholders;
• Developing a capacity-building plan to enhance the technical and institutional capacities of national institutions in managing disaster data;
• Establishing a monitoring and evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of proposed actions and ensure continuous improvement. C. Performing other duties to support the successful planning and implementation of disaster risk reduction and disaster loss and damage initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree in disaster risk management, risk analysis and management, early warning, environmental sciences, social sciences, or a related field. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with a minimum of two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree. Candidates must possess a minimum of five years of experience in disaster risk reduction, disaster loss and damage management, or relevant humanitarian and/or development work. Experience in the national context of disaster risk reduction and disaster management is essential, while experience in information management, data analysis, statistics, and post-disaster loss and damage assessment is desirable. Additionally, experience working with the UN or similar international organizations in the fields of disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness, response, and recovery is also desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold an advanced university degree in disaster risk management, risk analysis and management, early warning, environmental sciences, social sciences, or a related field. A first-level university degree may be accepted if accompanied by at least two additional years of qualifying experience.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of relevant experience in disaster risk reduction, disaster loss and damage management, or related humanitarian and development work. Experience in the national context of disaster risk reduction and disaster management is essential, while experience in information management, data analysis, statistics, and post-disaster assessments is desirable. Experience with the UN or similar international organizations is also a plus.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position. Additional language skills may be beneficial but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for a duration of four months and will be home-based. Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training.