The consultant will contribute to strengthened provincial disaster risk governance through the development of inclusive, risk-informed provincial disaster risk reduction strategies and action plans, supporting the effective integration of disaster risk reduction, early warning, and preparedness into subnational development planning and thereby enhancing disaster resilience in Lao PDR.
Responsibilities:
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/ASG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. UNDRR guides, monitors, analyzes, and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
It supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyzes action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk by working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and the science and technology community.
One of the UNDRR’s strategic areas of work in Lao PDR is to support the country’s efforts to strengthen disaster risk governance and risk knowledge for the planning and implementation of disaster risk reduction and early warning systems.
In this context, UNDRR promotes climate risk management as a core approach to disaster risk reduction, ensuring that climate and disaster risk information is systematically used to inform planning, preparedness, early action, and investment decisions across sectors and administrative levels.
In Lao PDR, UNDRR supports the government, particularly the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW), to strengthen disaster risk governance and early warning systems.
Requirements:
An advanced university degree in disaster risk management, climate change, environmental science/management, development studies, or related fields is required.
A first-level university degree with at least 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
At least 7 years of professional experience in disaster risk reduction, climate risk management, or related fields is required.
Experience in developing DRR strategies, action plans, or policy documents at the national or subnational level is required.
Experience working with government institutions in Lao PDR or similar contexts is desirable. Experience in national DRR frameworks and subnational planning processes is desirable.
Experience in national DRR frameworks and subnational planning processes is desirable.
