Consultancy – Review of the role of DRR in enabling SDG transformations at country level

Result of Service

The consultancy will contribute to UNDRR Strategic Framework 2022-2025 Result 3.3 on ‘Disaster Risk Reduction strengthened across the 2030 development agenda and key intergovernmental policy decisions’, in particular to Deliverable 3.3.3 on ‘Coordinate implementation of the UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience’.

Work Location

Home based

Expected duration

01 Nov-31 Dec 2024

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities 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 140 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 UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community. As the focal point for DRR in the UN system, UNDRR coordinates the UN-system-wide implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (Sendai Framework). In 2016, the UN system adopted the “UN Plan of Action on Disaster Risk Reduction for Resilience: Towards a Risk informed and Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development” (UN Plan of Action), defining the support of the UN system towards the implementation of the Sendai Framework, promoting a risk-informed and integrated approach to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN Plan of Action addresses the need for coherence and re-enforcement of the UN’s resilience building efforts to ensure that the UN system responds adequately to the different regional and country needs and contexts with regard to disaster risk reduction. The UN Plan of Action is one of the main tools for maximizing UN efforts to support countries in strengthening risk-informed development programming, planning and investment and ensure that no one is left behind. UNDRR chairs two global mechanisms that facilitate the implementation of the UN Plan of Action: (1) the high-level UN Senior Leadership Group on DRR for Resilience (UN SLG) guides the implementation of the UN Plan of Action; and (2) the technical level DRR Focal Points Group (UN DRR FPG) that supports the implementation. In July 2024, the UN SLG decided to strengthen efforts to align DRR support to UN Country Teams (UNCTs) with the SDG Transitions approach adopted by the UN Sustainable Development Group in 2024. Rooted in the 17 Goals, six transformative entry points and investment pathways have been identified that can have catalytic and multiplier effects across the SDGs. This includes (1) food systems; (2) energy access and affordability; (3) digital connectivity; (4) education; (5) jobs and social protection; and (6) climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The six transitions are underpinned by four enablers, focusing on driving shifts across policy and regulatory frameworks, ensuring pipelines of bankable and market-ready national projects, convening all relevant actors to attract the needed financing from all sources, and capacity building at scale to support public institutions and civil society in this process. These six SDG transitions and four enablers are currently guiding UNCTs in their efforts to accelerate progress towards sustainable development by 2030. The Joint SDG Fund is a key mechanism to support joint UN action towards the SDG transitions. The Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework Political Declaration affirmed ‘the urgency of implementing the Sendai Framework as an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to adopt a risk-informed approach to sustainable development’ (paragraph 10). Increasingly, systemic, cascading and compounding risks, including climate change, conflict, and pandemics, threaten to undermine progress towards the SDGs, particularly among the most vulnerable people and countries. Investing in disaster risk reduction and resilience-building is essential to enable transformation in the five remaining years until 2030, while leaving no one behind. The UN DRR FPG has developed guidance on Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. UNDRR and interagency partners support UNCTs in integrating risk and DRR in planning and programming including through training and capacity building. UNDRR tracks progress annually through monitoring and reporting under the UN Plan of Action. Duties and Responsibilities The objective of the consultancy is to further strengthen the UN DRR FPG’s support to UNCTs to integrate DRR and a risk lens in their work to accelerate progress towards the SDGs. The consultancy will map out how DRR can be used as an entry point to enable SDG transformations, including around food systems, energy access, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and across the four enablers. In this context, a risk lens can be seen as a critical, cross-cutting, integral element to safeguarding progress across all SDGs, and as a practical approach with entry points across, and integrating, the different transitions/investment pathways. The consultancy will be done by undertaking desk research and internal and external consultations to identify good practices and to develop a brief, practical how-to guide, complementing and contributing to the compilation of good practices developed by UNDCO. Under the overall guidance of the Head of Interagency Cooperation Unit and the direct supervision of the Programme Management Officer, the consultant will support the UN DRR FPG by undertaking the following specific tasks: a brief review of how DRR can contribute across and to each of the SDG transitions on a conceptual level, incorporating findings from, inter alia, the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022 & 2023, the Reports on the Mid-Term Review of the Sendai Framework 2023, and the Global Sustainable Development Report 2023, identification of at least eight case studies/good practices of using DRR/a risk lens to enable SDG transformations at country level. The focus should be on integrated approaches that contribute to multiple transitions/SDGs and that adopt a systems approach to SDG transformation. These case studies could include examples of UN and/or government has worked across sectors to enable joint action, for example through national SDG coordination and financing mechanisms, engagement of stakeholders, risk analysis, risk-informed planning, etc, also considering the four enablers of the SDG transitions, development of a concise how-to guide for UNCTs on opportunities to integrate DRR in joint UN action on SDG transformations going forward, including building on and leveraging existing mechanisms such as national DRR platforms, national SDG coordination structures, Integrated National Financing Frameworks, the UN Joint SDG Fund, etc. The how-to guide should build on and complement existing guidance, including the guidance on Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. It should also include a compilation of relevant existing tools. presentation of findings prepared for at least three interagency meetings at global and/or regional level. The tasks will be performed through a combination of desk reviews and consultations with UN partners at global, regional and country level. The consultant will provide inputs to other processes as required.

Qualifications/special skills

A master’s degree in economics, finance, international development, international relations, disaster management, social sciences, political science, law or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with at least two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of ten years (10) of working experience in sustainable development and disaster risk reduction or climate change adaptation at international level or related areas is required. Experience in UN interagency coordination at country level is desirable Experience in providing technical support to governments on SDG coordination, financing or disaster risk reduction is desirable. Experience in undertaking research and policy analysis in the field of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and sustainable development is desirable. Experience in drafting policy guidance is desirable Experience in managing multi-stakeholder consultations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted.

No Fee

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.

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