Programme Manager

Details

Mission and objectives

Our mission is to provide leadership and support to accelerate global efforts in disaster risk reduction to achieve inclusive sustainable development and the goal of the Sendai Framework. UNDRR’s vision is of a world where disaster risks no longer threaten the well-being of people and the future of the planet.
The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) was the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda and provides Member States with concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disaster.
The Sendai Framework works hand in hand with the other 2030 Agenda agreements, including The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, The Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the New Urban Agenda, and ultimately the Sustainable Development Goals.
It was endorsed by the UN General Assembly following the 2015 Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR), and advocates for:
The substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.
It recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.

Context

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 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional and liaison 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, 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, parlamentarians, and the science and technology community.
This can only be attained in an all-of-society approach. Whilst Governments remain responsible for integrating disaster risk reduction in core social, economic and development planning, this also requires a change of behavior across all sectors and levels. Changing the way we think, live, and invest can only be done in close partnership and collaboration between Governments and all stakeholder groups. In particular, those most affected and vulnerable to disasters must be engaged in the design and implementation of inclusive policies, plans and standards. The notion of inclusiveness and collaborative action is also reflected in the ongoing UN Reforms, which include strong calls on new partnerships between the United Nations and stakeholders at large.
UNDRR seeks to implement a strategic and systematic approach to stakeholder engagement and partnerships, which is key given that the Sendai Framework significantly broadened the scope of disaster risk reduction, and thereby, UNDRR is tasked to reach out to relevant stakeholder groups beyond the traditional disaster risk reduction community.

Task description

Within delegated authority, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for the following tasks:
• Lead the coordination, implementation and monitoring of programme activities around Climate Change (CC), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) processes, liaising with local, national and regional DRR and CC stakeholders in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, under the supervision of the Risk Knowledge Officer and in coordination with relevant UNDRR office staff.
• Organize and prepare written outputs (e.g., proposals, work-plans, draft background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, among others) under the supervision of the Risk Knowledge Officer.
• Overview the articulation and coherence between DRR and CC agendas at national, subnational, and local levels in the region.
• Develop, implement and evaluate the assigned programmes/projects, besides monitoring and analysing programme/project development and implementation. This includes the review of relevant documents and reports, and liaising with relevant parties and ensure follow-up actions.
• Research, analyse and present information gathered from diverse sources. Lead research on the integration of biodiversity and ecosystems with disaster risk reduction, as well as climate finance, into operational regional and country risk analysis and briefings.
• Support and facilitate different activities in the road to, and during COP30.
• Engage with the RSTAG group to generate new risk knowledge around CC, CCA, nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation in the context of DRR in LAC.
• Provide substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., such as proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.
• Initiate and coordinate outreach activities; conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.; prepares and delivers presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Coordinate activities related to proposal development, work-planning, budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepare related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).
• Coordinate activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). Support with related administrative and logistical work when needed.
Furthermore, UN Volunteers are required to:
• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Reflect on the type and quality of voluntary action that they are undertaking, including participation in ongoing reflection activities.
• Contribute with articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publica-tions/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly arrived UN Volunteers.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.
Results/Expected Outputs:
• Substantive progress in the technical and financial implementation of projects’ activities and related quality assurance of the programme as per the respective UNDRR Strategic Work Plan for LAC Region.
• Substantive progress in the integration of the DRR and CCA agendas, by building bridges around activities related to nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation.
• Substantive progress in achieving coherence between the DRR and CCA agendas in LAC.
• National and regional partners and donors are well informed about relevant activities under-taken by UNDRR and its collaborating partners.
• Substantive progress in the generation of evidence around DRR benefits and nature-based solutions and ecosystems-based adaptation.
• Ensure that project activities and outcomes, including relevant events, effectively integrate a gender perspective and elements of participation, inclusion and equality.
• Project reporting delivered as requested by UNDRR and donors.
• As per the Sendai Framework recognition of the role of volunteers’ organizations, report on initiatives involving volunteers and capacities building activities developed for this purpose.