Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Disaster Operations Expert at United Nations

Specific Duties and responsibilities:

• The Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Disaster Operations Expert will undertake the following responsibilities:
• Coordinate the preparation and dissemination of regular early warning and action information products (continental watch and situation reports) based on information collected through the coordination mechanism established.
• Provide input for the AUC situation room for EWS and situation reports and coordinate the preparation of bulletins and situation reports based on information collected through the new regional coordination mechanism established;
• Liaise with the Head of Service Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation (DRM/CCA) of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) on all activities related to the realization of the situation room.
• Liaise with the EWS experts and the hydro meteorological experts at AUC, ICPAC, ECOWAS, SADC, ACMAD and Member States to improve the coordination mechanism for data exchange at the continental and regional levels.
• Coordinate with and support partners for the integration of the ECCAS Situation Room into the AMHEWAS
• Advance early action within the mandates of ECCAS and Member States, including by identifying opportunities for the ECCAS Situation Room to support the implementation of the Early Warning for All initiative among ECCAS Member States.
• Coordinate across ECCAS, with technical partners and with technical-scientific organizations on the continent to ensure gradual addition of information products related to new hazards and to improve current modeling.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures for the ECCAS Situation Room related to data sharing between Member States and sectors, roles and responsibilities for early and anticipatory action and other governance and operational aspects, as needed.
• Support the Head of Service Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation (DRM/CCA) in promoting the ECCAS Situation Room institutional and governance framework among its Member States and in developing a sustainability strategy for the Situation Room.
• Coordinate the day-to-day operations of the ECCAS situation room.
• Develop and monitor the implementation of learning and development plans for the team -establish mechanisms to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing in own area.
• Support joint regional training and training on the job for MS experts.
• Anticipate obstacles realistically and plan for contingencies – create plans that factor in time for unexpected problems and uncertainties.
• The consultant will be guided by a workplan outlining monthly deliverables to be endorsed by UNDRR and ECCAS.

Qualifications/special skills

• Advanced university degree in areas relevant to disaster risk reduction, early warning, meteorology, geomatics, or related fields is required. A first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least 7 years of experience in the areas of disaster risk assessment, early warning systems, and risk analysis relevant to EWS, anticipatory action and disaster prevention is required.
• Experience of leading or contributing to strategy country-led disaster risk reduction or early warning and action initiatives is required.
• Experience as a professional forecaster, including data management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Early Warning Systems (EWS) management of emergency information is desirable
• Experience in convening and organizing multi-stakeholder partnerships, events, or consultations is desirable.
• Experience with at least one major government institution or international organization working on early warning/early action or disaster risk reduction/risk knowledge is desirable.