Vacancy at UNDP India

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

Vacancy Announcement No. UNDP/SC/2009/

Date of Issue: 10 July 2009

Date of Closing: 25 July 2009

I. Position Information

Post Title : State Project Officer (Disaster Risk Reduction)

Organization : UNDP

Band: : Seven

Supervisor : State Disaster Management Authority and/or Department of Disaster Management/Relief.

Duty Station : Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakand and West Bengal)



Type of Contract : Service Contract (Taxable)

Duration : One Year

II. Organizational Context

Since 2002 UNDP has been providing funding and implementation support to the Ministry of Home Affairs under the GoI-UNDP Disaster Risk Management Programme covering 176 multi-hazard prone districts in 17 states. The programme has come to an end in June 2009. Based on the lessons learnt, recommendations of the evaluations conducted, priorities identified in the Eleventh Five Year Plan, provisions of the National Disaster Management Act 2005, Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and UNDP's global mandate, a new Disaster Risk Reduction Programme has been formulated through a consultative process. This programme, expected to start in 2009, would focus on disaster risk reduction and has essentially four components:

§ Strengthened SDMAs and DDMAs to fulfill the responsibilities stipulated in the National DM Act (2005), especially with respect to DRM;

§ Methodologies and modalities developed for ensuring risk reduction through development programmes of all partners at national, state and community levels;

§ Urban risk reduction undertaken by addressing planning and development issues through suitable legislative and regulatory mechanisms; and

§ Recovery framework setup through which the people affected by disasters are able to access resources for rebuilding their lives and to revive their livelihoods.

There is a fifth cross-cutting component which relates to strengthening Knowledge and Information Sharing platform in disaster management.


Though the Government at the Centre and States are committed to follow a holistic approach leading to disaster risk reduction, there is a need for common understanding of the various dimensions of disaster risk reduction identified under the national programmes, capacity building measures encompassing systemic, individual and institutional capacity at various levels are critical for the success of these programmes. The new Disaster Risk Reduction Programme encompasses the following outcomes at the end of the programme period at the Centre, States and institutional levels:

· Human resource development for DRM

· Partnership Development

· Support to formulate Policies and Frameworks for DRM

· Enhanced support to build linkages with Development Programmes and Partners

· Build resilience of communities and households

· Promote Equity, Social Inclusion and Gender Empowerment

· Develop mechanisms for compliance

· Enhanced Support to learning and knowledge sharing

While the above programme will focus in select states, the Government of India through NDMA and MHA has initiated several programmes/schemes. In order to help the State Governments to carry forward the DRR agenda and to participate in the national initiatives, UNDP will be placing experienced DM professionals in select states.

For this purpose, it is proposed to recruit State Project Officers (Disaster Risk Reduction) in various selected States who would coordinate activities as per the duties and responsibilities listed below and will work under the supervision of the SDMA and/or Department of Disaster Management/Relief in close consultation with UNDP, Disaster Management Unit.



III. Functions / Key Results Expected

a.. Support SDMA in development of awareness campaign strategy for DRR and its implementation in the state.
b.. Facilitate SDMA in development of Human Resource Plan for implementation of the DRR initiatives as well for the training institutes/ resource institutes to undertake training at different levels based on DRR
c.. Provide technical support in preparation or updation of state disaster management plan to ensure that the issues of DRR have been addressed
d.. Facilitate the SDMA to initiating risk and vulnerability assessments and preparation of annual vulnerability and risk reduction reports.
e.. Support the SDMA in follow up with various line departments to ensure that DRR issues have been addressed in their development plans.
f.. Facilitate SDMA in preparation of Disaster Risk Reduction Projects in various sectors
g.. Facilitate SDMA in carrying out DRR Audit of the development plans prepared by line departments.
h.. Support the SDMA in developing a Recovery framework for the state
i.. Support the SDMA in Knowledge and information sharing platform in DRR
j.. Support SDMA in conceptualizing and formulating projects and programmes as a part of the national initiatives/schemes.
k.. Support SDMA in reporting progress and achievements in the field of DM to Government and donors as required
l.. Assist the UNDP DM Unit in overall physical and financial monitoring and evaluation through regular tracking of results and reporting


V. Recruitment Qualifications:

Education:

· Post-graduate Degree/Diploma in Management, Urban/Rural planning, Social Sciences, Disaster Management and/or relevant fields

Experience:

· At least 7-10 years experience in the development sector having relevance to disaster management

· Work experience in government/national and international agencies and civil society organization

· Candidates should be willing to be positioned in any state and to travel within India.

Knowledge and Skills:

a.. Good understanding of hazard and vulnerability of the state
b.. Knowledge of vulnerability reduction issues in the context of natural and human induced hazards, including cross cutting themes such as gender, inclusion, human rights, etc.
c.. Understanding of capacity building and institutional building issues
d.. Hand on experience in programme/project management and related tools.
e.. Proficiency in computers and web applications
f.. Excellent communication and writing skills including report writing


Language Requirements:

a.. Excellent command over written and spoken English language.