Programme Officer - AMHEWAS at UNDP

Programme Officer - AMHEWAS

Employer: UNDP

Employment: Full-Time | Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa - Ethiopia

Posted date: 9 months ago

Deadline: Submition date is over

Background

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Africa has witnessed a substantial paradigm shift from reactive to proactive management of disaster risk since the adoption of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in 2004. The African Union Commission (AUC) has since undergone comprehensive institutional reforms and stepped-up efforts in developing ambitious goals – preparing the continent to take its rightful place in the global arena in line with the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want! Since the adoption of the Africa Regional Strategy for DRR, Africa has been experiencing increasing number of disasters arising from climate change, disaster risks, food insecurity, epidemics, environmental degradation, and unsustainable land use practices. Africa is also facing increased drought conditions and food insecurity, which is compounded by conflicts and economic volatility. During the last four decades the continent experienced more than 1000 disasters, with over 460 million people affected by droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes and volcanos. About 880,000 people have died from disasters caused by natural hazards between 1970 and 2019. The economic losses from disasters have also significantly increased from US$ 2.8 billion in the period 2015-2016 to US$ 35.2 billion in 2018- 2021. 

In recognition of these evolving challenges, the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government through Assembly/AU/Decl.1 (XXXIII) encouraged member states to take measures to establish effective Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) and strengthen corresponding capacities in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015-2030, the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and the Programme of Action (PoA) for the implementation of the Sendai Framework in Africa. Consequently, in 2019, the African Union Commission (AUC) developed the Africa Multi-Hazard Early Warning and Early Action System (AMHEWAS) Programme to reduce disaster losses by 2030. The programme aims to enhance: (i) multi-hazard risk knowledge (ii) capacity for detection, monitoring, analysis and forecasting (iii) availability and accessibility of disaster risk information to the African public and (iv) Africa’s preparedness and response capacities. The implementation of the AMHEWAS Programme commenced in 2022, as a pilot, with the establishment of the Continental Situation Room at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, one Situation Room at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) in Nairobi, Kenya and at the Africa Centre for Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD) in Niamey, Niger. 

Having successfully implemented the pilot phase of the AMHEWAS Programme, the AUC is mobilizing resources to roll out the Programme in all the RECs and the AU member states. This phase includes the operationalization of the AMHEWAS Programme Management Unit in the continental situation room in Addis Ababa. Resources have been secured for the recruitment of the Programme Manager as well as key staff who are managing the AMHEWAS Situation Room. However, there is still a huge gap with respect to human resources needed for the effective implementation of the Programme. Towards this, AUC has been leveraging existing projects, including the UNDP Sahel Resilience Project to facilitate delivery of the Programme. The Sahel Resilience Project (2019-2025), funded by the Government of Sweden, is implemented by UNDP in partnership with the African Union Commission, ECOWAS and other regional institutions (LCBC, CILSS/AGRHYMET), academia (PERIPERI U) as well as other UN Agencies (UN-Habitat, UN Women and UNDRR) with the objective of building capacities of regional institutions and national governments in the Western Sahel, including the Lake Chad Basin (Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Nigeria) in the institutionalization of risk-informed development planning, programming and investment for gender-responsive resilience building.

The Sahel Resilience Project has been supporting the AMHEWAS Programme since its inception. During the first phase of the Project, UNDP supported an assessment of the status of multi-hazard early warning systems in the continent, which informed the development of the AMHEWAS Programme. In addition, the Project also supported the development of the Africa Institutional and Operational Framework for Multi-hazard Early Warning and Early Action System. Building on this and related results achieved in Phase 1. To ensure the continued operationalization of the AMHEWAS Programme, the Project will augment the human resources capacity of the AUC through a consultant to fill in the position of the Programme Officer for AMHEWAS. The Programme Officer will be guided by the AMHEWAS Programme Manager and will work closely with the AMEHWAS Situation Room Team.  

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work

The Programme Officer will work with the AMHEWAS Programme Manager, and contribute to design and implementation of various AMHEWAS Projects, partnership building, advocacy and resource mobilization efforts, and development of various reports and situational analyses for AMHEWAS, in support of the wider DRR agenda of the AUC.

The Programme Officer will be based in the African Union Commission’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit, of the Department for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) and shall be responsible for providing inputs to the development of the AUC’s continental programmatic efforts to build the resilience of Member States to multiple hazards. This will be achieved through undertaking gap analyses, the development of detailed checklists/tool kits and guidelines to guide implementation of the AMHEWAS Programme at all levels. Under the supervision and guidance of the AMHEWAS Programme Manager, S/he will coordinate and facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues on multi-hazard early warning systems. 

The scope of work will include, but will not be limited to the following responsibilities and tasks: 

• Facilitate operationalization of AMHEWAS governance structures at continental and regional levels as well as national levels in close collaboration with the RECs and partners.
• Facilitate the development of a comprehensive implementation plan for the implementation of AMHEWAS Programme at all levels. 
• Perform administrative functions for the daily operations of the AMHEWAS Programme.
• Conduct analyses and contribute to the design and development of various AMHEWAS Projects.
• Support the organization and delivery of training (including training material), and capacity-building efforts that underscore the AMHEWAS programme.
• Actively participate to the Partnership-building and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Actively participate to the internal Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting processes and modalities for the programme.

A. Facilitate operationalization of AMHEWAS governance structures at continental and regional levels as well as national levels in close collaboration with the RECs and partners

• Assess existing institutional mechanisms for coordination of multi-hazard early warning systems and generate recommendations to inform the establishment and or strengthening of such mechanisms to serve as AMHEWAS governing structures;
• Facilitate nomination/designation of AMHEWAS Focal Point/Coordinators at Regional and National Levels;
• Develop prototype/guidance for RECs and member states to aid operationalization of structures for coordination of AMHEWAS Programme;
• Develop Terms of Reference of various AMHEWAS Project Steering Committees and facilitate their operationalization;
• Facilitate the organization of AMHEWAS Steering Committee and AMHEWAS Technical Working Group meetings.

B. Facilitate the development of a comprehensive implementation plan for the implementation of AMHEWAS Programme at all levels

• Develop detailed AMHEWAS implementation matrix – classified by phases, level (e.g., continental, regional, national) and cost;
• Develop detailed implementation plans, and quarterly plans for the existing AMHEWAS Projects as well as new projects being developed.

C. Perform administrative functions for the daily operations of the AMHEWAS Programme

• Facilitate internal approvals of AMHEWAS projects and activities;
• Organize AMHEWAS team meetings and appointments with partners, RECs and Member States;
• Facilitate operationalization of interdepartmental coordination within AUC between AMHEWAS and other sectors working on early warning systems e.g., Epidemics Surveillance, Conflict Early Warning Systems, and Phytosanitary related warning;
• Prepare AMHEWAS-related decisions for consideration by AU Policy Organs.

D. Conduct analyses and contribute to the design and development of various AMHEWAS Projects

• Support development of the 3rd Africa Biennial Report 2021-2022;
• Undertake comprehensive gap/opportunity analysis for the implementation of AMHEWAS;
• Finalize the AMHEWAS Programme and its implementation arrangements.

E. Support the organization and delivery of training (including training material), and capacity-building efforts that underscore the AMHEWAS programme

• Prepare and collate preliminary/drafts of training material (including core text, PowerPoint slides and any supplementary materials/websites/readings); 
• Prepare agenda, information sheets, event registration and participation information, and coordinate logistics required for the delivery of training events;
• Support the facilitation and delivery of training events, for both in-person and virtual sessions.

F. Partnership-building and knowledge sharing:

• Ensure effective participation and ownership of all stakeholders in the various activities at continental, regional and national levels;
  

• Facilitate regular exchanges between key partners and stakeholders at different levels to inform them on the project status and seek alignment with complementary initiatives;
• Liaise with AUC and UNDP Teams, and other partners on knowledge-sharing, through identification and synthesis of information resources, lessons learned and best practices;
• Capture in different formats, the good practices and lessons learned from the implementation of the project.

G. Actively participate in the internal monitoring, evaluation and reporting processes and modalities for the programme 

• Prepare drafts of periodic reports (quarterly and annual) on programme implementation in line with AUC and funder modalities;
• Support the overall operationalization of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation framework; 
• Prepare and keep programme records to support monitoring and evaluation processes, and in line with the AMHEWAS programme implementation plan; 
• Compile minutes and activity reports for various activities conducted by the AMHEWAS team and DRR Unit.

Institutional Arrangement

The Programme Officer will report to the Project Manager, Sahel Resilience Project. S/he will work under the direct supervision and day-to-day guidance of the AMHEWAS Programme Manager. S/he will liaise with the UNDP teams at the regional and country level, representatives of relevant technical and financial partners as well as the designated focal points in partner organizations for effectively fulfilling assigned responsibilities.

 Competencies

Core Competencies

• Achieve Results: LEVEL 2: Scale up solutions and simplifies processes, balances speed and accuracy in doing work.
• Think Innovatively: LEVEL 2: Offer new ideas/open to new approaches, demonstrate systemic/integrated thinking.
• Learn Continuously: LEVEL 2: Go outside comfort zone, learn from others and support their learning.
• Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 2: Adapt processes/approaches to new situations, involve others in change process.
• Act with Determination: LEVEL 2: Able to persevere and deal with multiple sources of pressure simultaneously.
• Engage and Partner: LEVEL 2: Is facilitator/integrator, bring people together, build and/or /maintain coalitions/partnerships.
• Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 2: Facilitate conversations to bridge differences, considers in decision making.

Functional/Technical competencies

Innovation  

• Co-creation: Ability to facilitate processes and create conditions that are open for diverse inputs, stimulate collaboration and sharing. 

Communications

• Advocacy strategy and implementation: Ability to create and implement advocacy strategies which lead to impactful change.

Partnership management

Resource mobilization: Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities and establish a plan to meet funding requirements. 

2030 Agenda: Planet

Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery: Multi-hazard early warning systems. 

2030 Agenda: Prosperity 

Inclusive Growth: Urban development design/risk mitigation, inclusive design, resilience, and sustainability.

Business Management: Portfolio Management

Ability to select, prioritize and control the organization’s programmes and projects, in line with its strategic objectives and capacity; 

Ability to balance the implementation of change initiatives and the maintenance of business-as-usual, while optimizing return on investment.

Business Management 

Results-based Management: Ability to manage programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Disaster Management, Environmental Science, Climate Change, Social Science, Public Policy or a related field of studies is required. 
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in a relevant field with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years (for master’s degree holders) or four years (for bachelor’s degree holders) of professional experience in Disaster Management, policy and programme development or implementation support.

Required skills:

• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP and advanced programmes for statistical analysis of data;
• Proficiency and experience in MS Office applications, and statistical analysis tools;
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills.

Desired skills:

• Experience in programme design, coordination, implementation and project management processes, including in multi-country contexts; 
• Knowledge and experience in working with multiple stakeholders including the AU, RECs, Member States, and Development Partners such as the UN agencies and other development organizations;
• Experience in office management and administration;
• Knowledge of disaster risk reduction and climate change concepts, frameworks and principles, and early warning systems and monitoring, analysis and forecasting;
• Experience in providing technical assistance, and capacity development support in disaster risk reduction and climate change to regional and multi-stakeholder institutions in establishing and coordinating multi-partner interventions;
• Experience in multi-hazard risk knowledge, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of disaster risk, and preparedness and response capacities;
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of data collection methods; effective, systematic and transparent data management methods; and data analysis using a range of methods (quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods);
• Field knowledge and experience working in Africa on early warning systems; 
• Knowledge/Experience of AU and REC systems and operations.

Language:

• Proficiency in English is required.
• Fluency in another UN language is an advantage.