International Consultant for Disaster Risk Governance for Syria

Strengthened national DRR governance in Syria through the use of the Comprehensive Risk Management Approach in the establishment of the National Multi-stakeholder DRR and CA Platform and the development of an inclusive and gender-sensitive National DRR and CA Strategy and Action Plan.

Home Based

15Jul2026-14Jul2027

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 160 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. This consultancy position is in support of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS) in Cairo. The consultant will be reporting to the Risk Governance Programme Management Officer. Duties and Responsibilities Under the supervision of the assigned Programme Management Officer, the Disaster Risk Governance Consultant will be responsible for: 1. Establishing strong relations and coordination with the National Coordination Expert within the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management to guide the collection of data, reports and official strategic documents related to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Action (CA) and Sustainable Development, from relevant ministries, authorities or international organizations, including but not limited to: a. Relevant legislation, policies, strategies and plans at national, sub-national and ministerial/sectoral levels. b. Historical impacts of natural and man-made hazards, hazard maps, vulnerability and exposure data and maps, climate scenarios, transboundary risk and existing hazard risk assessments and early warning data. c. Data on public finance and budget, external financing, private sector investments, disaster-related expenditure tracking, risk financing and insurance, financial governance, local-level financing. 2. Undertaking an in-depth desk review of all data, reports and official strategic documents to develop a Policy Landscape Mapping Report that determines key entry points for adopting the Comprehensive Risk Management approach in the development of the National Strategy for DRR and CA and establishment of the National Multi-Stakeholder DRR and CA Platform. 3. Soliciting feedback and views of key national counterparts including National Sendai Focal Point, Ministry of Environment, Planning and Statistics Commission/Authority, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the report. 4. Submitting the Policy Landscape Mapping Report to the National Sendai Focal Point and UNDRR ROAS for review and feedback. 5. Drafting the Terms of References (ToRs) for the establishment of the National Multi-stakeholder DRR and CA Platform in consultation with the National Sendai Focal Point and relevant national entities and stakeholders. 6. Developing the zero draft of the National DRR and CA Strategy in line with Sendai Framework using the Comprehensive Risk Management approach, and in coherence with Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and relevant national policies, strategies and plans (e.g. National Recovery Plan Priorities), while ensuring the integration of human mobility, gender and disability considerations in consultation with partner UN agencies and non-UN organizations. 7. Undertaking individual consultations with the National Sendai Focal Point, Ministry of Environment, Planning and Statistics Commission/Authority, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the zero draft of the National DRR and CA Strategy and draft ToRs of the National Multi-stakeholder DRR and CA Platform. 8. Facilitating a nationwide consultation workshop with relevant national entities and non-governmental stakeholders on the zero draft of the National DRR and CA Strategy and the draft ToRs of the National DRR and CA Platform to solicit their views and feedback. 9. Revising the zero draft of the National DRR and CA Strategy and draft TORs of the National DRR and CA Platform based on feedback from the national consultations and submitting the revised drafts to UNDRR ROAS. 10. Developing a draft National Action Plan for the Strategy’s implementation with a results framework that comprises strategic outputs, activities, indicators, baselines, targets, timeframe, estimated financial needs and potential funding sources. 11. Facilitating a Final National Consultation and Validation workshop to validate the revised draft of the National DRR and CA Strategy and the ToRs of the National DRR and CA Platform and facilitate a national consultation on the draft National Action Plan for the Strategy’s implementation. 12. Submitting the final versions of the National DRR and CA Strategy and its National Action Plan as well as the ToRs of the National DRR and CA Platform to UNDRR ROAS, for submission to the Government of Syria to pursue their political validation and official endorsement. 13. Submitting a Final Report on the assignment, including lessons learned and recommendations for the way forward in enhancing further the DRR Governance at national and local levels. The expected deliverables are: 1. Work plan (2 days). 2. A Policy Landscape Mapping Report that determines entry points for the use of the Comprehensive Risk Management Approach in the development of the National DRR and CA Strategy, Action Plan and Platform in Syria (58 days). 3. A zero draft of the National DRR and CA Strategy and draft ToRs of the National Multi-stakeholder DRR and CA Platform (40 days). 4. Revised drafts of the National DRR and CA Strategy and ToRs of the National Multi-stakeholder DRR and CA Platform based on nationwide consultations (40 days). 5. A nationally consulted and technically validated National DRR and CA Strategy and Action Plan and the ToRs of the National Multi-stakeholder DRR and CA Platform (50 days). 6. A final report on the assignment, with lessons learnt and recommendations for the way forward in enhancing further the DRR Governance at national and local levels (20 days).

• Advanced university degree in urban development, economics, social sciences, disaster risk reduction or disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, sustainable development, engineering or any related field is required. • A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • At least 7 years of work experience in disaster risk reduction or management or climate change adaptation is required. • Experience in national policy development related to disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, or sustainable development is required. • Experience in coordinating and consulting with governmental entities or multiple stakeholders in programme implementation is required. • Experience in working with governmental authorities or academic institutions in the Arab region is required. • Experience in research and analysis and academic writing is desirable. • Experience in integrating gender, disability and human mobility considerations and into disaster risk reduction frameworks and initiatives is desirable.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, Fluency in spoken and written Arabic and English is required. Knowledge of another official UN secretariat language is desirable. The official United Nations Secretariat languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

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

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.