Disaster Risk Management and Livelihoods Specialist

Background

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are core principles at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):  we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories.

UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Office/Unit/Project Description

As a key partner in the Resilience debate in Zimbabwe, UNDP has in partnership with several donors taken the lead in designing the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) Phase I. The overall objective of the fund is to contribute to increased capacities of communities to protect development gains and achieve improved well-being outcomes in the face of shocks and stresses enabling them to contribute to economic growth of Zimbabwe. This will be achieved through a combination of 3 sets of results which will focus on a) creating a body of evidence for increased application of evidence in policy making and application for resilience; b) setting up a multi donor trust for Resilience Building in Zimbabwe to allow for partners to come together around the Resilience Framework and principles to improve the absorptive, adaptive and transformative capacities of at-risk communities; and c) setting up a risk financing mechanism which will provide appropriate, predictable, coordinated and timely response to risk and shocks from a resilience perspective. The ZRBF second phase is expected to build on the strengths from the phase I. 

The proposed Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund Phase II (ZRBF 2) is strategically aligned with the existing implementation frameworks of the Government of Zimbabwe, the UN system, and various development partners. This alignment ensures that the program's interventions are embedded within national priorities and global development goals, contributing to long-term sustainability and resilience. The UNDP Zimbabwe envisages a partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Zimbabwe on Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund Phase II. The program seeks to build the resilience of vulnerable (Women, Youth, Persons with Disability) and marginalized rural communities, ensuring sustainable natural resources management and utilization for climate action with improved food and nutrition security in Zimbabwe. 

Operating on the principles of joint programming, the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund Phase 2 aims to provide flexible, coordinated and predictable funding of approximately 20 million USD for the next four years to support the achievement of increased national resilience to shocks – aligning to nationally owned and determined priorities. To contribute to the achievement of the above, the Disaster Risk Management and Livelihoods Specialist will support the  Programme Manager–  in Resilience Capacity Building in the ZRBF adaptive programming and management to ensure better coherence, relevance, quality and accountability in the ZRBF Livehoods Strategies, market linkages, financial inclusion, inclusive rural economic growth, and alternative energy approaches, disaster risk reduction measures, and early warning early action (Crisis Modifier) in resilience building efforts implemented by ZRBF Grantees.

Institutional Arrangement:

Under the guidance and supervision of the Project Coordinator, the Disaster Risk Management and Livelihoods Specialist will support the successful implementation of the Disaster Risk Management and livelihoods related activities/approaches to contribute to the overall resilience of target communities.  S/he will support resilience capacity building among partners to ensure coherence, relevance, quality and accountability of disaster risk reduction and livelihood interventions implemented by ZRBF 2 Grantees through providing technical guidance/backstopping.

Scope of Work: 

Provide technical support and guidance to ZRBF Stakeholders:

• Lead and support the provision of tailored technical support on livelihoods and disaster risk governance strategies, financial inclusion, market linkages, natural resources management and alternative energy approaches, and early warning early action (anticipatory action)  and crisis modifier activation;
• Advise and support the ZRBF Grantees in implementing technical approaches for livelihoods and disaster risk management  activities adapted to the various districts and needs of beneficiaries;
• Support the timely provision of technical and methodological support to ZRBF Grantees and stakeholders for the planning and implementation of livelihoods,  disaster risk management  and Crisis Modifier activities;
• Anticipate challenges relating to how livelihoods and disaster risk reduction activities are carried out and facilitate the resolution of problems when needed;
• Developing ZRBF Grantees capacity with techniques and new methodologies linked to livelihoods, disaster risk reduction  and resilience;
• Guide and support Grantees and district partners in the drafting of high-quality resilience /disaster risk management  plans at the community level, ensuring quality and standardization of all plans and supporting their implementation;
• Ensuring a mechanism to connect the plans and response to the High-Frequency Monitoring system;
• Monitoring the implementation of Community resilience/ Disaster Risk Management plans and ensuring that these feed into local-level planning and national priorities; 
• Coordinating Crisis Modifier grants awards and selection process;
• Supporting implementation of the High-Frequency Monitoring (HFM) System and Crisis Modification, including pieces of training of Grantees and district authorities on relevant aspects; 
• Ensuring regular check-ins between HFM results and overall programme plans and discuss options or needs for adaptation;
• Generating and proposing new innovative ideas and more effective ways of implementing Disaster Risk Management, Livelihoods and Crisis modifier activities;
• Supporting integrated approach to Disaster Risk Management, livelihoods and resilience while mainstreaming gender, protection, environment and nutrition;
• Supporting the facilitation and strengthening of strategic alliances with partners, other UN agencies and stakeholders in the field of Disaster Risk Management, livelihoods and resilience.

Ensure quality assurance of disaster risk management, livelihoods and crisis modifier interventions:

• Advise and support the identification of any disaster risk reduction and livelihoods assessments to be carried out, organize and supervise such assessments;
• Support implementation of all Crisis Modifier interventions, ensuring proper layering, sequencing and integration within the resilience building programme and other programmes at local and national levels;
• Support and guide the Department of Civil Protection in setting up a Disaster monitoring and information management system that connects communities and the national emergency center; 
• Guide the implementation and ensuring that all Disaster Risk Management and livelihoods activities are properly layered, sequenced and integrated within the resilience building programme and other programmes within the same districts and at the national level as well;
• Ensuring periodic reporting on value-for-money aspects of Disaster Risk Management, Crisis Modifier and livelihoods interventions;
• Ensuring systematic and accurate income potential calculations as part of the livelihoods planning processes in all consortia.

Facilitation of knowledge building and sharing on livelihoods, Disaster Risk Management  and Crisis Modifier:

• Participating in the dissemination of guides and tools linked to hazard and vulnerability assessment, Crisis Modifier and livelihoods activities and ensuring their quality and consistency with national policies and standards;
• In close collaboration with the Programme Manager, the M&E Specialist,  the Finance and Administration Officer and other participating UN agencies staff, take part in the quarterly review of Grantees performance;
• Proposing the reorientation of disaster risk reduction, Crisis Modifier and livelihoods activities according to changing context when needed;
• Consolidating and analyzing the information related to the evolution of disaster risk reduction work and livelihoods in ZRBF operating districts;
• Leading workshops and/or technical exchange meetings on disaster risk reduction, Crisis Modifier and livelihoods.

Ensure reporting and communication:

• Drafting and consolidating inputs for the ZRBF Donors’ reports; 
• Participating and providing technical advice to ZRBF 2 Grantees in quarterly and annual review meetings and reports;
• Resilience, humanitarian affairs and disaster risk reduction, such as the HCT and the UN DRM task force.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

Core Competencies

Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact ;

Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems;

Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences;

Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands;

Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results;

Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration;

Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity.

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies: 

Business Direction & Strategy

• System Thinking
  • Develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s mission and objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, opportunities and potential risks; link the general vision to reality on the ground to create tangible targeted solutions;
  • Learn from a variety of sources to anticipate and effectively respond to both current and future 2030 Agenda: Planet trends; demonstrate foresight;
  • Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.

Business Development

• Knowledge Facilitation
  • Ability to animate individuals and groups, internally and externally, and to design and facilitate activities, to share and exchange knowledge, information and ideas. Knowledge of tools and approaches to stimulate active participation,  contribution, and exchange.

Business Management

• Project Management
  • Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
• Communication
  • Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience.
  • Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels.

Partnership Management

• Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
  • Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Risk Management.

2030 Agenda: Planet

• Relationship Management
  • Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understanding.

Minimum Education Requirements:

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent ) in Disaster Risk Management, Agriculture, Social Sciences, Economics, Marketing, Development Studies, Business Administration is required. OR
• A first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree) in the areas stated above, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Minimum years of relevant work experience:

• Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience in Livelihoods and Disaster Risk Management  projects is required.

Required skills:

• At least 3 years experience working on Disaster Risk Management  and livelihoods projects in rural areas;
• At least 3 years experience working on development projects;
• At least 3 years of previous experience working with community-based projects;
• Experience in rural livelihoods, market-based approaches, financial inclusion and market linkages facilitation;
• Previous experience working with multi-sector projects; 
• Experience in design, facilitation, use of participatory techniques and practical community-based approaches;
• Excellent understanding of resilience approaches in the context of Zimbabwe. 

Desired experience in addition to the competencies covered in the competencies section: 

• Ability to formulate and implement Disaster Risk Management , crisis modifier, anticipatory action, and livelihoods activities; 
• Good expertise in financial inclusion, market systems and value chains analysis;
• Experience and knowledge of gender-sensitive and inclusive market approaches;
• Experience in developing safety-net and social protection programmes and strategies;
• Expertise in Social Protection and/or Youth employment; 
• Experience in ability to formulate and manage budgets.

Required Language(s)

• Fluency in English and Shona or Ndebele is required