Technical Consultant (Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change and Education)

Parent Sector: Education Sector (ED)

Duty Station: Home-based with a possibility of mission(s) to Paris and elsewhere

Job Family: Education

Type of contract: Non-Staff Consultant

Duration of contract: Up to 11 months

Application Deadline: 12 April 2024 (17:00 CET)

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

Echoing the core commitment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ‘leave no one behind’, Sustainable Development Goal 4 calls for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Realizing this goal means taking immediate and concerted action to eliminate all forms of exclusion and marginalization, to address disparities and inequalities in access, participation, and learning outcomes, and to build education systems that are resilient and responsive to contemporary challenges.

As the lead UN Agency for the SDG 4, UNESCO is strongly committed to building the resilience of Education Systems worldwide, thus limiting the effects of disasters on the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the most vulnerable learners and educators. The organization’s commitments include a leadership role in the Global Alliance for Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in the Education Sector (GADRRRES). Since 2022, UNESCO has played the role of Co-Chair to enhance the capacity of the members in support of countries’ efforts in the operationalization of the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF).

Considering the contemporary challenges that education systems face, the multiplicity of crises that affect them and their extension over time, risk reduction and risk management within the education system has been recognized as a priority by the EME section at global, regional, and national levels. This is also aligned with the institutional commitments reported in UNESCO’s new Medium-Term Strategy (2022-2030) and its Programme and Budget (2022-2025).

Scope of the assignment:

Under the authority of the Assistant Director General for Education, direction of the Director of the Division for Education 2030 and direct supervision of the Chief of the section of Migration, Displacement, Emergencies and Education (ED/E30/EME), within the framework of UNESCO’s statutory documents, 41C/4 and 42C/5 and global strategic framework on migration, displacement, emergencies and education, the incumbent will serve as Technical Consultant for DRR, Climate Change, Education and support UNESCO’s engagement in the areas at global, regional, and national levels, including as a member of GADRRRES.

Concretely, the Technical Consultant will undertake the following tasks and deliver corresponding outputs:

Tasks:

• Update a comprehensive mapping of UNESCO activities related to DRR, climate change and education, focusing on preparedness and response to hazards and pandemics, and extracting lessons learned from them, including initiatives that focus on the promotion and implementation of School Safety.
• Produce multi/specific-purpose syntheses highlighting UNESCO’s success stories, added value in the field of DRR and climate change response, key partnerships, and contribution to global/regional/local agendas.
• Support the identification and implementation of strategic directions of UNESCO in DRR, climate change and education, based on the analysis of the current education sector response and existing gaps and including but not limited to how UNESCO can contribute to and benefit from Anticipatory Action and Comprehensive School Safety Framework(CSSF) in contexts affected by emergencies, protracted crises, and disasters complemented by concrete recommendations regarding related financing mechanisms: adaptation fund, Green Climate Fund, loss and damage fund, OECD-led climate change funds, etc.
• Contribute to the work of GADRRRES as a UNESCO technical expert through regular and substantive engagement in the Steering Committee and subsidiary working group mechanism and keep the section informed about partnership opportunities, partners’ initiatives in key emergency affected contexts and financing opportunities, donor briefs, call for proposals.
• Provide technical support the GADRRRES Coordinator and coordination team as and when required, for instance, on the development of technical pages, policy briefs, FAQ, and training materials.
• Contribute to strategic and technical articulation of GADRRRES and Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA).
• Contribute to the positioning of Education in Emergencies within UNESCO’s briefings as related to DRR, climate change and education and engagement towards COP29, IDDRR 2024 and Summit of the Future.
• Elaborate several policy papers on SDG4, DRR, Anticipatory Action, Comprehensive School Safety through all hazards and risk approach and other related topics highlighting UNESCO experience.
• Support the provision of on-demand technical support through context-relevant advice to UNESCO Field Offices and training (including but not limited to Post Disaster Needs Assessment and advice countries on strategies to support Ministries of Education to increase ownership on School Safety).
• Support participation in relevant global/regional/national coordination and collaboration mechanisms and platforms as requested by the direct supervisor.

Outputs:

• Revised mapping document together with complementary summary briefs on lessons learned, success stories, key partnerships and highlight on UNESCO’s added value.
• At least 2 case studies from different regions on how UNESCO contributes to ensure children and adolescents access to safe and quality education during before, during and after emergencies trough DRR, climate change with a focus on AA and EiE programming interventions.
• A 10-page document on UNESCO’s strategic directions and implementation plan with annexes focused on key country contexts retrieved from the updated mapping exercise and complemented by partnership and financing scenarios/solutions.
• UNESCO guidance notes frame based on CSSF, on how DRR, climate change and particularly focus on Anticipatory Actions, climate change adaptation and EiE and related topics. The guidance should be developed based on the case studies produced.
• Training programme on PDNA, Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF), and others relevant to UNESCO with pilot training for EiE leads.
• Evidence of substantive contributions to the work of GADRRRES as a UNESCO technical expert traced by UNESCO’s reinforced positioning within the annual workplan of GADRRRES and other references of the Alliance.
• Evidence of substantive contributions to technical articulation between GADRRRES and GCPEA.
• Provision of contextually relevant technical support to UNESCO’s operations in the Field

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

Accountability (C)

Communication (C)

Innovation (C)

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)

Planning and organizing (C)

Results focus (C)

Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Academic qualifications

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in education, social sciences, natural sciences, or a related field.

Professional experience and skills

• Minimum of 7 years of international relevant professional experiences, including operational experience in the field and providing technical support in country and regional level.
• Familiarity/working directly with UN/multilateral organizations and professional networks related to DRR, climate change and education, for instance, GADRRRES. Experience in coordination and working with National Disaster Management Authorities is desirable.
• Proven track record of successful development and delivery of training programme related to DRR, climate change and education
• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English.
• Excellent knowledge of computer systems and office-related software.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including interacting with various actors and working effectively and respectfully in a multicultural environment.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of another official language of UNESCO, especially French and Spanish.