Consultant for Supporting the Roll-out of the Early Warning for All (EW4ALL) Initiative in St. Kitts & Nevis

Result of ServiceThe ultimate result of this consultancy will be the development of a nationally defined people-centered and end-to-end multi-hazard early warning system implementation plan. Work LocationHome based - Saint Kitts and Nevis Expected duration12 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesCreated 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. Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) are key elements of disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, as they help reduce or avoid the detrimental impacts of hazardous events. To be effective, early warning systems need to be risk-informed, multi-hazard, multi-sectorial, target communities most at risk, disseminate messages and warnings efficiently, ensure preparedness, and support early action. EW4All is arranged into four pillars: 1) disaster risk knowledge; 2) observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting; 3) warning dissemination and communication; 4) preparedness and response capabilities. These four pillars which are key components of any MHEWS need a governance architecture enabling interactions among those responsible for each of the components, framing their implementation within the overall disaster risk management (DRM) governance mechanisms (Interpillar). Multi-sector and multi-stakeholder coordination, involvement of communities at risk, having an enabling institutional and legislative environment, clear roles and responsibilities, and adequate operational capacities, are essential for effective and consistent Early Warning Systems. Early Warnings for All (EW4All) is a special initiative of the UN Secretary General, which aims to spearhead action to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems by 2027. Formally launched by the UN Secretary-General in November 2022 at the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, the initiative calls for everyone everywhere to be protected by early warning systems by the end of 2027. EW4All is co-led by WMO (World Meteorological Organization) and UNDRR and supported by other pillar leads, namely ITU (International Telecommunication Union) and IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies). Additional implementing partners include FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), GEO (Group of Earth Observation) Secretariat, IOM (International Organization for Migration), OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund), REAP (Risk-informed Early Action Partnership), WFP (World Food Programme) and others. EW4All aims to promote collaboration and synergies across all partners working on the promotion, design, implementation, development, and monitoring of single, cluster and MHEWS. The United Nations Secretary General’s Executive Action Plan outlines the initial actions required to achieve universal coverage of multi-hazard early warning systems within coming years and sets out the pathway to implementation. National implementation plans or roadmaps should be country-driven and nationally owned, informed by multistakeholder, participatory and inclusive processes and should aim to close gaps identified in each of the foundational pillars. Furthermore, they should be tailored to guide each country’s efforts on enhancing MHEWS capacities and reach. The implementation process should be guided by the stakeholder coordination mechanism established or confirmed in the national consultative workshop(s). A key focus of this initiative is to promote a coordinated, cross pillar approach that prioritizes strong coordination. A monitoring framework has been established for use in countries, and technical support is also available to strengthen reporting on Target G of the Sendai Framework, which tracks progress on Early Warning Systems. The national implementation of the EW4All National Roadmap necessitates coordinated efforts across various pillars, sectors and stakeholders to achieve comprehensive MHEWS coverage. Success hinges on strong national leadership and collaborative engagement throughout the MHEWS value cycle. EUCARES This consultancy falls under the European Union‑Caribbean‑Resilient Programme (EU‑CA-RES) that aims to increase the resilience to external shocks in the Caribbean, making individual, communities, business and institutions better prepared to prevent, minimize impacts and recover from slow and rapid onset events. EUCARES seeks to enhance shock-responsive and gender-inclusive social protection schemes, while accelerating recovery capacities for the most vulnerable groups including women, children, and persons with disabilities. Central to the programme is the principle of “building back better,” which focuses not only on recovery but on creating stronger, more disaster-resilient communities through improved building standards, disaster-proof infrastructure, and enhanced institutional and policy capacities. The programme is implemented in partnership with United Nations agencies (UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, and UNDRR) and includes five key components: 1. Strengthening social protection systems to provide integrated, digitalized support to vulnerable populations affected by shocks. 2. Enhancing institutional capacity for evidence-based policy and operational decision-making. 3. Supporting implementation of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS). 4. Building capacities for resilient recovery planning, governance, and finance. 5. Improving post-disaster needs assessment and recovery framework development. With regards to the current consultancy, the focus through UNDRR is on strengthened Caribbean institutions and private sector capacities for the implementation of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) in-country work programmes. By seamlessly integrating the planned activities, the project is dedicated to not only strengthening the MHEWS but also enhancing disaster response capabilities and promoting a culture of long-term disaster resilience in the region, including active engagement with key stakeholders such as the private sector. It will also emphasize inclusion, gender, women’s empowerment, persons with disabilities, youth and others with a view to reaching communities on the ground and empowering actors through the process. This will be pursued through the strategic implementation of two key activities: Activity 3.1: Develop MHEWS Gap analyses and National Roadmaps that include a gender and disability perspective, which looks to improve MHEWS to expand coverage and the effectiveness of such systems. This involves a comprehensive process to identify deficiencies in the essential components of MHEWS, followed by the development of strategic roadmaps to address these gaps. The roadmaps will guide national and local governments in enhancing people-centred MHEWS, detailing specific activities and targeted investments. Developed in collaboration with national, regional, and international stakeholders, and coordinated by National Disaster Risk Management Organizations, these roadmaps will also contribute to efforts to secure support from international and regional financial mechanisms under the Early Warning for All Initiative (EW4All). This approach aligns with the goals of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Paris Agreement (2015). Additionally, to ensure people-centred process to leave no one behind the Inclusive Checklist and Implementation Guide for Inclusive Early Warning and Early Action will also be considered in support of governance mechanisms to ensure representativity as well as buy-in from key stakeholders. The purpose of the checklist and implementation guide is to ensure that the key pillars of early warning systems are gender-responsive and disability-inclusive. Activity 3.2: Foster private sector engagement on MHEWS and Recovery: This activity aims to enhance the sustainability, coverage, and usage of MHEWS by engaging the private sector, including EU companies, at both the national and regional levels. Private sector entities, involved in critical infrastructure development, maintenance and essential consumer goods expand MHEWS to remote areas and strengthen resilience through public-private collaboration. They are increasingly implementing MHEWS to protect operations from disasters and contribute to community resilience. With specific market knowledge, these companies are crucial in meeting immediate community needs and guiding recovery processes. During the response phase, they provide critical information, such as consumption trends, and swiftly adapt services to ensure critical resource availability. As recovery progresses, businesses leverage their market intelligence and logistical capabilities to restore supply chains, rebuild infrastructure, and support economic revitalization. This activity 3.2 will focus on two main streams: 1. National Engagement: engage the private sector with support from the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE Network) and the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (CARICHAM). The private sector will actively participate in developing the MHEWS gap analyses and roadmaps (Activity 3.1) to identify contributions that improve MHEWS and enhance its business resilience. 2. Regional Consultation: Facilitate a private sector consultation, including for example with the ARISE regional Network led by CARICHAM, to explore how the private sector utilizes its adaptability and innovation to address the gaps identified in Activity 3.1. This involves integrating local enterprises into service-driven business models for commissioning, maintenance, and operation of MHEWS, as well as for response and recovery actions. Additionally, with support from the EU delegation, European businesses connected to Caribbean supply chains and the EU-driven Global Gateway initiative will be identified and engaged. The focus will be on companies that innovate and develop products and services related to MHEWS. In summary, this activity will ensure private sector engagement in identifying MHEWS gaps and developing implementation plans in the four mentioned countries. At the regional level, through CARICHAM, a dialogue will facilitate private sector involvement in MHEWS commissioning, maintenance, and operation, as well as response and recovery actions, by developing a regional service-driven business model. The consultant will be home-based and will report to the Early Warnings for All Regional Coordinator at UNDRR's Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean, in Panama, and will collaborate closely with national authorities as well as with the Risk Knowledge and Climate Change Officer and others of UNDRR’s Regional Office, other EW4All pillar lead agencies (WMO, ITU and IFRC) and other relevant organizations. Expected tasks are as follows: 1. In agreement with UNDRR ROAC, define a detailed work plan that includes the methodology and schedule for successfully carrying out the consultancy activities. 2. In coordination with national authorities and UNDRR ROAC together with other pillar lead agencies, organize and facilitate a national multistakeholder and cross-sectoral consultative workshop (in-person with possible virtual connectivity), including compiling a list of invitees and follow up with participants, workshop concept note and agenda and ensuing development of workshop report. 3. Develop a baseline assessment on multi-hazard early warning systems that includes at least: a) an initial stakeholder mapping, b) an overview of existing early warning system elements in place (including elements from government, private sector and civil society counterparts), c) a gap analysis as per the EW4All implementation toolkit and ensuing gap analysis report, while also including any relevant public policies or normative frameworks; and d) the findings and outcomes of the inclusive early warning early action checklist and implementation guide. This will involve a desk review, meetings and interviews with relevant stakeholders and national counterparts and will serve to inform the national implementation roadmap. 4. Provide support to UNDRR ROAC to ensure ongoing communications and effective coordination with national counterparts and with the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) and United Nations Country Team (UNCT). 5. Demonstrated coordination with national gender machineries or bureaus, organizations of persons with disabilities, representatives of indigenous peoples, youth and other frequently marginalized groups to ensure that a diversity of perspectives is included in the EW4All gap analysis and the implementation roadmap, aligned to the Sendai Framework Gender Action Plan and UNDRR’s overall work to ensure that disaster risk reduction (DRR) is rooted in equality, human rights and the lived realities of diverse groups. 6. Identify and systematize at least one example of good practices of emerging technology applied to MHEWS at the national level. 7. Support the development or update of at least 1 local DRR plan using MCR2030 addendum on MHEWS and including a local consultative workshop. 8. Identify at least one concrete contribution from the private sector as a provider of services or goods that support existing elements or aspects of early warning systems in country. 9. Support strengthening substantive elements of private sector engagement throughout the process and its articulation in the national implementation roadmap. 10. Draft national implementation roadmap subject to review and feedback by regional and national partners and counterparts and including a separate detailed budgetary breakdown. 11. Support UNDRR in the roll out of the new tracking system for loss and damage (DELTA Resilience) by identifying available historical disaster databases and sources, including but not limited to damage and Loss Assessments (DaLAs) and Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNAs). 12. . Provide support to national entity to provide inputs (Targets A to G) to the Sendai Framework Monitoring report. 13. Final draft national implementation plan / roadmap that incorporate comments and feedback received from UNDRR, WMO, ITU, IFRC, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and other EW4All partners as well as by national and private sector counterparts. A detailed breakdown of the listed activities and separate detailed budget for each of the activities must also be delivered. 14. Provide guidance and support to the country in preparing applications for technical assistance to the Santiago network for Loss and Damage and to other possible sources of funding to support financing the EW4All implementation roadmap. 15. In coordination with UNDP, and with support of UNDRR, conduct a recovery readiness assessment. 16. Support engagement of the country to the IX Regional Platform for DRR to be held in The Bahamas to ensure high-level participation and support speaking engagements. 17. Monthly and final consultancy reports. 18. Ensure visibility and promotion of EUCARES in all relevant materials, press releases and publications. Qualifications/special skillsA first-level university degree (bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in disaster risk reduction, meteorology, climate change, sustainable development, social or political sciences, economics, public administration or other related fields is required. Minimum of two years of professional experience in the areas of disaster risk management, climate change, public administration or related areas in the country is required. Work experience with relevant national, sub-national and communities' stakeholders in the select country is desirable. Work experience with national stakeholders in areas of disaster risk management, climate change, early warning systems, or identification of vulnerabilities and exposures is desirable. Experience with information management systems is desirable. Experience providing training on the foregoing subjects is desirable. Demonstrated experience in drafting strategic planning documents, reports and conducting multistakeholder consultations and organizing and facilitating trainings and workshops is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required for this consultancy. Knowledge of Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable. Additional InformationDue to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. No FeeTHE 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.