International Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Consultant
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen emergency preparedness and response capacity in Lao PDR, focusing on child-centered disaster risk reduction (DRR). The role involves supporting interventions across WASH, Nutrition, Protection, and Education sectors. Key areas of focus include early warning systems, warehouse management, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), humanitarian coordination, and emergency supply preparedness. The consultant will contribute to a better understanding and mitigation of the impacts of natural hazards and environmental risks on children, particularly those in vulnerable communities. This position aims to enhance the ability of government institutions and development partners to identify at-risk populations and prioritize effective interventions, ensuring children's survival, health, nutrition, education, and overall development are protected.
Responsibilities
The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Consultant will be responsible for supporting UNICEF Lao PDR's efforts in emergency preparedness, coordination, and response. This includes contributing to the development and implementation of child-centered DRR strategies, with a particular emphasis on early warning systems and their integration with child protection mechanisms. The consultant will play a key role in enhancing warehouse management systems and the pre-positioning of emergency supplies, ensuring efficient logistics and supply chain management for critical commodities. They will also support the integration of climate and disaster risk assessments with child deprivation data to better identify vulnerable populations. Furthermore, the consultant will contribute to strengthening preparedness within the education sector and ensuring that rapid-onset disasters do not exacerbate child wasting and food insecurity by disrupting essential services. This involves close collaboration with government counterparts and development partners to improve humanitarian coordination and ensure accountability to affected populations, ultimately safeguarding children's well-being in the face of increasing environmental risks.
Work Experience
A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional experience in disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and response, humanitarian coordination, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), or warehouse management. Experience working effectively through interpreters and with national counterparts is required for international consultants without local language proficiency.
Skills
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Emergency Preparedness, Humanitarian Response, Humanitarian Coordination, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Warehouse Management, Supply Chain Management, Child-Centered Programming, Early Warning Systems, Contingency Planning, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS), Climate Risk Assessment