CONSULTANCY - Effectiveness Index Consultant - SSA-2026-PFPO- 2

Organizational Context

The Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative aims to ensure that every person is protected by multi-hazard early warning systems. Current monitoring arrangements, including the EW4All dashboard and the Global Status of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) reports, largely capture the existence, coverage, comprehensiveness and capacity of Early Warning Systems (EWS). However, there remains a recognized gap in measuring the effectiveness of EWS, including the extent to which warnings are relevant, accurate, timely, accessible and actionable, and ultimately support protective action and reduced impacts. WMO is seeking to advance the development of an EWS Effectiveness Index from conceptual scoping towards a more operational and testable methodological proposal. The work will focus on identifying and developing a practical set of indicators to measure EWS effectiveness at the output level, assessing their feasibility and data requirements, and validating the proposed indicators with relevant experts and stakeholders. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Chief of Planning, Foresight and Performance and in close collaboration with the EW4All M&E Working Group.

Job Purpose

To advance the development of the EWS Effectiveness Index by identifying and developing a practical, technically sound and feasible indicator framework, based on a layered methodological approach with the output level as the core measurement layer. This involves reviewing initial work, identifying and developing output-level indicators, mapping them to the early warning value chain, assessing data availability, conducting consultations, developing scoring options, preparing a pilot testing protocol, and producing a final report.

Responsibilities

Review initial analytical work and EW4All M&E materials to synthesize implications for measuring EWS effectiveness at the output level. Identify and develop proposed output-level indicators for warning quality and effectiveness (relevance, accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, actionability, support for response), defining rationale, unit of measurement, calculation, interpretation, assumptions, and limitations for each. Map indicators to the early warning value chain, EW4All pillars, and enabling functions. Identify how other effectiveness levels (user response, perceptions, protective action, reduced impacts) can be reflected as complementary layers. Assess availability, quality, comparability, accessibility, update frequency, and sustainability of potential data sources, identifying gaps and constraints. Conduct targeted consultations with experts and support a virtual validation meeting, documenting feedback and revising the framework. Develop options for scoring, weighting, and aggregating indicators. Prepare a practical protocol for testing the framework in selected countries. Prepare a final methodological and feasibility report with a presentation.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of combined national and international progressively responsible experience in research, monitoring and evaluation, indicator development, policy analysis, or stakeholder engagement, preferably in disaster risk reduction, early warning systems, or anticipatory action. Proven experience in developing indicators, monitoring frameworks, scorecards, or composite indices; facilitating stakeholder consultations, expert engagement, and validation processes; and preparing analytical reports and decision-oriented recommendations. Prior work with United Nations and other international organizations is an asset.

Skills

Sense of integrity, responsibility, maturity of judgement, initiative, and creativity. Excellent analytical, data management, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Proven ability to analyze, model, and interpret data for decision-making. Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple workloads.

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