UNDP Disaster Risk Management and Livelihoods Specialist || Apply Now: (Deadline 4 April 2025)

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 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.

Duties and Responsibilities of Livelihoods Specialist

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;
• 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;

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.

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