Website UNDP
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Position: Disaster Risk Management Specialist
Job Identification: 29941
Apply Before: 11/10/2025, 11:59 PM
Job Schedule: Full time
Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal
Agency: UNDP
Grade: IPSA-11
Vacancy Type: International Personnel Service Agreement
Practice Area: Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
Bureau: Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific
Contract Duration: 6 months
Required Languages: English
Vacancy Timeline: 1 Week
Job Description
Nepal is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world. The country is exposed to a range of geophysical and hydro-meteorological hazards. Each year hundreds of lives are lost in water-induced disasters such as floods and landslides and thousands of people are affected. Being one of the most seismically active regions in the world, the risk of a major earthquake always looms large on the country. The dynamics of climate change add another dimension to disaster risk in Nepal. The impacts of climate change are projected to have serious consequences on Nepal’s economy and livelihoods of poor and vulnerable people, who are occupying marginal lands prone to hydrometeorological hazards and lack adequate capacity to respond to risks.
Over the past two decades, UNDP has played an important role in building capacities for disaster risk reduction and management in Nepal in partnership with the government, sectoral agencies, national and international NGOs, and UN agencies. It has successfully advocated for a comprehensive risk management approach and built strong collaboration with all key ministries, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development, National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority to help realize the vision of making Nepal a risk resilient society by 2030. UNDP’s support has been more focused on strengthening DRRM related policies and institutions and building capacities for risk mitigation, risk reduction, climate change adaptation and emergency preparedness and response. Aligned with Sendai DRR priority actions, UNDP supported the federal government to formulate National Policy and Action Plan for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management following the enactment of the DRRM Act in 2017. In a new federal system of governance, UNDP has been working closely with provincial and local governments to build system and capacities for disaster preparedness and response and early-recovery guided by sub national level DRRM policies and action plans.
UNDP Nepal’s Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Portfolio is responsible for managing disaster risk and climate change adaptation initiatives of the Country Office. The Portfolio is currently implementing the second phase of Strengthening Urban Preparedness, Earthquake Preparedness and Response (SUPER) project in collaboration with WFP and UNICEF, with support from DG-ECHO. The SUPER project is, a continuation of the Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Programme, a flagship programme of UNDP. The SUPER project aims to strengthen the institutional and legislative aspects of disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) in Nepal, with focus on building capacities of provincial and local governments and in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is also implementing a post-earthquake recovery and resilience building project in the areas affected by the Jajarkot earthquake, targeting 5 worst affected local governments in 2 districts of Karnali province. The project is supported by the Government of Japan.
UNDP is co-lead of the Early Recovery (ER) Cluster, Nepal and plays a strategic role in advocating for a coherent ER approach and coordinating Cluster activities. The Cluster ensures integrated, inclusive and coordinated interventions that bridge humanitarian relief and sustainable recovery. It played an important role in the aftermath of the November 2023 earthquake and the September 2024 floods, apart from preparation of the annual Monsoon preparedness and response plan.
The Portfolio is also building expertise on heatwave management by promoting nature-based innovative solutions and capacities for social and environmental screening, post-disaster loss and damage assessment and developing human security frameworks.
Scope of Work
Provide strategic direction, programme formulation and overall guidance on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programming in support of government institutions and other stakeholders to build resilience to multiple risks
Provide high quality programme implementation support and technical oversight including timely implementation of projects (e.g. ECHO funded SUPER project, Government of Japan supported Jajarkot Recovery project)
Provide advisory services and opportunities for resource mobilization, partnerships, knowledge management and synergy between UN agencies, donors, international and national NGOs, and international institutions for disaster risk reduction and management, early recovery and recovery
The Key Responsibilities of the assignment are:
1. Provide strategic direction, programme formulation and overall guidance on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programming in support of government institutions and other stakeholders to build resilience to multiple risks
Review national disaster risk reduction and management policies, strategies, plans, acts and guidelines, as well as relevant UN and UNDP planning frameworks to identify opportunities for UNDP’s programming support for mainstreaming disaster and climate risk management into development
Maintain synergies and linkages with institutions, bilateral partners and UN Agencies’ work related to disaster management and climate change adaptation and ensure coordination with UNCT and UN agencies on DRRM programming and implementation
Prepare concepts and strategies per UNDP requirements for UNDP’s future engagement to reduce vulnerability of the community and the sectors from natural hazards and build livelihood recovery integrating resilience, environment, climate, risk governance, gender
Advise UNDP on programming and collaboration opportunities with key ministries, provincial and local governments, CSOs and communities for managing disaster and climate risks, including disaster preparedness and response, seismic resilience and early recovery
Analysis of global, regional and local funding mechanisms in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation and support CO in mobilizing resources to implement a long-term disaster and climate risk management programme for Nepal
Work with UNDP CO resilience, DRR and environment portfolio and other members of the team and contribute to developing strategies and approaches for resilience building, SES compliance, pipeline development, etc.
2. Provide high quality programme implementation support and technical inputs including timely implementation of projects (e.g. ECHO funded SUPER project, Government of Japan funded Jajarkot recovery project)
Technical quality assurance of project activities, contribute to formulation of workplans for timely deliverables, drafting of quality progress reports as per expectations among others
Engage with UNDP/SUPER/Jajarkot team in delivery of key results of different components and their timely reporting
Provide support in implementation of projects such as review of knowledge products, drafting concept and approach papers related to activities, drafting ToRs for key personnel and services
Lead the drafting of donor reports (both programmatic and financial) including ECHO and Government of Japan supported projects
Engage in building technical capacity within SUPER/Jajarkot recovery team to ensure quality of DRRM results to be delivered by UNDP and mechanism of tracking the results
In coordination with CO Communication, Portfolio and Project team Conceptualize knowledge and visibility products and events and ensure quality
3. Provide advisory services and opportunities for resource mobilization partnerships, knowledge management and synergy between UN agencies, donors, international and national NGOs, and international institutions for disaster risk reduction, early recovery and recovery
Support strengthening the Early Recovery Cluster under the lead of MoFAGA and establish strategic relations with all stakeholders to ensure gaps and needs are identified and addressed
Lead drafting of concept notes, project proposal, etc. to mobilize resources
Regular follow-up of proposals in pipeline such as heatwave proposal, crowd funding, the Japan Supplementary Budget, etc. and create new pipeline
Advise on effective donor, government and CSO co-ordination on DRRM and UNDP’s role at national and sub-national levels
Advocate for implementing climate and disaster risk management policy and action plan at sub national levels to promote risk-informed development and risk governance in line with global and regional good practices
Explore opportunities for cross learning with other country’s experiences within the region and outside and support UNDP/SUPER/Jajarkot recovery team to be actively engaged in those kinds of learning and experience sharing events
Engage in policy debates and advocacy, meetings and workshops and contribute to disaster management planning for emergency preparedness, response and early recovery and earthquake resistant construction of public and private buildings
Represent UNDP Nepal at different fora on disaster risk reduction and advise UNDP on strategic actions to be taken for managing disaster risks
4. Mainstreaming Gender and Social Inclusion in the programme
Integrate GESI considerations into national and local DRR policies, strategies, and frameworks to ensure equitable risk reduction and resilience-building for all groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities
Advise on inclusive risk assessment methodologies that capture differentiated vulnerabilities, capacities, and needs across gender, age, disability, and social status
Ensure GESI-responsive planning and budgeting in DRR programmes and investments, promoting equitable access to resources, technologies, and decision-making processes
Strengthen institutional capacities of government and partner agencies to mainstream GESI in DRR governance, coordination, and implementation mechanisms
Oversee monitoring and reporting of GESI outcomes and indicators in DRR initiatives to ensure accountability and continuous improvement
Institutional Arrangement
The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Resident Representative and day-to-day guidance of the Assistant Resident Representative, in close collaboration with the Portfolio Manager, Resilience, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Portfolio and the Climate Change Analyst.
Competencies
Core
Achieve Results:
LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively:
LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously:
LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility:
LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination:
LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner:
LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross Functional & Technical competencies
Business direction and strategy
Strategic Thinking
- Ability to develop effective strategies and prioritized plans in line with UNDP’s objectives, based on the systemic analysis of challenges, potential risks and opportunities; linking the vision to reality on the ground, and creating tangible solutions
- Ability to leverage learning from a variety of sources to anticipate and respond to future trends; to demonstrate foresight in order to model what future developments and possible ways forward look like for UNDP
2030 Agenda: Prosperity
Inclusive Growth
- Social Inclusion
Business Management
Partnerships Management
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies
Risk Management
- Ability to identify and organize action around mitigating and proactively managing risks
2030 Agenda: Planet
Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery
- Disaster Recovery Policy, Planning and Programming
- Disaster Risk Information
- Disaster Risk Management
- Early Warning and Preparedness
- Gender Responsive Disaster Risk Management and Reduction
- Urban and Local Level Disaster Risk Management
Partnership management
Private sector engagement
- Ability to identify, conduct outreach, and manage relationships with the private sector
Resource Mobilization
- Ability to identify funding sources, match funding needs (programmes/projects/initiatives) with funding opportunities, and establish a plan to meet funding requirements
2030 Agenda: People
Gender
- Climate Change and Risk Management of Disasters with a Gender Perspective
- Knowledge of gender, inclusion and overall diversity issues in the context of Nepal and proactiveness to learn.
Required Skills and Experience
Minimum Education Requirement
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Economics, Management, Finance, Business/Public Administration, or other related area is required.
A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the above-mentioned field of study, in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Minimum years of relevant work experience
Minimum 7 years (with master’s degree) or 9 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant professional work experience in operations, programme support, project management and/or financial resources management is required.
Required skills
- Previous work experience with the UN system/UNDP is required.
- Knowledge and experience of working with government ministries, provincial and local Governments, United Nations and Development Partners would be an asset.
- Demonstrable experience with project management and people /team management and networking with national and international stakeholders in the area of DRR.
- Familiarity with UNDP programming standards and project management guidelines is an asset.
- Practical knowledge and experience in promoting GESI for evidence-based policy formulation, policy advocacy in the area of DRR and management
- Experience in facilitating coordination and dialogue among different stakeholders such as elected representatives, CSOs, ministries etc. for policy dialogues and advocacy to promote DRR and management
- Solid knowledge and understanding on international relations, public policy, management of Nepal.
Desired skills in addition to the competencies covered in the Competencies section
Experience in supporting Early Recovery Coordination is highly desirable.
Experience of working in global virtual teams and multi-cultural environments is a strong asset.
Required Language(s)
- Fluency in English, both written and oral.
- Working knowledge of a second UN language is an asset
Non-discrimination
UNDP is committed to achieve work force diversity and has a policy to have gender balance among staffs at all levels. Work experience and/or academic knowledge in relation to gender and social inclusion will be an added advantage. Qualified Women, Persons with Disabilities, gender and sexual minorities and other minorities are specially encouraged to apply.
United Nations has a zero-tolerance against Sexual exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH). Everyone is responsible for Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (PSEA and SH), and all UN personnel must adhere to the standards of conduct that preserves PSEA principles (both during work hours and outside work hours). All selected candidates will, therefore, go through a safe hiring process.