Technical Advisor for Resilient Recovery

Result of Service

UNDRR is actively supporting the government of Venezuela in advancing after-earthquake resilient recovery in close coordination with United Nations agencies.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

03.08.26 - 20.12.26

Duties and Responsibilities

Background Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point within the United Nations system for coordinating efforts to reduce disaster risk and ensuring synergies among disaster reduction activities carried out by the United Nations, regional organizations, and other stakeholders in both developed and developing countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG/ASG), UNDRR has more than 150 staff members based at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices worldwide. The organization guides, monitors, analyzes, and reports on progress in implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, while supporting its regional and national implementation. UNDRR also promotes coordinated action and raises global awareness to reduce disaster risk by working closely with UN Member States and a wide range of partners, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians, and the science and technology community.

On 24 June 2026, two significant earthquakes, occurring only 39 seconds apart, affected multiple locations in Venezuela, exposing critical gaps in earthquake risk management The two main events highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated, evidence-based effort to strengthen national and subnational capacities for earthquake risk assessment and reduction by generating and using quality risk information, strengthening coordination and technical capacities, and increasing investment to support the resilient recovery planning phase.

The consultant will support resilient recovery work in Venezuela by providing strategic input for UNDRR’s value proposition, developing technical products and supporting stakeholder engagement for risk-informed resilient recovery efforts.

The consultant will be home-based and will be under the supervision of the Economic Affairs Officer at UNDRR's Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean in close coordination with designated focal points from stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The consultant will support UNDRR’s value proposition, strategic engagement, and technical delivery for resilient recovery in Venezuela. The following activities are foreseen:

• Support UNDRR engagement in the Early Recovery Working Group and other inter-agency coordination mechanisms involving government institutions, development partners, international financial institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
• Provide technical inputs to post-disaster assessments and evaluations (including but not limited to Post-Disaster Needs Assessment – PDNA-, Damage and Loss Assessment -DaLA-) and related recovery planning processes.
• Support the integration of disaster risk reduction, resilience and Build Back Better principles into recovery and reconstruction initiatives led by national and local governments, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
• Promote risk-informed recovery planning by identifying opportunities to reduce existing vulnerabilities and prevent the creation of new disaster risks during reconstruction processes.
• Contribute to the development of technical proposals, partnership frameworks and resource mobilization initiatives to advance resilient, inclusive, and sustainable recovery efforts.
• Support knowledge generation, exchange and dissemination on resilient recovery, including lessons learned, good practices and policy recommendations for strengthening institutional readiness and recovery governance.

Qualifications/special skills

An advanced university degree in social sciences, natural resources management, disaster risk management, international relations, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience is required in disaster risk reduction, disaster emergency preparedness and response, humanitarian action, resilient recovery, urban planning or sustainable development is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in Spanish is required for this consultancy. Knowledge of English is desirable.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications received, only successful candidates will be contacted. *FEMALE CANDIDATES ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*. UNDRR values diversity among its staff. We welcome applications from qualified women, men, and people with disabilities.

No Fee

THE 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.