Title:
Level:
Reports to:
Start Date:
Programme Specialist- Disaster Risk Reduction
P-5 (Temporary Appointment, 364 days)
Regional Planning Advisor
December 1, 2011
Background and Purpose:
The 2011 Horn of Africa crisis has once again revealed the extreme vulnerability of populations in
the Horn, affecting particularly hard the pastoralists/agro-pastoralists living in this region that on
access to water sources and pasture grounds. The impact of continued severe drought has been
compounded by conflict, high food prices and high poverty levels.
At the same time government and aid agencies have been aiming at strengthening resilience of
these populations, sometimes with mixed results. What exactly the building-in of “resilience”
elements would mean for UNICEF, how this can be merged with UNICEF’s efforts to mainstream
Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) across its programmes, what type of partners should be consulted and
what approaches and change in programme strategies this requires is still awaiting clearer
responses. UNICEF ESARO wishes to facilitate determining better programme strategies for arid and
semi-arid lands including a focus for pastoralist societies.
This comes against the backdrop of a situation whereby governments are looking into resettlement
of nomadic populations as permanent solution to the vulnerability of pastoralists. Experience in
other countries has shown that providing basic services to transhumans can be done. UNICEF has
the obligation to introduce such programming in the best interest of children to the affected
countries where it is unknown.
Associating programmes for children with programmes for livestock. While some agencies have
traditionally been attempting to programme close to pastoralist societies’ needs such as FAO and
local NGOs, this has not been the case throughout for UNICEF. Since 2010, the ESARO emergency
unit has been highlighting the need for more focus and adequate solutions to issues in the arid and
semi-arid areas of the Horn of Africa commissioning a review study on what has worked and what
not in terms of best practices. From this, it emanated that UNICEF’s programmes need to be
reviewed including in light of associating programming for children with programming for livestock
and the particular livelihood approach taken up by pastoralists. While this approach appears to be
unorthodox, it has been proven highly efficient in some programme designs implemented by
partners.
Revisiting UNICEF’s WASH strategy in arid and semi-arid lands. At the same time, there is increasing
evidence and understanding within the WASH community of the affected countries that provision of
water to people cannot be designed without considering (1) water for animals, (2) a broader
understanding of water resource management issues, and (3) the conflict potential of making water
accessible to communities (and not to others).
Conflict sensitive programming. The high degree of conflict potential emanating from livelihood
contexts that are characterised by constant struggle over limited resources has too often been
obliterated and is not taken into account by development and humanitarian responses designed.
Understanding implications of climate change on communities. The implications of climate change
in the region have not been consistently grasped by UNICEF although separate country offices have
started engaging in country specific studies. Consolidating knowledge available and translating this
into programming assumptions, especially related to arid and semi-arid contexts, will help provide
programming options for changing programme contexts.
Basic services for transhumans and support to voluntary settlement. There is increasing evidence
that pastoralists are indeed resettling in urban areas, precipitated by increased frequency of drought
and difficulties to continue making as pastoralists. This requires attention to programming in urban
environments with both sides being ill-prepared for these new developments. However, where
transhumans decide to remain loyal to their livelihoods, adequate programming respecting their
ways of life need to be developed that enables them at the same time to access basic social services
including education and health and protection.
New programme partnerships for UNICEF. For UNICEF to re-orient its programming where required,
new partnerships need to be fostered with sister agencies to strengthen interventions for pastoralist
societies. The design of joint response and recovery plans with sister agencies appears to be
opportune as the humanitarian community seeks to transform the immediate response to the 2011
Horn of Africa crisis into longer-term recovery and resilience strengthening approaches.
Assignment
The UNICEF ESARO is seeking a senior-level expertise to guide its programme strategies into further
refinement for populations living in arid and semi-arid environments with a strong focus on
pastoralist populations. Programme strategies need to be aligned with best practices in these
contexts and latest evidence from climate change research. The process should include fostering
new partnerships that have regional if not global significance. If required, additional research can be
commissioned. The process of designing new programme strategies should include consultations
with target populations and documentation thereof. Involvement of selected country offices in the
process appears crucial including the inter-linkage with a possible peer review group from within the
organisation and external members.
Reporting to the Chief of Planning, and working in active consultation with the Country Offices, the
Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) Livelihoods Temporary Assistance (TA) will be responsible for the
following key tasks:
1. Further updating, strengthening, documenting and archiving the existing body of literature
pertaining to child-based good practices in programming in ASAL areas
2. Developing and/or contributing to strategic partnerships and platforms for programming in
arid and semi-arid regions (FAO, IGAD, AU etc.)
3. Drafting of strategy paper on programming in arid and semi-arid regions with a special focus
on the water sector and basic social service needs of transhumans
4. Where necessary and required, commission further research and/or evaluations on country
programme interventions in collaboration with country offices
5. Where necessary and as required provide technical assistance to country offices in
designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programmes in arid and semi-arid
regions
Deliverables:
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Development of programme strategy for UNICEF including essential components for arid
and semi-arid regions – considering consultations with partners, communities, country
offices, the regional office and HQ – taking into account best practices, climate change and
with a focus on water related interventions
Presentation and discussion of strategy during the November RMT 2012
Provide assistance to country offices for programming in arid and semi-arid environments
Qualifications of Successful Candidate
The candidate has an advanced degree in social sciences, development studies, economics, water
sector engineering or related field, and at least ten years of development programme experience of
which some in the wider Horn of Africa region. Knowledge of Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate
Change and programming in arid and semi-arid environments is required. The preferred candidate
will have a strong background in WASH.
Competencies of Successful Candidate:
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Has highest-level communication skills’ and demonstrates the ability to communicate
effectively to varied audiences;
Ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment;
Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and onbudget;
Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the
organization’s future potential;
Analyses and integrates diverse and complex data from a wide range of sources;
Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups. Actively nurtures good relationships with
people across all organizational levels and boundaries, and with various stakeholders;
Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities;
Interested and suitably qualified candidates are invited to submit their applications comprising the
following documentation to UNICEF ESARO until 30 November 2011
• Letter of motivation.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Form P11
Complete application files should be addressed by email to: esarohrvacancies@unicef.org
The start date of the assignment is the 5th of January 2012.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female
and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living
with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.