Early Warnings and Early Action Expert

The consultant will support the elaboration and revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Centre Opérationnel de Veille, d’Alerte et de Conduite des Crises (COVACC) in Niger, improving communication and early warning dissemination processes. The role involves developing operational and communication procedures to enhance coordination, information management, and crisis response mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive set of operational procedures covering the operation of COVACC at all phases of early warning and early action.
• Define roles and responsibilities of all COVACC members and stakeholders at national, regional and local levels.
• Develop detailed and sequential procedures for coordination and management of early warning and early actions, including inter-institutional collaboration.
• Standardize information management processes including sharing, monitoring, collection, analysis and use of data for decision-making.
• Integrate mechanisms for multi-hazard early warning systems ensuring coherence between risk monitoring, forecasting, analysis and operational response.
• Ensure all procedures align with national institutional framework and existing policies.
• Develop a structured and coherent framework of communication procedures integrated into the SOP.
• Define internal communication protocols between COVACC members including channels, frequency and responsibilities.
• Establish procedures for validating and certifying information prior to dissemination.
• Develop external communication modalities with authorities, partners, media and communities.
• Define standard processes for dissemination of early warnings at national, regional and local levels specifying roles, channels and timelines.
• Structure communication flows in early warning and early actions to ensure consistency and responsiveness.
• Provide inception report, draft SOPs, validation workshop and final validated SOPs as deliverables.
• Submit monthly progress reports and participate in relevant technical and coordination meetings.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree in disaster risk management, risk analysis and management, early warning, environment, social sciences or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of 2 additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• 5 years of experience in disaster risk reduction, crisis management or early warning systems is required.
• Experience in elaboration or revision of SOPs, contingency plans or emergency coordination mechanisms is desirable.
• Experience in institutional coordination and stakeholder facilitation is desirable.
• Experience in early warning communication systems and crisis communication is desirable.
• Knowledge of the disaster risk management institutional framework in Niger or the Sahel region is desirable.
• Fluency in French and knowledge of English is required.

Skills

• Disaster Risk Management
• Risk Analysis and Management
• Early Warning Systems
• Crisis Management
• Standard Operating Procedures Implementation
• Contingency Planning
• Emergency Coordination
• Institutional Coordination
• Multi-Stakeholder Facilitation
• Early Warning Communication
• Crisis Communication
• Disaster Risk Management Framework
• Information Management
• Operating Procedures Development
• Communication Procedures Development

Languages

French, English