Global Disaster Data Expert, UNV, Bonn

UNDRR supports countries in establishing institutional mechanisms, data systems, and capacities to assess climate and disaster risks and their impacts, and to apply this knowledge to inform decision‑making and action, in line with the UNDRR Strategic Framework 2026‑2030 and its focus on risk knowledge as a catalytic area of work.

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of efforts to reduce disasters and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in both developed and less developed countries. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary‑General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG), UNDRR has over 120 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices.

Specifically, UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015‑2030, supports regional and national implementation of the Framework and catalyses action and increases global awareness to reduce disaster risk working with UN Member States and a broad range of partners and stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, parliamentarians and the science and technology community.

Context

The assignment is based in Bonn within the UNDRR Risk Knowledge Branch. The Global Disaster Data Expert will join the data team and support Regional Offices in their country‑level support for disaster tracking system, Sendai Framework Monitoring, and disaster‑related statistics. This includes providing technical assistance to governments and stakeholders to strengthen disaster data collection, analysis, and use, including for monitoring and reporting on progress in implementing the Sendai Framework.

A recent evaluation of the Sendai Framework Monitoring(SFM) system highlighted persistent gaps in data availability and national capacity for disaster losses, damages, and impact reporting. These challenges are further underscored by recent UNFCCC decisions on loss and damage, which have reinforced the need for more comprehensive and disaggregated data on human, environmental, and economic impacts to inform policy, programming, and technical assistance.

Within this context, UNDRR is implementing its SFM acceleration strategy and rolling‑out DELTA Resilience (Disaster & Hazardous Events, Losses and Damages Tracking & Analysis) as a core country‑owned solution for data on hazardous events and disaster losses and damages. The Global Disaster Data Expert will contribute directly to the rollout of DELTA Resilience and to strengthening national disaster‑related data systems and risk knowledge generation and use.

The Global Disaster Data Expert is expected to support, capacity development efforts targeting governments, and led by data officers in UNDRR regional offices with the overall objective to enable better disaster‑related data collection, analysis, reporting and application through UNDRR‑managed data portals. Specifically, the Global Disaster Data Expert is expected to:

• Support the rollout of DELTA Resilience and accelerated reporting through the Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM) across countries, liaising with designated focal points in UNDRR Regional Offices.
• Support Regional Offices and partners through tools, approaches, and programmes to enhance national capacities on the use of disaster‑related data standards, methodological frameworks, and new technologies to establish DELTA Resilience as country‑owned disaster tracking systems.
• Support the establishment of the Sendai Framework Academy as a vehicle for capacitating governments and Sendai Framework focal points on SFM, data analysis and use building upon existing SFM training resources at regional and global levels.
• Support the continuous development, update, and enhancement of training materials (for both e‑learning, self‑paced and facilitated in‑person sessions), and the design and delivery of training activities, including webinars, masterclasses, blended learning sessions, and training‑of‑trainers initiatives.
• Assist regional offices in identifying good practices in data application, documenting use cases on disaster‑related data, and developing communication materials (case studies, presentations, videos, etc.) to demonstrate the value of investing in national systems for data collection and analysis.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of Programme Management Officer (Disaster Data) or designated mandated representative(s), the Global Disaster Data Expert will:

• Coordinate support for country‑level data ecosystem analysis maturity assessment and data readiness and quality assessment to understand context‑specific needs and best suited approaches and solutions to strengthen data governance and disaster‑related data applications.
• Assist regional offices in identifying technical assistance needs of governments to understand benefits, opportunities and needs to establish, enhance or upgrade national disaster tracking systems powered by DELTA Resilience.
• Coordinate and support training of trainers and support regional and/or national capacity development efforts (as required) to collect and analyze data through DELTA Resilience and accelerate reporting on the Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM), including relevant SDG indicators.
• Provide technical assistance to regional offices and partners for strengthening and connecting existing data systems, data migration to enhanced systems and/or enhancement of interoperability with DELTA Resilience.

Advise and provide technical assistance to regional offices to support government counterparts and UN country teams in producing analytical reports, enhancing dashboards, producing infographics and translating data into meaningful insights.

Furthermore, UN Volunteers are encouraged to integrate the UN Volunteers programme mandate within their assignment and promote voluntary action through engagement with communities in the course of their work. As such, UN Volunteers should dedicate a part of their working time to some of the following suggested activities:

• Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day).
• Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country.
• Provide annual and end of assignment self‑reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write‑ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.
• Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

7 years

Nationality

Candidate must be a national of a country other than the country of assignment.

Assignment requirements

7 years

Languages

Spanish, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

French, Level: Working knowledge, Desirable

Required education level

Master's degree in Data analytics, economics, statistics, information management, GIS‑analysis, public policy and analysis, management or a related field is required. A first‑level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Competencies and values

• Professionalism
• Integrity
• Teamwork
• Commitment to continuous learning
• Planning and organizing
• Communication
• Flexibility
• Commitment towards principles of voluntary engagement

Skills and experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in data analysis, applied analytics and statistics, information management, project management, stakeholder management, capacity development, or related area is required.
• Experience with self‑service analytics and data visualization applications is desirable.
• Experience in coordinating and facilitating training of trainers and other capacity development efforts is desirable.
• Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment is required.
• Self‑motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Have affinity with or interest in disaster risk reduction, climate action and/or resilience building, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Area(s) of expertise

Crisis and emergency response, Economics and finance, Information technology

Driving license

-

Other information

Volunteerism is understood as a wide range of activities undertaken of free will, for the general public good, for which monetary reward is not the principal motivating factor.

Living conditions and remarks

Duty station of UNDRRin Bonn, Germany is surrounded by more than 20 other UN Agencies as the city shaped itself into the German City of the United Nations. Germany is at security level 1 (Minimal) and is considered non‑restrictive regarding travel. Currently there are no significant security threats in general nor direct threats to UN personnel or assets within the country. It is the traveller’s responsibility to comply with immigration, customs and health requirements while entering/exiting the country. Specific information regarding Bonn, which is in the German state of North Rheine Westphalia, can be found here: Link to the entitlement calculator: Access to UNV E‑Campus for training and learning, including access to LinkedIn learning. Further entitlements and information available at:

Inclusivity statement

United Nations Volunteers is an equal opportunity programme that welcomes applications from qualified professionals. We are committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, care protected characteristics. As part of their adherence to the values of UNV, all UN Volunteers commit themselves to combat any form of discrimination, and to promoting respect for human rights and individual dignity, without distinction of a person’s race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.

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