BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Disasters have devastating effects on people’s lives and livelihoods, and in terms of economic losses. The least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and natural hazards.
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play an important role in increasing resilience of countries, facilitating the flow of vital information in a timely manner before, during and after disasters strike. Information is critical for decision-making processes, as well as for rapid response during emergencies. The incredible growth in ICT networks and services, including radio, satellite and mobile services, means that the opportunity is there for more people to be reached in a timely manner. However, resilience in these systems needs also be considered to ensure such systems survive catastrophic events.
ITU plays an important role in highlighting the role of ICTs for disaster risk reduction and management, including through the design of National Emergency Telecommunication Plans (NETP), the design of early warning and monitoring systems and the provision of emergency telecommunications equipment when disasters strike.
The World Telecommunication Development Conference, which was held in Kigali in 2022 (WTDC-2022), identified disasters as a major threat to socio-economic development and revised resolution 34 (Rev. Kigali, 2022), highlighting the need to support countries in the preparation of national disaster response in the areas of regulation, and policy, to facilitate the use of ICTs for early warning systems, and to develop national emergency telecommunication plans and standard operating procedures. A growing number of Member States and regional organisations have requested ITU’s support in identifying the opportunities of ICTs for disaster management, and in helping them develop their national emergency telecommunication plans.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION (continuation)

In March 2023, the UN launched the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative, which stipulates that every person in the world should be protected by an early warning system by 2027. The initiative’s Action Plan puts the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in the leading role on Pillar 3, on ‘Warning Dissemination and Communication’. This is acritical component of early warning systems that ensures alerts reach the people at risk in time to take action. In its lead role for Pillar 3, ITU works closely with partners, including the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to ensure that warnings reach everyone at risk by creating the enabling environment and technical capabilities for multichannel dissemination and communication alerting. This entails four priority areas:

• Strengthening governance to ensure that all countries have clear functions, roles and responsibilities for warning dissemination and communication.
• Supporting infrastructure networks and services to enable last-mile communication.
• Following an inclusive and people-centered approach to provide actionable guidance to those at risk and providing feedback mechanisms.
• Enabling quality and trust of alerts by leveraging the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for consistent, reliable multi-hazard, multi-channel alert dissemination.

The action plan also specifically references GSMA and mobile network operators and calls for the promotion of the implementation of geo-located mobile early warning services using cell broadcast and/or location-based SMS. As part of the EW4All Initiative, ITU is working to support countries to address the four priority areas and implement mobile early warning systems to reach more people at risk, including assistance in NETP development, public warning assessment, and implementation of early warning system, in different regions.

For these, the ITU is seeking several coordinators for Pillar 3 of the EW4All Initiative to provide strategic and technical support and assist the ITU regions (in particular Asia and the Pacific, Americas, and Africa) and at ITU Headquarters in Geneva, in the implementation of Pillar 3 activities.
In particular, the Regional Coordinator will support the Pillar 3 implementation in a growing number of countries from different regions, with a particular focus on small islands developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Regional Coordinator will work under the supervision of the respective ITU Regional Offices and/or the direction of the Head of the Climate Change and Emergency Telecommunications Division (CET), within the Digital Networks and Environment Department (DNE) of the Telecommunication Development Bureau. The duties to be performed are the following:

• Collaborate with EW4All Pillar 3 national and other regional focal points and partners and ITU headquarters to support the development and implementation of Pillar 3 gap analysis and roadmaps. These roadmaps will detail actions, technical support, and capacities required to enhance multi-hazard early warning systems.
• Support national EW4All Pillar 3 focal points in their leadership roles by fostering collaboration among key stakeholders, such as telecom regulators, ICT ministries, mobile operators, GSMA, alerting authorities, Red Cross/Red Crescent societies, community representatives, broadcasters, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Work with national Pillar 3 focal points, other pillar leaders, and stakeholders to draft national roadmaps for countries starting to implement EW4All. This includes providing input and support to the implementation of EW4All initiatives in countries funded by the Green Climate Fund, as well as assisting in the logistical and technical preparations for EW4All workshops, meetings, and events in the regions.
• Participate in international, regional, national Pillar 3 meetings and workshops and ensure that ITU's interests and objectives are effectively communicated and promoted.
• Oversee monitoring and reporting, and support preparation of documents, PowerPoint presentations in the regions and/or HQ to provide regular updates on country progress regarding EW4All Pillar 3. Produce and share all relevant documentation with ITU regional and headquarters colleagues.
• Support fundraising and resources mobilization activities to provide support to a growing number of countries in the ITU regions.
• Facilitate regular meetings and interaction among relevant stakeholders and regional focal points, as well as regional organisations and the private sector, to ensure active engagement in Pillar 3 relevant partners for the roll out and implementation of the EW4All initiative.
• Promote awareness about the EW4All initiative and its key objectives.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Applying Expertise; Effective Communication; Learning and Knowledge Sharing; Organizational Commitment; Results-Focused, and; Teamwork and Collaboration.

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge with multi-stakeholder coordination and disaster management and early warning systems will be an advantage.
• Knowledge on disaster management, emergency telecommunications, disaster recovery, emergency response, and/or crisis management will be an advantage.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

Education
Advanced university degree in telecommunication, computer science, economics, information technology or a related field such as engineering OR education from a reputed college of advanced education, with a diploma of equivalent standard to that of an advanced university degree in one of the fields above. For internal candidates, a first university degree in one of the fields above in combination with seven years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree for promotion or rotation purposes.

Experience
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in the field of the post, including at least two at the international level. A Doctorate in a related field can be considered as a substitute for two years of working experience. Experience with multi-stakeholder coordination and disaster management and early warning systems will be an advantage.

Languages
Excellent knowledge of one of the six official languages of the (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish), and a very good knowledge of a second official language.
Knowledge of a third official language would be an advantage. (Under the provisions of Resolution No.626 of the Council, a relaxation of the language requirements may be authorized in the case of candidates from developing countries: when candidates from such countries possess a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the, their applications may be taken into consideration).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This temporary opportunity is available to individuals residing locally.