Divisional Disaster Risk Management Coordination Associate [4 positions - Multiple Duty Stations] {Open to internal and external applicants}
- Organisation: UNDP
- Location: Suva, Fiji
- Deadline: 20 November 2026
Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
• Tier 0 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1 : Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2 : UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated : All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Naoero, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives.
UNDP in the Pacific has developed its Multi-Country Programme Document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–2027). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others. The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace. Following a strategic review process which was completed in June 2022, UNDP Pacific office structure is aligned to the emerging priorities of the office. In this regard, the programme portfolio will include mutually reinforcing work streams crafted around two clusters (i) Resilience and Climate Change; and (ii) Inclusive Growth and Effective Governance, supported by a policy and innovations team, operations team, management programme and oversight team, which provides strategic guidance on results management and compliance entrusted with the corporate alignment, programme finance management and quality assurance, and a strategic communications team, which provides knowledge management and communication support to all programme interventions.
Fiji is among the most disaster-prone countries in the Pacific and is exposed to tropical cyclones, floods, storm surges, landslides, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic hazards, disease outbreaks and the increasing impacts of climate change. These hazards continue to affect lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystems and national development.
The National Disaster Management Act 2024 establishes the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) as the lead agency responsible for coordinating disaster risk management, disaster risk reduction, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery and resilience-building across Fiji. The Act further provides for the establishment of Divisional Disaster Risk Management Offices to strengthen sub-national coordination and implementation of disaster risk management.
To support implementation of the National Disaster Management Act 2024, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy 2018–2030, the National Disaster Risk Management Plan, the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative and the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) Roadmap, the Government of Fiji, through the UNDP Green Climate Fund Programme, will recruit four Divisional Disaster Risk Management Officers to strengthen disaster risk governance and operational coordination across Fiji's four administrative divisions.
The Divisional Disaster Risk Management Associate (DDRMA) is the head of the Divisional Disaster Risk Management Office and is responsible for leading, managing, coordinating, and overseeing the implementation of disaster risk management, disaster risk reduction, emergency management, preparedness, response, recovery, resilience-building, and multi-hazard early warning and early action initiatives within the Division.
Working under the technical direction of the Divisional Commissioners, Manager Emergency Planning
Coordination and the administrative supervision of the Divisional Commissioner, and the Project Manager - EW4All, the DDRMO will provide strategic leadership to strengthen disaster risk governance, coordinate multi-sectoral disaster risk management arrangements, build institutional and community resilience, and ensure effective implementation of the National Disaster Management Act 2024, national policies, plans, and programmes at the sub-national level.
The DDRMA will serve as the principal advisor to the Divisional Commissioner on disaster risk management matters and the primary coordination link between the NDRMO, Government agencies, Provincial Administrators, Municipal Councils, communities, development partners, civil society organizations, and the private sector.
Duties and Responsibilities
Summary of Key Functions
The Associate will serve as the primary focal point for:
• Disaster risk governance and institutional coordination;
• Multi-hazard early warning and early action;
• Community resilience and community-based disaster risk management;
• Emergency preparedness, response and recovery coordination;
• Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management;
• Stakeholder engagement and partnerships;
• Implementation of the undp-gcf early warnings for all (ew4all) project;
• Strengthening inclusive and people-centered disaster risk management.
Provide strategic leadership and governance
• Lead and coordinate the implementation of national disaster risk management policies, legislation, programmes and decisions of the National Disaster Risk Management Council within the Division;
• Coordinate implementation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Policy, National Disaster Risk Management Plan, and Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Policy, National Humanitarian Policy, Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) Roadmap and other national DRM frameworks;
• Integrate disaster risk reduction, climate resilience and preparedness into divisional, provincial and district development planning;
• Provide strategic advice to the Divisional Commissioner, Provincial Administrators, District Officers and local authorities on disaster risk management and resilience;
• Ensure divisional DRM programmes comply with national legislation and international frameworks, including the Sendai Framework, SDGs and the Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP).
Manage the overall functions of the Divisional Disaster Risk Management Office
• Establish and manage the operations of the Divisional Disaster Risk Management Office;
• Prepare annual business plans, work plans, budgets, procurement plans and implementation schedules;
• Manage financial, administrative and operational resources of the office;
• Monitor implementation of Government and donor-funded programmes;
• Ensure compliance with Government financial regulations and donor requirements;
• Prepare annual performance reports and budget submissions.
Lead in disaster risk planning and preparedness
• Coordinate the development, review and implementation of Divisional, Provincial and District Disaster Risk Management Plans.;
• Coordinate preparation and periodic review of Disaster Risk Management Plans, Contingency Plans, Response Plans and Recovery Plans;
• Support Government agencies in reviewing and strengthening Agency Disaster Management Plans;
• Conduct preparedness assessments, operational readiness reviews, simulation and drill exercises and contingency planning;
• Ensure adequate personnel, equipment and resources are available to support preparedness and response operations.
Coordinate the development of multi-hazard early warning systems and risk reduction
• Coordinate implementation of the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) Roadmap and divisional activities under the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative;
• Strengthen coordination between hazard monitoring agencies, emergency responders and communities to support end-to-end early warning systems;
• Support implementation of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) and warning dissemination arrangements;
• Coordinate hazard, vulnerability and risk assessments, risk profiling and preparedness planning;
• Support development of hazard maps, evacuation plans and warning protocols'
• Promote impact-based forecasting, anticipatory action and community feedback mechanisms to improve warning effectiveness.
Coordinate community resilience training and stakeholder engagements
• Coordinate Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) training programmes and community resilience initiatives across the Division;
• Support communities to prepare, review and test Community Disaster Risk Management Plans;
• Promote inclusive participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, older persons and vulnerable groups in disaster risk management;
• Coordinate community awareness, risk communication and behavioral change programmes;