Overview
Facilitate the establishment of a continental impact-based Early Warning System (EWS) for Early Action and Transboundary Risk Management.
Tasks Summary
- Improve the informational production of AMHEWAS and contextualize to ECOWAS region.
- Pro-actively engage other centres into AMHEWAS, facilitating the exchange of risk data and products.
- Facilitate the coordination of ECOWAS Disaster Situation Room with ECOWAS Conflict Early Warning System.
- Ensure effective functioning of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disaster preparedness and response.
- Strengthen risk data exchange between ECOWAS DOC and Member States.
- Integrate regional platforms into DOC workflows.
- Contribute to the participatory process for the Policy Framework on regional cooperation.
- Support the organization of Anticipatory Action Dialogue meetings.
- Collect data and information from Member States and Partners.
- Support the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs in the smooth operation of the ECOWAS Disaster Operation Centre.
- Actively contribute to the operation of the Disaster Operation Centre.
- Mainstream the use of Continental Watch and Disaster Situation Report in Member States and Humanitarian Organizations.
- Convene anticipatory action dialogues meetings with MS.
- Participate in coordination and technical meetings.
- Coordinate use of EWS software (myDEWETRA).
- Liaise with EWS experts at AUC, ACMAD, IGAD, ECCAS, SADC and with hydro meteorological experts at AGHRYMET.
- Provide input for the AUC situation room for EWS and situation reports.
- Initiate work to diversify the hazards covered and the early warning products offered by ECOWAS.
- Initiate work to strengthen capacity in the ECOWAS region on impact-based early warning.
- Initiate work to strengthen coordination in the ECOWAS region on anticipatory action.
- Anticipate obstacles realistically and plan for contingencies.
- Ensure reporting on project implementation.
- Establish mechanisms to facilitate and encourage knowledge sharing.
Experience Requirements
Five (7) years of relevant experience at international level in implementing Disaster Risk Reduction Programmes or other relevant field is required. Experience in managing early warning or disaster operations projects and working in Africa at regional or national level on Disaster Risk Reduction/Management (DRR/M) is required. Experience as a professional forecaster, including data management, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Early Warning Systems (EWS) management of emergency information, coordination of people and tasks, for the generation of Early Warning (EW) messages is desirable.
Qualification Requirements
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Disaster Risk Management, Meteorology, Hydrology, Geography, or other relevant fields is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
