Disaster Preparedness Consultant - National Emergency Telecom Plans and Mobile Early Warning

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION  

 

 

ITU is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies, with the mission to connect the world. To achieve this, ITU manages the radio-frequency spectrum and satellite orbits at the international level, works to improve communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishes global standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communication systems. 

 

Disaster Preparedness Consultant - National Emergency Telecom Plans and Mobile Early Warning 

 

 Vacancy notice no: 1152 
Sector: BDT
Department: DNS
Country of contract: Remote
Duty station: Home Based

 

 Position number: [[positionNumber]] 
Grade: [[PositionGrade]] 
Type of contract: Roster
Duration of contract: Varies from 15 to 80 working days
Recruitment open to: External
Application deadline (Midnight Geneva Time): 31 December 2024

 

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT

 

The Telecommunication Development Bureau (BDT) is responsible for the organization and coordination of the work of the Telecommunication Development Sector (ITU-D) of the Union which deals mainly with ICT-focused development policies, strategies and programmes, as well as technical cooperation activities, to promote digital inclusion and drive digital transformation at community, country and regional levels. To effectively and efficiently serve the needs of ITU members, BDT is organized into four functional areas:

• Office of the Deputy to the Director and Field Operations Coordination Department
• Partnerships for Digital Development Department
• Digital Networks & Society Department
• Digital Knowledge Hub Department

The Digital Networks & Society Department is responsible for BDT activities in the areas of spectrum management, network development, cybersecurity and emergency telecommunications. This department is also responsible for supporting ITU Member States in their transition to digital societies by providing tools and guidelines to address environmental challenges (in particular, climate change and e-waste), and for promoting innovation, ICT applications/services, digital inclusion and ecosystems, with the ultimate goal to 'leave no one behind'.

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 need 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 setting up 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, 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 communities have requested ITU’s support in identifying the opportunities of ICTs for disaster management, and in helping them develop their national emergency telecommunication plans.

In March 2023, the UN’s launched 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 ‘Warning Dissemination and Communication’ – a critical component of early warning systems that ensures alerts reach the people at risk in time to take action. The action plan also specifically references GSMA and MNOs and calls for the promotion of the implementation o