Disaster Risk Reduction Associate Officer, Bangkok

Description of assignment title

Disaster Risk Reduction Associate Officer

Assignment country

Thailand

Duty stations

Bangkok

Work location

On UN premises

Expected start date

12/15/2026

Duration

6 months

Sustainable Development Goal

1. No poverty

Host entity

UNDRR

Modality

Onsite

Type

International

Volunteer category

Associate UCoS from Apr2026

Work schedule

Full-time

Number of Assignments

1

Mission and objectives

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/ASG), UNDRR has over 150 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and in regional offices. UNDRR guides, monitors, analyses, and reports on progress in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. It supports regional and national implementation of the Framework, catalyzes 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

UNDRR is working closely with the Government of the People’s Republic of China through the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) and other partners in China. Hence, it would be very important to have a staff member who could support in strengthening the relationship with these counterparts. Enhanced partnership between UNDRR and China can make a significant difference to the achievement of the Sendai Framework in countries furthest behind. An enhanced China–UNDRR partnership supports the further integration of disaster risk reduction to build climate and disaster resilience across China’s international development cooperation, including the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Belt and Road cooperation, and the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Action Plan, among others. This helps link China’s disaster risk reduction priorities with UNDRR’s global mandate, regional presence, and technical platforms, while translating China’s experience in disaster prevention, emergency management, resilient infrastructure, and urban resilience into practical cooperation with partner countries. UNDRR also supports the all-of-government approach to disaster risk reduction espoused in the Sendai Framework by broadening engagement with relevant ministries, departments, and institutions in China.

Task description

Under the direct supervision of Programme Management Officer, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the UN Volunteer will undertake the following tasks:

Support in liaising with officials Government of People's Republic of China

UNDRR’s cooperation with China is longstanding, dating back to 2003. MEM is UNDRR’s principal counterpart in China and China’s focal point for implementation of the Sendai Framework. The current cooperation agreement provides an important foundation for collaboration. This comprises technical support for disaster risk reduction and emergency management in China, as well as support globally, including across Belt and Road partner countries. MEM supports UNDRR’s work with concrete impact across seven agreed areas:

1. strengthening risk knowledge and risk assessments.
2. advancing inclusive, end-to-end early warning systems linked to early action.
3. enhancing urban, rural and local resilience.
4. supporting recovery readiness.
5. promoting resilient infrastructure systems.
6. promotion of inclusion; and
7. building capacity through knowledge exchange, partnerships and international engagement.

These areas of partnership are aligned with the implementation of both UNDRR’s Strategic Framework and China’s GDI. The UN volunteer will play a key role in the strengthening MEM and UNDRR relationship by providing technical and programmatic inputs, especially building on his / her knowledge of China.

Participate in Collaboration with Chinese Academia

UNDRR’s collaboration with China extends to knowledge, research and academic partnerships, particularly through the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) programme and Beijing Normal University (BNU). Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR), co-sponsored by UNDRR and the International Science Council and supported by Chinese scientific institutions, provides a science-policy platform to advance interdisciplinary research, improve understanding of complex risks and support implementation of the Sendai Framework. In parallel, UNDRR and BNU renewed their memorandum of understanding for 2025–2027 to strengthen regional cooperation in generating new knowledge and applying science and technology for disaster risk reduction. More broadly, many Chinese academics and researchers contribute to UNDRR’s scientific networks and knowledge products, including the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction, work on integrated flood risk assessment, analysis of compounding and complex risks, and research on the links between disaster risk reduction and climate change. The UN Volunteer helping to support the DRR related research especially leveraging the learnings from the rich Chinese literature in this practice area.

Support in the proposed project on GLOF monitoring and early warning

The proposed project aims to reduce the loss of life, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure from glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in the transboundary Bhotekoshi River Basin on the China - Nepal border by establishing an integrated, science based early warning and risk management system. It will improve early detection, forecasting, and warning dissemination, strengthen institutional coordination, and enhance disaster preparedness and anticipatory action capacity in vulnerable communities, including through inclusive and accessible approaches that reach women, persons with disabilities, and other at-risk groups, thereby promoting climate and disaster resilience in the Basin. The UN Volunteer will support the programme management of project and also technical engagements with partners both in China and Nepal.

Eligibility criteria

Age

18 - 80

Required experience

1 month

Donor priorities

Nationality

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

Additional eligibility criteria

As this assignment is funded by CYVA, specific eligibility criteria apply. Candidates must be Chinese nationals affiliated with a university participating in CYVA’s programme.

Assignment requirements

Relevant experience

No experience required

Languages

English, Level: Working knowledge, Required

Chinese, Level: Fluent, Required

Required education level

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering; Economics and Management; Public Administration; International Relations; Climate Change or Environmental Studies; Disaster Risk Management; or other related fields

Competencies and values

• Accountability
• Client Orientation
• Planning and Organizing
• Professionalism

Skills and experience

Demonstrated interest and/or experience in:

• Disaster risk reduction
• Programme management
• Communication
• Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. stud-ies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded.

Skills in:

• Data analytics
• Working knowledge of artificial intelligence and machine learning

Area(s) of expertise

Communication, advocacy, public information, Energy

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

Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand, is generally considered a safe destination. However, it's essential to remain vigilant and aware of potential security risks. The security threat level for Bangkok is assessed as Level 2 (Low) and Level 1 (Minimal) for Samut Sakorn and Samut Songkhram Province.

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.

Note on Covid-19 vaccination requirements

Selected candidates for certain occupational groups may be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) in line with the applicable host entity policy

Scam warning

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