Mission and objectives

As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is centred around six core development areas, known as our signature solutions: poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy and gender equality. The overarching frame of UNDP’s work on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and recovery is risk-informed development. Through four interconnected workstreams, UNDP works towards strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerabilities by increasing risk governance capacity, refining and expanding the understanding of DRR, fostering access to risk information and enhancing prevention, preparedness and recovery processes. UNDP pursues a holistic, conflict sensitive, whole-of-government and -society, gender transformative approach that leaves no one behind. The four areas of work comprise: 1) Integrated Risk Governance: Strengthened disaster and climate risk governance capacities that set incentives for risk reduction and resilience building (Sendai Priority 2) 2) Climate and Disaster Risk Information: Increased access to and application of climate and disaster risk information to support risk-informed development (Sendai Priority 1) 3) Sustainable Recovery: Enhanced recovery assessment, planning and preparedness capacities that ensure resilience after disasters (Sendai Priority 4) 4) Early Warning, Preparedness and Anticipation: Strengthened early warning and preparedness systems and capacities to support early action of affected populations (Sendai Priority 4) For more information, please visit: https://www.sparkblue.org/dashboard/disaster-risk-reduction

Context

Urban Resilience and Risk Management As cities worldwide face mounting threats from climate change—including water scarcity, heatwaves, flooding, and environmental degradation—urban resilience is more critical than ever. UNDP’s Resilient Urban Futures initiative focuses on risk-informed urban development and resilience-building interventions by helping cities assess risks, identify resilience needs, and implement inclusive, gender-sensitive disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) solutions. #BeatTheHeat Crowdfunding Campaign The UNDP “Beat the Heat” Crowdfunding Campaign embraces a community-driven approach to mitigating extreme heat impacts and building climate resilience. Through collaboration with schools, community organizations, businesses, and local authorities, the campaign aims to develop context-specific solutions to reduce heatwave and urban heat island effects. In partnership with global, national, and local stakeholders, UNDP is launching “Beat the Heat” in Dhanghadi, India, and Skopje, North Macedonia, focusing on protecting vulnerable groups—especially children, the elderly, and women—from extreme heat. The campaign will support the city’s resilience efforts by: 1. Launching a mobile app to provide heat alerts, advisories to mitigate impact and the routes to avoid or take – potential benefit to the entire city population and visitors. 2. Creating green canopies around schools, hospitals, public places like markets, bus stops etc. – potential benefit to about 10,000 students and public with implementation of at least 5 green canopies to begin with. 3. Setting-up water coolers near public hotspots such as bus stops, markets, hospitals etc. to be operated and maintained by local communities and businesses – potential benefit to about 10,000 people with at least 5 water coolers operated and maintained by local community/market organizations. 4. Planting all-weather trees around schools, hospitals, markets, bus stops and other public places – potential long-term benefit to local communities and help contribute to fight against climate change.

Task Description

UNDP is seeking online volunteer support to support communications and advocacy efforts for its Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience Team (DRT) based in Geneva to implement the Beat The Heat Crowdfunding Campaign. The volunteer will receive feedback on their collaboration and quality of work and a certificate of appreciation upon successful completion of the assignment. The volunteer will support the development of engaging written and visual content linked to the campaign in Dhanghadi, Nepal, and Skopje, North Macedonia in form of – developing one human interest story, blog post, article bi-weekly (total over 12 weeks: 5-6) – developing 2-3 social media posts per week (total over 12 weeks: 24-36).

Competencies and values

Living conditions and remarks

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements