Individual contractor: Guidance on resilience in urban planning and investments

ISDR/IC/08/13

United Nations Core Values: Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity

Background:

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, UNISDR has around 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNISDR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and empower people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, and for increased and informed participation of men and women in reducing disaster risk; and informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools such as PreventionWeb, publications on good practices, and by leading the preparation of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Urban planning and design has a key role to play in defining the resilience of a city or urban area. By 2050, it is estimated that two thirds of the global population will reside in urban areas.  The higher concentration of people and economic activities in urban centres can increase disaster risks and risks to extreme climate events, exacerbated by the uncertainty of changes in intensity and frequency as a consequence of climate change. Sound urban planning and design can address some of the underlying risk factors linked to natural hazards and related technological and other disasters, as well as reduce the exposure of people and assets, and their degree of vulnerability, in the context of rapid urbanization.

The Hyogo Framework for Action and the Making Cities Resilient Campaign stress the importance of urban planning in addressing hazard risk. Several studies and guidelines for planners touch upon these issues, including some recent reports (GAR09, GAR11, 2012 Making Cities Resilient Report) that start to unpack the challenges that urban planning faces when confronted with disaster risks. These include:

· Making safe land available for building; 2
· Addressing infrastructure deficits;
· Developing and implementing equitable regulations for building and planning;
· Linking urban planning to post-disaster recovery.

II. Project Aim

The project aims to contribute to the development of principles and guidance to incorporate disaster resilience into urban planning and management; strengthen synergies between municipal governments, the planning profession, hazard scientists, civil society, businesses, and urban residents, and; increase the capacity of planners to consider disaster risks in plan-making, implementation and land-use management through building a module for training of planners, and a forum for planners to further develop these skills based on good practices in cities.

III. Deliverables and Milestones

1. Prepare inputs for the resource mobilization efforts to the Campaign and urban resilience programme of UNISDR and corresponding draft project proposal to be presented to existing and prospective donors.
2. Collect documents and manage the Urban Planning Working Group (UPWG) dedicated online workspace, including updating materials, members’ lists and managing weekly dialogue reports to be linked to the Making Cities Resilient Website and the Prevention Web collection of urban planning and DRR “digest”.
3. Research for and prepare ONE Case Study of a city planning process and share the findings with University College London (UCL) to be incorporated into the overall report.
4. Produce an interim report on the achievements of the Urban Planning Working group and project to date to be circulated internally in UNISDR and as input to the donor reports, as well as, presentations, and other ‘profile raising’ events and opportunities.
5. Coordinate and edit the final report based on the submission of the report by the University Colleague of London.
6. Write a press release/Web Story – work in coordination with UNISDR Communication team to produce at least one press release and one web story based on case studies results and the final report.

Competencies:

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Qualifications:

Education: Advanced university degree ( Master’s degree or equivalent) in communication, journalism, international relations, public administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience :

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in public information, journalism, international relations, public administration or related area.

Languages: Fluency in English ( oral and written) is required.