National disaster reduction consultant

Background

In 2007, the World Bank, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) initiated the South Eastern Europe Disaster Risk Mitigation and Adaptation Programme, which is built on three components:
-Risk assessment;
-the strengthening of Hydro-meteorological services; and
-the mitigation of financial effects of natural hazards.

Beneficiary countries include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo (as defined by UNSCR 1244/99), the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. During the first phase of the project, fact finding surveys and desk-top studies were performed to obtain information needed for the development of relevant projects. A number of reports were produced. Based on these reports and consultations with countries, WMO and UNDP developed, in parallel, two complementary proposals that were funded by the EC Directorate General for Enlargement. These projects have been initiated in March 2009.
The overall objective of WMO “Regional Cooperation in South Eastern Europe for meteorological, hydrological and climate data management and exchange to support Disaster Risk Reduction” project is to reduce the vulnerability of South Eastern Europe to natural hazards, and address losses of life, property and economic productivity caused by weather extremes and other natural hazards.

The specific objectives are two-fold:
1. improve basic systems for hydro-meteorological forecasting, data sharing that underpin early warning systems for weather and climate related hazards and extreme events;
2. improve the capacity (technical, human and institutional) of the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) in SEE to acquire, assimilate, exchange and disseminate data and information on a range of hydro-meteorological hazards and extreme weather and climate events as a basic first step towards an effective risk management involving risk assessment, risk reduction, risk transfer to reduce the impacts of natural hazards on lives and livelihoods. This process will include all stakeholders with disaster risk reduction mandates and competencies.

The overall objective of UNDP “Regional Programme on Disaster Risk Reduction in South East Europe” is to reduce the risk of disasters associated with natural hazards in the Western Balkans and Turkey, in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action, by building the capacity of national and local authorities in promoting a coordinated approach in disaster risk reduction.

The specific objective is to increase the regional disaster risk reduction cooperation in South East Europe, and to promote the harmonization of their disaster risk reduction methodologies, plans, and strategies in order to pave the way for the eventual preparation of a harmonized and mutually accepted regional disaster risk reduction strategy.

Within this context, UNDP and WMO will undertake joint consultancy in order to set the basis for and support implementation of the following activities:

-WMO Activity 1.1:
National Policy Dialogues – integrating NMHS into DRR national platforms and planning
-WMO Activity 1.4:
Regional consultation towards a regional approach to DRR in South-East Europe
-UNDP Activity 1.3:
Technical support to facilitate the process of eventual integration of DRR into development plans and strategies
-UNDP Activity 2.1:
Technical support to National Platforms and other Coordination mechanisms
-UNDP Activity 2.2:
Training Event/National Policy Dialogues for National Platform Establishment
-UNDP Activity4.2:
Production of Capacity Development Strategies.

Duties and responsibilities

In order to assist the UNDP and WMO in the process of a conducting a joint assessment of the region, UNDP and WMO intend to hire one national disaster risk reduction consultant to perform country needs assessment together with a team of international consultants (one UNDP consultant and one WMO consultant), and in cooperation with a National Meteorological and Hydrological Service (NMHS), disaster risk management authorities and other relevant stakeholders in his/her country, in order to support the discussions of the National Policy Dialogues, National Platforms, and DRR mainstreaming.

The national consultant will join the team of consultants in order to perform assessment of the state of DRR integration in the national development strategies and plans, assessment of the national Early Warning System (EWS), as well as assessment of the DRR institutional, technical, financial and human resource capacities. Hence, the consultant’s task will be to offer recommendations for developing proposals for EWS development and regional DRR road-map. The assessment should result in final report and proposals for EWS development and Regional DRR road-map. The duration of the consultancy assignment is for the period mid-November 2009 to 31 June 2010. Payment will be made upon certification that services under the terms of the contract have been satisfactorily performed.

Prior to the commencement of the consultancy the incumbent is required to submit a detailed work plan including a list of the institutions he/she intends to consult. Detailed work plan is to be submitted within 15 days from the start of the contract. The incumbent’s duties are as outlined below, and are to be fulfilled in line with prevailing UNDP/WMO rules, procedures and with due respect given to the UNDP and WMO internal control framework. The incumbent will ensure consultation with UNDP Country Office and WMO including existing disaster risk management authorities and other stakeholders (such as seismic institutes, line ministries of sectors most vulnerable to impacts of natural hazards, local governments, NGOs, etc.).

Perform country needs assessment together with a UNDP and a WMO consultant, and in cooperation with NMHS, disaster risk management authorities and other relevant stakeholders, in order to support the discussions of the National Policy Dialogues, National Platforms, and DRR mainstreaming (mid-November to mid-February 2009).

Specifically, it is expected that the consultant would deliver the following:
-Review of the existing national development plans and strategies (through a consultative process with the national DRR authorities, and desk reviews, as appropriate), particularly pertaining to the degree of DRR integration into these mentioned documents and the gaps and needs related to the DRR mainstreaming into national policies, strategies and plans,
-Analysis of the national to local disaster risk management plans, procedures, and protocols, and coordination mechanisms, particularly pertaining to the details of national early warning systems and identifying overlaps, gaps and needs in the existing system,
-Review of disaster risk management related legislation and legal frameworks on local and national level (if existing) particularly pertaining to the enforcement of mandates, procedures, and protocols during an emergency situation, which define duties, responsibilities, and tasks of institutions/organisations in question, including any gaps and weaknesses,
-Analysis of DRR developments and trends of National Platforms and/or other coordination mechanisms for disaster management, focusing upon their institutional, technical, financial and human resource capacities, strategic planning, IT and GIS tools usage, online or offline data sharing mechanisms, operational gaps, and need for technical support,
-Analysis of the state of disaster risk identification and assessment at national level, including any existing disaster related data collection mechanisms (on hazards, exposure and vulnerability levels), and recommendations for further actions required for disaster prevention and mitigation,
-Analysis of institutional, technical and human resource capacities related to the scope and implementation of the DRR and early warning system strategies, legislative frameworks and plans, including identification of the relevant gaps and needs;
-Identification of any existing land-use planning strategies, including relations between national and entity (federal unit) level studies such as micro zoning to local level planning, and their relation to risk identification, assessment, and reduction activities at each level;
-Identification of the public information management and exchange on disaster risk and protection options, with the aim of increasing the level of disaster preparedness;
-Identification of any existing financial tools on disaster management loss estimation and mapping;
-Identification of any established partnership at national level among DRR related stakeholders, including existence of any common policies/strategies/action plans, as well as networking and data sharing mechanisms on seismic and other data networks;
-Identification of priority areas for regional cooperation to support national technical capacities in disaster risk reduction and early warning systems.

National needs assessment by will be performed in line with Global Risk Identification Methodology (GRIP) for damage and needs assessment.

The series of analysis will result in a report that will produce preliminary findings and recommendations concerning the development of policy, early warning systems, contingency planning, and the development of capacities of the relevant institutions. The report will also serve as the basis for UNDP and WMO’s technical support to National Platforms and provision of national platform trainings that are scheduled in the period between March-May 2010.

Based on a series of analysis performed together with a UNDP and a WMO consultant, and in cooperation with NMHS, disaster risk management authorities and other relevant stakeholders, the consultant is expected to deliver the following:
1. Offer substantial support to international consultants’ team in development of the preliminary draft of the regional report;
2. Support the organisation of a National Policy Dialogue Forum and a National Platform Training Workshop, in cooperation with UNISDR, UNDP Country Office and national counterparts;

The preliminary draft report will be used as a basis for discussions of the National Policy Dialogue forum and a National Platform training workshop that will be organised jointly by UNDP, WMO and UNISDR in the period between 1st March and 31 May 2010. The policy dialogue is designed to bring together key players at national level in Disaster Risk Management, Civil Protection actors, National Meteorological and Hydrological Services as well as representatives from Planning, Finance Ministries and other line ministries of sectors most vulnerable to impacts of natural hazards. The National Policy Dialogues will include the presentation and interactive discussion of the report key findings including the national strategy in disaster risk management and institutional coordination mechanisms, major gaps and needs for institutional development for cooperation, and support to development of national platforms and early warning systems.

Present key findings of the series of analysis at the workshop:
During the workshop, the results of the analysis carried out by consultants will be presented and discussed. The consultant will offer support to discussion of findings and recommendations of the preliminary draft of the national report with stakeholders to obtain their input and develop a final national report proposing the development of early warning system and DRR policies, plans and coordination mechanisms (by end June 2010).

Competencies

Corporate:
-Plans, prioritizes, and delivers tasks on time;
-Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
-Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others
-Generates ideas and seizes opportunities to support corporate strategic objectives
-Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
-Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP.
-Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
-Treats all people fairly without favouritism.

Managerial:
-Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
-Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
Behavioural:
-Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent, and credible behaviour.
-Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork.
-Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies.

Functional:
-In-depth knowledge of disaster risk reduction (including the global and regional disaster risk reduction systems);
-In-depth knowledge of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA);
-Understanding of International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction principles;
-In-depth knowledge of disaster risk management policy, plans and legal frameworks on local and national level, and DRR national coordination mechanisms;
-In-depth knowledge of national DRR context, developments in disaster risk reduction, and relevant institutional context;
-Understanding of public information management and financial tools in disaster risk management,
-Knowledge of regional cooperation mechanisms in SEE;
-Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
-Demonstrated analytical skills to identify, obtain and synthesize information from various sources and formulate objectives and conclusions;
-Demonstrated skills in planning and producing high quality results to meet established goals.
-Demonstrated skills in generating innovative, practical solutions to challenging situations
-Demonstrated capacity in writing clearly and persuasively.
-Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to liaise effectively with government officials, regional partners and representatives of international organizations.

Managerial:
-Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
-Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Behavioural:
-Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent, and credible behaviour;
-Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
-Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies.

Required skills and experience

Education:
-Masters degree in disaster risk management, or a similar field related to civil protection, business administration and/or development studies.

Experience:
-Minimum 7 years experience in the area of disaster risk reduction and/or management;
-Excellent knowledge of the national DRR context;
-Solid knowledge of the SEE region and the related DRR issues;
-Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to liaise effectively with government officials and representatives of international organizations;
-Excellent communication, drafting and presentation skills.
-Good records with the DRR key national institutions

Language requirements:
-Excellent verbal and written knowledge of albanian/serbian language.
-Solid verbal and written english skills are a requirement.