Disaster risk management specialist (climate change adaptation)

Purpose

Support coordination and monitoring of ADB's policies and strategies pertaining to climate change adaptation (CCA), disaster risk reduction (DRR), and climate change/disaster risk financing, support regional departments in implementing ADB’s integrated disaster risk management (IDRM) model, with a focus on CCA-DRR linkages and development, ensure high quality of all CCA-DRR sector products and technical excellence, and help in strengthening links between the Asia Pacific region and global CCA-DRR networks and partnerships, particularly in the areas of sector-based CCA-DRR, disaster risk financing, environmental governance, and community-based CCA-DRR.

ADB is initiating an Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRM) framework that combines disaster risk reduction with elements of climate change adaptation and disaster risk financing to provide support to its developing member countries in building up their DRM capacities. The Climate Change Adaptation Specialist (Disaster Risk Management) is expected to play a substantial role in developing the IDRM framework, especially the CCA-DDR linkages.

Expected outcomes

Policies, strategies and frameworks

• Monitor the application and implementation of ADB's climate change adaptation strategies and disaster and emergency assistance policy (DEAP) and practices
• Support the development, promotion and implementation of an Integrated Disaster Risk Management (IDRM) framework, especially the CCA-DRR linkages, within ADB.

Operational advice and support

• Lead the development of CCA-DRR linkages within an IDRM framework, including
• guidance and support to RSDD, regional departments and resident mission staff on country and sector approaches to strengthening CCA-DRR linkages appropriate for individual DMCs;
• support regional departments to identify and develop CCA-DRR interventions at country, regional and sector level;
• support regional departments in the development of CCA-DRR programs and projects;
• conduct outreach activities with other interested stakeholders to consolidate and coordinate ADB’s CCA-DRR program approach; (v) take responsibility for the development, coordination and implementation of risk profiling requirements including exposure and vulnerability data on specific hazards for relevant DMCs;
• support the development of probabilistic risk assessments to assist in the evaluation of risks in public investments, and of the costs and benefits in reducing risk
• take responsibility for managing consultants associated with CCA-DRR programs.

Develop an approach for environmental governance for CCA-DRR as a component of the IDRM framework by, amongst other activities

• initiating policy guidance for regional departments and resident missions on environment/ecosystem management within a CCA-DRM perspective,
- including CCA-DRR options and
- environmentally sensitive recovery and reconstruction planning; 
- identification of ecosystem-based resilience alternatives;
- scenario-based modeling for trend analysis of
- environmental degradation on natural risk buffering systems and
- ecosystem-based resilience solutions for improving natural risk buffering;
- valuation of ecosystem services to improve cost-benefits analysis for CCA-DRR;
- explore city and catchment area planning for CCA-DRR.

Provide support and guidance for a disaster risk financing component within an IDRM framework, including

• advice on innovative risk financing options and approaches to manage natural hazard risk, and
• determining DMC readiness to adopt DRF programs within a CCA-DRR context.
• Provide support and guidance, and in coordination with ADB’s NGO and Civil Society Center, the development and implementation of a community-based DRM (CBDRM) approach, by amongst other activities:
- development of community advocacy for risk-sensitive development through legal and governance mechanisms at local, national and regional levels;
- aggregating community risk assessments for district and national planning;
- developing community action planning for CCA and disaster recovery;
- developing social development funds for CCA and DRR.
•Provide support and guidance in identifying approaches and incentives that can lead to increased investment of public and private resources in CCA-DRR, within the context of IDRM, in DMCs.
•Provide support and guidance to regional department and resident mission staff on
• CCA-DRR, as part of IDRM, as part of the Country Partnership Strategies (CPS)/CPS mid-term progress reviews, (ii) processing of loan and TA projects,
• implementing CCA-DRR and emergency assistance projects, and
• developing climate change implementation plans (CCIP); participating in missions when required.
• Provide support in developing DMC country profiles.
• Provide support to Management and senior staff at key emergency assistance fora; prepare sector briefing notes for Management and the Board, as required.

Knowledge generation and sharing

• Strengthen global and regional partnerships and inter-agency relations; assist in the development of public-private-civil society partnerships which may require preparation, processing and administration of interregional knowledge products and services (KPS) to support this cooperation; and represent ADB as necessary at key international meetings; prepare and deliver presentations that highlight ADB's work.
• Enhance ADB's IDRM framework, particularly with respect to disaster risk financing, and disaster risk management and climate change adaptation (CCA) links.
• Assist in the development and dissemination of knowledge products that further the understanding of issues and solutions pertaining to underlying risk drivers.
• Assist in the identification and implementation of training programs in disaster risk financing for ADB staff as part of ADB's staff development program; organize internal and external training and briefing sessions on relevant topics; and share information on conferences and training opportunities.

Staff supervision

• Provide leadership and support to reporting staff.
• Supervise the performance of reporting staff, providing clear direction and regular monitoring and feedback on performance.
• Ensure the ongoing learning and development of reporting staff.

Education requirements

Master’s degree, or equivalent, in Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, or Natural Resource Management or related fields. University degree in Social Sciences, Public Administration, Economics, or Natural Resource Management or related fields, combined with specialized experience in similar organization/s, may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Relevant Experience

• Suitability to undertake the responsibilities mentioned above at the required level.
• At least 8 years of relevant professional experience in DMCs with good knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of disaster risk financing.
• Proven analytical, conceptual and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills.International experience working in several countries.

Core competencies

Application of technical knowledge and skills

• Regularly shares knowledge on new international best practice trends in comparator situations
• Proactively applies relevant international best practices to own work
• Convinces others to adopt international best practice by explaining the situational relevance and benefits

Client orientation

• Helps colleagues work effectively with clients in different contexts and from diverse backgrounds and country situations
• Adapts own approach and style when interacting with clients, as opposed to requiring them to adapt
• Draws upon international best practice in exploring solutions with clients
• Confirms the clients’ understanding and agreement before progressing

Achieving results and problem solving

• Draws on own and others’ multi-country experience to identify viable courses of action when conducting analyses
• Helps internal and external clients achieve quality results beyond presenting problems and precedent
• Highlights possible solutions for project issues based on relevant multi-country and/or multi-client experience
• Regularly contributes insights and experiences to colleagues in the Division to help them achieve quality results
• Overcomes unexpected difficulties and challenges to produce desired outcomes

Working together

• Maintains collaborative relationships within the Department
• Works effectively with diverse colleagues in own and other Divisions and Departments
• Flexibly alters positions and adjusts previously stated points of view to support the group consensus
• Follows through on team priorities in the absence of a team leader
• Communication and Knowledge Sharing
• Checks the audience’s level of understanding and awareness of required follow up actions
• Consistently seeks and addresses feedback on own performance
• Creates knowledge products endorsed for wider distribution based on lessons and multi-country experience
• Independently amends and clarifies messages and documents

Innovation and change

• Actively supports work improvement and/or organizational change by work and deed
• Develops and adopts change plans to support Division initiatives on which one works
• Considers current and future client needs in proposing ideas
• Vocalizes early support for change
• Recommends inputs to new policies, systems and processes in immediate work area

Reporting relationships / other information

• Supervisor: Director, Public Management, Governance, and Participation (RSGP)
• The following staff positions may be supervised by the incumbent:
• Administrative Staff
• National Staff

Women are encouraged to apply.