World Bank - Seismic Risk Assessment Expert (Consultancy) Urban and Disaster Risk Management, Europe & Central Asia Region

I. Assignment Details

• Starting date: ASAP
• Assignment duration: until June 30, 2017 (with high possibility for multiple year engagement)
• Number of days: Minimum 30 days until June 2017. For following years, 90 to 150 days per fiscal year, depending on expertise of candidate and business portfolio.
• Location: Home-based, with mission trips to Central Asia.

II. Background

Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region is prone to a wide range of adverse natural events, such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, droughts, strong winds, and storms. Vulnerability to disasters increased as urbanization and development led to the occupation of areas exposed to natural hazards, and is further exacerbated by climate change.

The ECA region has been promoting a proactive and strategic approach to managing disaster risk. The underlying thrust has been that both loss of life and the economic impact of disasters can be reduced by advanced planning and investments. In order to pursue this goal, the Global Practice for Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience of the World Bank has been engaging with and supporting clients in key areas of the disaster risk management (DRM) framework, concentrating on the following elements: (i) disaster risk assessments at the regional and country level by analyzing the vulnerability and potential effects and impact of disasters; (ii) enhancing client capabilities in monitoring and forecasting of natural hazards by supporting modernization of hydro-meteorological services and creating effective operational links with emergency management authorities; (iii) mitigating risk through investments in flood risk protection, seismic risk retrofitting or reconstruction, improvements in building codes, and land-use planning incorporating the knowledge of disaster-prone zones; (iv) enhancing disaster preparedness through support to emergency response functions, emergency management coordination, emergency communication and information systems, and raising public awareness; (v) catastrophe risk financing through introduction of innovative risk transfer tools, such catastrophe risk insurance; and, (vi) supporting resilient recovery, that is, recovery and reconstruction efforts that follow the principle of “build back better” rather than recreating the original risk.

Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice assists clients through lending (including sector investment loans), implementation support (supervision), knowledge, technical assistance, and advisory services.

III. Assignment Description

To work as the Seismic Risk Assessment Expert at the World Bank to assist the Task Team Leader(s) of ECA DRM team through:

• Understanding and providing rapid analysis of seismic events in ECA region;
• Providing technical guidance and inputs during preparation and implementation of seismic hazard and risk assessments to government clients;
• Explaining the value and importance of seismic hazard and risk assessments to government clients;
• Explaining the key steps and process, data requirements, challenges, implementation arrangements of seismic hazard and risk assessments to government clients;
• Developing terms of references for seismic hazard and risk assessments in consultation with government clients under the supervision of Task Team Leaders, considering purpose of the assessments, preliminary research findings on availability of hazard, exposure and vulnerability datasets, facilities and infrastructure to be prioritized, appropriate geographical scale, etc.;
• Providing technical guidance and support for supervision of the implementation of seismic hazard and risk assessments;
• Reviewing technical reports of the outcomes of seismic hazard and risk assessments to verify if they are technically sound;
• Preparing reports, presentations, brochures, guidance notes, etc. related to seismic hazard and risk assessments for meetings, seminars, forums etc.; and,
• Other relevant tasks requested by the Task Team Leader(s). These support could be remotely or be part of a mission to Central Asia.

IV. Consultant Qualifications and Competencies

• Master’s degree in earthquake/civil engineering, seismology or other related discipline;
• At least 5 years of professional experience or equivalent combination of education and professional experience on DRM and seismic hazard and risk assessments;
• Demonstrated familiarity and work experience on DRM and seismic hazard and risk assessments. Experience in seismic risk assessments for transport sector an advantage;
• Good knowledge of Central Asia context;
• Strong organizational, research, and oral presentation skills;
• Ability to develop and deliver multiple tasks against strict deadlines and work independently; and;
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills in English. Fluency in Russian an advantage.