Risk assessment specialist

Purpose and objectives

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and expanded its role to be for scientific, educational, developmental and humanitarian purposes. ADPC employs a wide range of professional expertise typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner.

ADPC develops and implements cross-sectoral projects/programs on the strategic themes of risk governance, urban resilience, climate resilience, health risk management, preparedness for response and resilient recovery. Our strategic themes are complemented and underpinned by the cross-cutting themes of gender and diversity, regional and transboundary cooperation as well as poverty and livelihoods.

Through its work, ADPC supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the agenda defined at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, and other relevant international frameworks

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

The Geospatial Information (GEO) Department supports stakeholders to increase their uses of geospatial technology, data, and information for supporting decision making related to disaster risk management and climate resilience. The department supports all thematic areas of focus of ADPC to achieve their goals, mainly through:

• Increased accessibility and technical capacity to develop, maintain, and use geospatial information including disaster and climate risk maps, forecasted and real-time disaster data for early warning, and damage data for post-disaster assessment and recovery planning,
• Increased awareness by decision makers on applications of geospatial information in disaster risk management and climate resilience decision making, and
• Geospatial solutions, such as maps, tools, models, and data, customized to the demands of stakeholders

The GEO Department anticipates a project on Addressing Climate and El Niño-related Risks in Southeast Asia, with pilots in Lao PDR and Indonesia, aiming to create high-quality geospatial data, vulnerability, and risk information products to support risk-informed and climate-smart decision-making in development cooperation and disaster risk management (DRM) for pilot areas in the 2 countries.

ADPC and the GEO Department are seeking a qualified Risk Assessment Specialist to support delivery of the outputs for the project mentioned above.

Expected outputs

The following outputs are expected from the assignment:

1. Verifications of geospatial products (GIS file formats, digital project files, map layouts, imagery etc.) of the project to ensure that the products have an operational value for subnational authorities and field implementers;
2. Subject-matter-expert inputs into strategic recommendations and a guideline for an integration of GIS, remote sensing, and AI into field-based disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation initiatives;
3. Subject-matter-expert inputs into workshop and training reports;

Scope of work

The consultant will:

• Identify the project’s key stakeholders in Indonesia, at the national level as well as at the local levels where the project sites are located; Lead the Indonesian stakeholder engagement efforts throughout the project;
• Develop a methodology, together with ADPC and its technical partner, for a preliminary high-level risk assessment; the results of this preliminary risk assessment will identify the specific areas for interventions;
• Support the technical partner of ADPC in developing a methodology and an algorithm for developing detailed hazard susceptibility indexes, using high resolution satellite imageries and various accessible remote sensing data, as well as socio-economic indicators and risk indices;
• Lead all on-site workshops, meetings, and training conducted in Indonesia; Participate in the events in Lao PDR as well as the regional events as requested by the supervisor;
• Join high-level meetings with the ASEAN Secretariat, the Indonesian Government, and the funding agency in Indonesia as requested by the supervisor;
• Coordinate activities and regularly liaise with key technical partners, representatives of the funding agency, and government counterparts in Indonesia;
• Facilitate collection of the data identified by the project implementation team;
• Travel to the projects’ pilot sites, tentatively West Sumatra province (particularly Padang Panjang) – the sites are subjected to the consultations with stakeholders;
• Act as a representative of ADPC in Indonesia for project related activities, as requested by the supervisor;

Working principles

The Consultant will report to the Director of the Geospatial Information Department of ADPC, while working closely with other specialists of the department.

Qualifications

The Consultant is expected to possess the following qualifications.

• At least 12 years of professional experience in conducting and leading disaster risk assessment undertakings;
• Experience in conducting GIS analysis for disaster risk assessment;
• Experience working with a variety of stakeholders and partners related to disaster risk assessments and risk-based action plans;
• Exemplary English writing and editing skills;
• Strong research skills;
• Work experience in Southeast Asian Countries considered favorably;
• Fluency in Bahasa Indonesia considered favorably.

Duty station

Home-based, with occasional travels to pilot sites in Indonesia as well as to regional meetings in Thailand

Duration

The duration of this assignment will be for 12 months, starting on 10 March 2024 and ending on 9 March 2025 – on a part-time basis. The duration may be extendable subjected to satisfactory completion of the assignment and subjected to the needs and fund availability.

Itinerary

The assignment may require travels to pilot sites in Indonesia. ADPC will bear the cost of those travels, subject to approvals of the supervisor.

Condition of payment

The consultant will be paid on a monthly basis. The payments will be made based on approvals of monthly timesheets.

How to apply

Interested Candidates can submit the completed ADPC application form, (downloadable from www.adpc.net), resume, copy of degrees/certificate(s) together with a cover letter, to [email protected]

Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

ADPC encourage diversity in its workplace and support an inclusive work environment.