Climate Resilience Technical Associate (Bangladesh)

A. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC):

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 diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences to support sustainable solutions for risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas. ADPC has over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise - from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner. ADPC is a competent regional resource center and has seven thematic departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees.

ADPC Strategy 2020 guides the organization in providing comprehensive risk reduction support to countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change and regional cooperation.

With financial support from the World Bank Group, ADPC is implementing a five-year (2020-2025) project, titled “Climate Adaptation and Resilience Project (CARE) for South Asia”. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to create an enabling environment for climate resilience policies and investments in selected sectors (Agriculture, Policy, Planning and Finance, Transport and Water) across South Asia. This objective will be achieved through enhanced regional cooperation and knowledge exchange for climate resilience and adaptation and mainstreaming of resilience and adaptation in national policies, plans, and investments.

For details, please refer to ADPC website.

B. Background

Disasters take a huge toll on the development agenda of South Asian countries. Between 2000 and 2017, disasters in South Asia incurred estimated damages of US$ 149.27 billion. Public expenditure is under stress by the repeated need to reallocate capital budgets away from long term development planning and towards reconstruction activities in post-disaster environments. For example, since 2005, Pakistan has suffered losses on the order of US$ 16 billion due to natural disasters. In Bangladesh, the 2007 Cyclone Sidr resulted in damages and losses of US$1.7 billion or 2.6 percent of GDP.

Bangladesh faces a wide range of climate-related impacts that have severe consequences for its population and sectors, particularly agriculture and water resources. The country experiences a high occurrence of extreme weather events, such as cyclones and floods, which have devastating impacts on infrastructure, agriculture, and human lives. These challenges demand urgent action to enhance resilience and adapt to the changing climate.

To increase resilience and achieve climate commitments, there is a need for a transformational shift toward policies and institutions that enable climate-resilient investments. Investing in more resilient infrastructure is both profitable and urgent as disruptions are extremely costly for governments, households and the private sector and large ongoing investments in infrastructure assets will have long-lasting repercussions as poor maintenance and natural disasters result in a vulnerable stock.

The Climate Resilience Technical Associate will be hired with the objective to support the country project team to smoothly implement the project and assist in contributing to an enabling environment for climate-resilient policies and investments in select sectors through the project activities identified by the Sector Focal Points in Bangladesh.

Accordingly, a qualified and motivated Technical Associate will be required to support the Junior Research Associate and the country team for the in-country implementation of Component-2 activities of the project.

C. Statement of Intent

The Climate Resilience Technical Associate will play a supporting role in the program’s presence in Bangladesh to ensure technical coordination support to the country team. He/She will help ensure that projects are executed efficiently and effectively, adhering to technical specifications and timelines. It includes creating and maintaining technical documentation, and project management activities.

Note:

It is not the intent of this Terms of Reference to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibilities.

D. Duties and Responsibilities

The Associate shall provide the following inputs:

• Assist in maintaining accurate and up-to-date technical documentation is crucial for the project's implementation.
• Assist the Junior Research Associate (JRA) in organizing, updating, and archiving technical documentation related to the project activities including project plans, technical specifications, manuals, guidelines, and other relevant documents
• Archiving technical outputs, providing technical assistance to team members, and maintaining technical documentation for all products developed by the project team in the country.
• Support ADPC and JRA in project-related activities under CARE for South Asia in the country to enhance policies, standards, and capacity for climate-resilient development in Bangladesh.
• Perform other relevant tasks as assigned by the Project Director.

E. Expected Output/s

The Associate is required to assist ADPC in performing technical assistance for the technical delivery of outputs related to the CARE for South Asia project in Bangladesh including but not limited to technical reports, operational documents, communication materials, and information packs, etc.

F. Qualifications

The associate must have experience in providing technical and/or policy advisory on disaster risk management and/or climate change adaptation work. The detailed qualifications are:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in environmental studies, disaster management, development studies, international relations, social sciences or a relevant field;
• A minimum of 2 years of experience in conducting research and analytical work in similar role is required;
• Knowledge of international and national Climate Change Acts, Policies and Frameworks such as the Bangladesh’s Nationally Determined Contribution (BD-NDC), would be an advantage;
• Proven record of strong research and analytical skills are required;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Knowledge of written and spoken Bangla is required;
• A Bangladeshi national based in Dhaka would be preferred;
• Work experience in South Asia, particularly in Bangladesh is not required but preferred;
• Cross cultural awareness and ability to work amongst a diverse group of staff, and partners;
• Required computer proficiencies: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams.

G. Reporting Relationship

The Associate will report to the Project Director and work in close coordination with the country team.

H. Contract Duration

The contract duration will be for 12 months with a possibility of extension based on the satisfactory performance and requirements of the assignment.

Expected start and end dates: TBD

I. Selection Method

The consultant will be selected in accordance with ADPC’s recruitment process and in compliance with the World Bank Procurement Regulations.

How to apply

Interested Candidates can submit the completed ADPC application form, (downloadable from ‘Join us’ in www.adpc.net), resume, copy of degrees/certificate(s) together with a cover letter, to: procurement.care@adpc.net

For inquiries, please contact to procurement.care@adpc.net

Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

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