Consultant (regional expert - HFA implementation)

Background

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human and economic and social losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations. The main functions of the secretariat are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR, 18-22 January 2005, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan) took place and represents a landmark in worldwide understanding and commitment to implement a disaster risk reduction agenda. This commitment was captured in the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters adopted at the WCDR.

The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in the coming years and it constitutes an unprecedented conceptual shift that takes account of the complexity of action in disaster risk reduction and the large variety of actors whose inputs are required in the pursuit of this objective. It provides the basic concepts and prescribes and expected outcome; details three strategic goals for disaster risk reduction and a set of five priority areas for action; and assigns tasks to stakeholders at difference operational levels to reach the expected outcome.

UN/ISDR submitted a project proposal entitled “to Support the Development of Strategic National Action Plan for Countries in the Asia and Pacific Regions, Advancing Disaster Risk Reduction through the Hyogo Framework for Action” to ECHO on 27th May 2006, approved by ECHO in February 2007. The proposal covers development of SNAP in 3 countries namely; Cambodia, Lao and Philippines. The consultant will assist the implementation of this project.

 
2.  Objectives

This assignment aims at ensuring effective support from the ISDR secretariat to governments in South East Asia which had been selected as pilot countries under the above mentioned project. 

3. Outputs of the work assignment

The outputs expected from the consultant under this work assignment include:
-   Effective project coordination and implementation, including monitoring the work of UN/ISDR implementing partners. 
-   Appropriate technical assistance to UN/ISDR’s project implementing partners at regional and country level in identifying disaster reduction priorities for action in the context of the HFA, assessing capacity development needs and preparing Strategic National Action Plans.
-   Advisory support during consultation processes, consensus building, dialogues and training workshops in Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam, in which key sectors are selected for mainstreaming of disaster reduction into development policy, plans and programmes.
-   The preparation of timely and analytical progress updates and reports, as per the project’s reporting schedule, including the project termination report. 

4. Specific Functions/Tasks/Duties

The consultant will be based in the Regional Office of the UN/ISDR Secretariat Asia and Pacific and conduct his/her assignment under the direct supervision of the Senior Regional Coordinator. The specific functions and tasks include:

Programme management:
-   Coordinate activities under the UN/ISDR Regional Programme “Strategic National Action Planning to implement disaster risk reduction and disaster management priorities in the context of the HFA in Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam”;
-   Contribute to the development of a common vision of project objectives and agreed methodology between the ISDR Secretariat and regional and in-country implementing partners;
-   Assist in analyzing and documenting lessons learnt during the implementation of the programme and review relevant documents and reports;
-   Assist in identifying problems and issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions;
-   Monitor and analyze programme development and implementation, including budget monitoring;
-   Produce work plans and regular progress reports against outputs and donor reports as required;
-   Participate in field missions and draft mission summaries.
-   Undertake outreach activities and assist in conducting training workshops, seminars; make presentations on assigned topics/activities.
-   Assist in the management of financial resources allocated to the programme; 

Representation, liaison and co-ordination:
-   Liaise and co-ordinate as necessary with stakeholders and partners working in the programme countries and the region;
-   Support regional and in-country partners with linking their on-going disaster reduction programmes and initiatives with the HFA in terms of objectives, priorities of action and progress reporting;
-   Represent the ISDR Secretariat in meetings, conferences etc on the subject of disaster risk management;
-   Assist with institutional learning and exchange of approaches in developing and implementing Strategic National Action Plans;
-   Assist in the liaison with donors to the programme.

Strategy and policy development:
- Assist in the identification of gaps and priorities in risk reduction at national and regional levels.

5. Work Plan and realistic delivery dates
 
The consult will develop a detailed work plan and implementation schedules that is coordinated with the three project implementing partners of UN/ISDR. A rough overview is as follows:
January 2008:
-   Orientation phase;
-   Undertake monitoring missions to the three pilot countries;
-   Prepare mission report with analysis of progress;
-   Devise assistance strategy and detailed work plan for the remaining duration of the assignment.

February – March 2008:
-   Provide technical assistance and guidance to implementing partners and participate in in-country consultations and workshops;
-   Monitor progress and take corrective action in the case of bottlenecks;
-   Review and provide comments on stocktaking exercises, capacity assessments and draft National Strategies;
-   Prepare monthly progress reports with forward looking plan;

April 2008:
-   Provide technical assistance and guidance to implementing partners and participate in in-country consultations and workshops;
-   Monitor progress and take corrective action in the case of bottlenecks;
-   Review and provide comments on stocktaking exercises, capacity assessments and draft National Strategies;
-   Collate information from implementing partners for the preparation of the project terminal report, including recommendations to ISDR for follow-up action beyond the project duration. 

6.  Minimum Requirements

The following qualifications and experiences are required for the completion of the assignment:

Education: Advanced university degree in disaster risk management, business administration, development, environment, international or public relations or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.

Experience: At least 5 years progressively responsible in the specific programme area associated with this post, such as development in areas of social, economic, environment and/or humanitarian spheres, programme evaluation, or coordination, or related fields.

Language: Fluency in written and spoken English is essential; fluency in one or more Asian languages is desirable.

Other skills: Familiarity with disaster risk reduction, the ISDR system and its partners and the Hyogo Framework for Action. Working experience in developing countries. Basic knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies, guidelines. Knowledge of the institutions of the UN system.