Disaster recovery specialist

Background:

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), established in 1986, is a regional non-profit foundation with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand supporting the advancement of safer communities and sustainable development, through implementing programs for public benefit that reduce the impact of disasters upon countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. The primary geographical focus of ADPC’s activities is Asia with the South, South East and East Asia being the primary sub-regions. In 2005, nine countries, namely Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka signed a Charter establishing ADPC as an inter-governmental organization.

ADPC has vast experience of 26 years of working in Asia Pacific region along with the national and local Government of its charter member countries as well as countries of the Regional Consultative Committee on Disaster Management (RCC); a regional mechanism established by ADPC in 2000 and comprising of head of national disaster management offices of 26 countries in Asia Pacific. ADPC also shares a close partnership with sub-regional inter-government agencies, such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Secretariat for Pacific Community (previously known as SOPAC) on various DRR related themes including capacity building, strengthening institutions and systems, knowledge management and mainstreaming DRR into development. It works closely with a range of UN Agencies including UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCAP, WHO, WMO, UNISDR, UNOCHA, UN-Habitat, etc. on DRR related projects and consulting services. ADPC works with international and local NGOs, national technical and training institutions, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Further details on ADPC and Programs can be found at www.adpc.net

ADPC programs encompass a wide diversity in application, address all types of hazards and cover all aspects of the risk management spectrum – from prevention and mitigation, through preparedness and response, to rehabilitation and reconstruction. ADPC intends to concentrate and focus on delivering its initiatives under three core program areas:

Science

Enhanced capacities of countries in the utilization of science based information to understand risk

Systems

Strengthened systems for effective management of risk at all levels in countries, especially at sub-national and local level

Applications

Improved and grounded application of risk reduction measures in development

The primary focus of ADPC is to assist national and sub-national Governments to build capacity to respond to, prepare for and mitigate the natural disaster risk and adaptation to climate change. Accordingly ADPC is comprised of several thematically organized operational departments, namely: Safer Development Planning and Implementation; Climate Change and Climate Risk Management; Resilient Cities and Urban Risk Management; Disaster Risk Management Systems; Public Health in Emergencies; Disaster Risk Assessment and Monitoring; Training Services; and Information Technology and Communications. With around 100 staff from 19 countries and with professionals with expertise in development planning, engineering, architecture, agriculture, social sciences, health sciences, climate sciences and disaster risk reduction.

Reconstruction and recovery initiatives

In the last decade, the world witnessed some of the worst disasters which include the Thailand floods of 2011, the Haiti earthquake of 2010, the Myanmar cyclone of 2008, the Sichuan earthquake of 2008, the Kashmir earthquake of 2005, and Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. In the aftermath of response and relief, needs assessments are conducted, and the reconstruction and recovery processes are implemented. The post-disaster activities may continue for several years depending on various factors such as scale of disaster, socio-economic conditions of the affected area, policy and institutional setup for recovery, available resources, technical know-how and commitment of stakeholders.

The reconstruction and recovery is a complex and long-term process and experiences have shown that major challenges are faced by the governments as well other agencies to implement large scale recovery programs. Challenges typically include coordination, management of resource inflows, deployment of resources, communication with government agencies from national and provincial levels, as well as other agencies supporting various parts of the recovery, facilitating flow of information to the community and management of processes of community consultation, maximizing utilization of the local resources in reconstruction, ensuring employment of local masons for reconstruction, restoring livelihoods and providing long term local economic growth. The challenges faced by government increase many fold, as recovery may call for handling of huge amounts of resources and delivering outputs within difficult time-frames.

ADPC and reconstruction and recovery

Within its institutional mandate, since 1999 the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) has been involved in selected activities in post disaster recovery and reconstruction programs, based on requests of either countries or agencies, in order to contribute towards their efforts to “build back better”. These activities include undertaking post-disaster damage, loss and needs assessment; developing national and sub-national systems for post-disaster assessment and recovery; facilitating partnerships for reconstruction and recovery processes; and implementing regional initiatives to identify reconstruction and recovery successes (e.g. “ADPC Disaster Recovery Advisory Group”).

ADPC has been selected to provide technical assistance to the Government of India for a national “Post-Disaster Needs Assessment Study”, with the aim to strengthen capacity for post-disaster needs assessment. The main tasks include: development of standardized PDNA tools for India, dissemination of the PDNA tools and training, pilot testing of the PDNA tools, and white paper on accounting for private sector losses. Under Outcome 2 of the project entitled “Building and Sustaining Resilience through Strengthening DRR/CCA Systems and Decision Support Tools, at sub-National Level in Selected ASEAN Countries”, ADPC is also tasked to provide technical assistance to the Governments of Myanmar, Vietnam, and the Philippines; in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat and AHA Center. The main tasks include: institutional systems and capacity to integrate DRR into recovery and reconstructions strengthened, Recovery Tool kit comprising manual, guidelines and standard operating procedures developed, and development of early recovery transitional action plan developed for reconstruction planning.

Further to the above projects, ADPC wishes to enhance internal technical capacities and strengthen its position and international recognition as a leading knowledge hub for post-disaster reconstruction and recovery, both for large and small scale disasters.

Status of the recovery specialist

The Recovery Specialist will be a staff member of ADPC’s Disaster Risk Management Systems (DRMS) department and will work under the direct supervision of the Head, DRMS, and in close collaboration with the other ADPC Departments. The Recovery Specialist must have relevant skills, experience, and expertise to ensure high-quality outputs, in-line with the project implementation structures and reporting requirements. He/she will have a key role in the implementation of the ADPC Strategy2020; specifically, for improved Damage Loss Needs Assessment (DalNA), Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and Institutional strengthening for disaster recovery planning as well as post disaster reconstruction planning

In addition to technical role in specific project activities, the Recovery Specialist will undertake activities to enhance ADPC’s internal technical capacities and strengthen its position and international recognition as a leading knowledge hub for post-disaster reconstruction and recovery, both for large and small scale disasters.
This position refers to the professional title and grade as per ADPC’s personnel policy and guidelines.

Roles and responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise (institutional strengthening) support for improved Damage Loss Needs Assessment (DalNA), Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA), Recovery Planning as well as Post disaster Reconstruction Process Planning, in accordance with country needs.
• Conduct research on new post-disaster tools, methodologies, skills etc. and incorporate into project deliverables.
• Develop plans, manuals, guidelines, and standard operating systems applicable to local contexts and in consultation with key stakeholders. For example, contextualized application of the ECLAC methodology in country situation.
• Develop post-disaster training modules, materials, needs assessments, and reports.
• Ensure effective communications with project team members and external project partners.
• Participate in and assume a leading role in national and regional meetings and workshops related to post-disaster initiatives (either at a project or institutional level).
• Document good practices and prepare case studies related to post-disaster initiatives.
• Enhance ADPC’s internal technical capacities through capacity-building initiatives such as training modules, mentoring, on-the-job advice etc.
• Proactively seek new opportunities and develop proposals related to post-disaster reconstruction and recovery.
• Any other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor

Specific knowledge, skills and attitudes required

A. Education qualification and work experience

• Advanced level degree (Masters) in economics/ finance, development planning and administration, engineering, disaster management or a similar discipline.
• At least 7 years of proven experience (post- qualification) in the fields reflected in section 5 above, of which 2-3 years served as a technical expert in this field.
• Has sound experience of developing technical guidelines, templates and checklists related to post-disaster reconstruction and recovery.
• Excellent writing and oral skills in English language. Ability to communicate in one or more South or Southeast Asian languages would be viewed as an advantage.
• Preference will be given to candidates

a. Who have worked in country/countries of the Asia and Pacific region, and are aware of the relevant institutional and legal systems relating to disaster risk reduction and post-disaster reconstruction and recovery.

b. Who have practical implementation experience of the UN-ECLAC methodology (or variations thereof) for damage, loss, and needs assessment (DaLNA).

c. Who have a long term commitment to this subject and ready to continue under challenging circumstance

B. Practical knowledge

• Project planning and execution
• Knowledge management
• Partnership building and networking

C. Work attitude

• Positive, Patient , Pursuasive, and Plenteous
• Strong desire to learn and contribute to the development and implementation of project/programs in target areas;
• Strong desire to enhance ADPC’s internal technical capacities.
• Team Player, excellent interpersonal skills and elements to lead a team in multi cultural environment;
• Undertake new challenges; be a creative problem-solver; and apply innovations.
• Willing to frequently travel in the region.

Shortlisting and selection

We are looking for a person who matches at least 80 % of the section 6. Shortlisted candidates will be subject to a screening test followed by proficiency test (written and oral).