Disaster Risk Financing Expert Short Term Consultant (STC)

Background

The region of Central Asia is exposed to a wide array of natural hazards, ranging from earthquakes and floods up to mudflows, droughts, avalanches, and extreme weather events. Both frequent and low impact as well as rare and high impact natural disasters are common phenomenon for countries of Central Asia. The occurrence of natural disasters is expected to increase due to growing population and economies, urbanization, and climate change.

Central Asia is one of the most seismically vulnerable regions in the world. Its most populated economic and industrial centers – the cities of Almaty, Ashgabat, and Tashkent – were devastated by major earthquakes in the 20th century. Less populated areas are also affected by earthquakes even if they bring less devastating, but frequent damages. Today, more than 1.8 million people throughout the region are affected by earthquakes each year.

Owing to climate change, hydrometeorological disasters such as floods and mudflows occur frequently, and droughts are also relatively common in Central Asia. Natural disasters affect all of the region’s economic sectors. Agriculture, for example, which employs 33 percent of Central Asia’s population, suffers the most due to flooding or drought and poses a real threat to people’s livelihoods and well-being.

Since 1992, natural disasters in Central Asia have caused over 2.5 billion USD in damages. When disaster event happens, it affects the economic system, drains government’s budget, threatens economic development and development efforts especially in poverty reduction.

With the aim to build disaster resilience and strengthen capacities for financial protection of Central Asian countries, the World Bank will implement a 4-year program on “Strengthening Financial Resilience and Accelerating Risk Reduction in Central Asia” (SFRARR) funded by the European Union. Its Component 2 on “Establishing Fundamental Awareness and Capacities for Financial Resilience at National and Regional Levels” will focus on strengthening national-level disaster risk finance solutions and foster regional collaboration on DRF. On the latter, specific feasibility study for possible regional solutions around the access to financing for disaster response and recovery will be developed. The Program includes capacity building, knowledge exchange, advisory and analytical assistance.

The World Bank is looking for a short-term consultant (STC) to support the implementation of SFRARR’s Component 2 “Establishing Fundamental Awareness and Capacities for Financial Resilience at National and Regional Levels”. The STC is required to take a leading role in carrying out policy dialogues and providing technical guidance to implement the activities and achieve the outcomes and targets relevant to the Component.

Assignment description

• Implement activities within the SFRARR’s Component 2 “Establishing Fundamental Awareness and Capacities for Financial Resilience at National and Regional Levels” to strengthen capacities for financial resilience at national and regional levels in Central Asian countries;
• Conduct analyses and studies and prepare analytical reports related to disaster risk financing solutions in Central Asian countries;
• Provide technical inputs to project documents;
• Provide technical guidance to SFRARR national and regional level counterparts on DRF;
• Prepare communication with and reports, guidance notes for Central Asian governments;
• Organize and implement workshops, meetings and knowledge exchange activities and prepare relevant results reports;
• Prepare draft terms of reference for other consultant services required under the Component, including feasibility study for possible regional solutions for financial preparedness to natural disasters, disaster response and recovery;
• Review of reports by consultants;
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation and its reporting for Component 2;
• Contribute to organization and implementation of the regional capacity building forum on Understanding Risk Central Asia (UR CA);
• If requested, conduct operational missions and prepare mission documents;
• Other activities, as requested by the TTL/Supervisor.

​Qualifications and selection criteria

The following skills and competencies are sought:

• Master’s degree in disaster risk management, economics, finance, public policy/administration, or other related discipline;
• At least 5 years of professional experience or equivalent combination of education and professional experience in disaster risk management, disaster risk financing and international development;
• Sound knowledge and analytical skills on disaster risk management and disaster risk financing;
• Strong and demonstrated skills and experience in working with government authorities and officials and large groups of experts on the topic;
• Relevant experience in organizing workshops, trainings, and other knowledge exchange activities on the topic;
• Good knowledge of the context of the countries in the Central Asia region is desirable;
• Strong communication, interpersonal, outreach, and facilitation skills;
• Ability to work as a team with other experts and World Bank staff;
• Ability to schedule, manage and deliver multiple tasks against strict deadliness;
• Ability to work independently;
• Knowledge or willingness to learn about World Bank operations and procedures related to the tasks of the assignment;
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentational skills in English is required and Russian is desirable.

Duration of assignment and reporting

This is an international appointment. The assignment expected to start from July 1, 2019 until June 30, 2020. The assignment may be extended for the following years during the implementation period of the Program, based on the STC’s performance and mutual agreement between the STC and the World Bank Task Team Leader of the Program. The daily rate is to be determined and the position is based in Central Asia. The department/division is GSU09.