Disaster Risk Management Consultant – Bhutan

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

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 by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media, and other key stakeholders.

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, with 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) effectively. ADPC has six strategic themes supported by seven departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, and Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC also 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. For details, please refer to the ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/.

Department Introduction

The Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC focuses on enhancing the preparedness and response management capacities of governments, response organizations, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and other traditional and non-traditional actors of the Disaster Risk Management Ecosystem. It also strives to strengthen the capacity of institutions and at-risk communities for faster and more efficient disaster recovery. The department works with the above-stated actors to ensure that the regional, national, sub-national, and local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks and implementation plans are in place well before disaster strikes.

Purpose and Objectives

ADPC is currently implementing the Strengthening Sustainable Anticipatory Actions through Preparedness in South Asia (SNAP) in partnership with NDMOs, technical partner agencies, and other key stakeholders to strengthen technical capacity, institutional arrangements, and coordination systems in enhancing preparedness through anticipatory and early actions in South Asia through regional cooperation with particular emphasis on selected high-risk and low-capacity countries, namely Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. The program supports goals and the priority actions identified in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and existing national policies, strategies, plans, and programs related to anticipatory and early actions mobilizing the national disaster management stakeholders from disaster management committees, community volunteer groups, response organizations, and other BHA partners to jointly assess, plan and implement priority anticipatory actions and related capacity development programs to enhance anticipatory actions.

The SNAP program also contributes to the grand bargain commitments and localization process, applying policies and practices that put more resources and assistance into the hands of the affected and at-risk population and improve the collective effectiveness of the disaster management ecosystem, specifically at national, sub-national, and local levels.

The main goal of this consultancy assignment is to conduct a landscape study and identify training needs on Anticipatory Action in Bhutan. This study will facilitate the identification of the most important areas for intervention in SNAP implementation in the country. The activities involved in this assignment include providing strategic and technical input and coordinating with the Department of Local Government and Disaster Management (DLGDM) and other stakeholders at the National level for data collection and stakeholder analysis. Additionally, the consultant will help create a national work plan for Bhutan program in collaboration with DLGDM and other partner organizations.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Design, plan, coordinate, and collect data for a landscape study and the stakeholder mapping on anticipatory action in Bhutan, working in partnership with government organizations, civil society organizations, academic and training institutions, and other stakeholder agencies.
• Advocate and leverage resources and other ongoing initiatives to demonstrate co-financing from partners and allocating annual budgets from the government for achieving SNAP institutionalization in the long run.
• Develop and promote ownership by government institutions, partnering with local humanitarian organizations, professional associations, academic and training institutions, and the private sector, among others.
• Coordinate regularly with the program lead and other ADPC staff in headquarters in implementing the project activities.
• Develop regular progress reports and capture evidence-based good practices to highlight the project impacts of SNAP.
• Provide strategic vision and inputs on SNAP program interventions in Bhutan.

Working Principles: In performing the duties and responsibilities indicated above, the Consultant will be supervised by the Program Lead, Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC. This includes regular coordination with the focal person designated by the DLGDM to plan, implement and review program implementation in Bhutan. The Consultant will closely work with other Project/Program Managers, Specialists, and Coordinators of the ADPC as needed.

Qualifications

• Masters in Disaster Management, Crisis Management, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or other related fields are essential. A Ph.D. in a related field would be an added advantage.
• At least ten years of proven experience in emergency management, disaster risk management, or related fields.
• A minimum of five years of experience in project management, implementation, coordination, planning, and capacity building.
• Familiarity and at least five years of experience working with the National and Sub-National Governments in the field of disaster preparedness and emergency response operations.
• Knowledge and proven experience in disaster preparedness, emergency response, anticipatory actions, community-based disaster risk management, end-to-end early warning system development, emergency operation center management, scenario-based contingency planning, incident management system development, simulation exercises, and application of specific technical information and data into training and capacity-building programs.
• Sound knowledge of the disaster management system and structures in Bhutan, including policies, strategies, guidelines, standing orders, and other emergency preparedness-related programs in the country.
• Previous experience in working with Humanitarian NGOs or international organizations in similar programs would be an added advantage.
• Knowledge of the working ethics of national or sub-national government agencies and international organizations would be an added advantage.

Duty Station: Thimphu, Bhutan

Duration: 1 November 2023 – 29 February 2024 (4 months)

Itinerary: During official missions outside the duty station, the Consultant will be entitled to local/international travel, daily subsistence allowance, accommodation, and other related travel costs as per ADPC financial policy, including reimbursement of general and administrative expenses related to implementing program activities.

Condition of payment: The Consultant will be paid a professional fee according to the completion and acceptance of ADPC of specific deliverables over 4 months, starting on 1 November 2023 to 29 February 2024. The maximum total amount payable under this contract is USD 5,000 (US Dollar Five Thousand only). The payment will be made based on the successful completion of specific project deliverables accepted by ADPC according to the suggested payment schedule.

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 encourages diversity in its workplace and supports an inclusive work environment.