International expert for the study on gender and disaster risk reduction
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Purpose
The purpose of the assignment is to support the improvement of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) capacities and competencies in the Republic of Serbia through the provision of expert advice to the national disaster management authorities on how to make disaster management and DRR in Serbia more gender responsive.
Objective
The assignment will be undertaken within the scope of the “Strengthening the disaster risk reduction and recovery system in Serbia” Project and its objective is to develop a ‘Study on gender and DRR in Serbia’ by carrying out a desk review of all relevant legislative documents, reports, studies, analyses and assessments regarding disaster risk reduction and disaster management, and gender equality; interviewing key stakeholders in the area of disaster risk prevention, preparedness, response and recovery in Republic of Serbia and drafting practical recommendations for enhancing gender responsiveness of disaster risk reduction in Republic of Serbia.
Background information
The transformation of the disaster risk reduction and recovery capacity in Serbia is one of the most challenging areas for reform. The legal framework needs to be further streamlined and modernized to reflect new approaches to disaster risk reduction and management, including increased focus on prevention, risk management and adaptation. At the same time, the Government of Serbia has expressed a strong commitment to improving its disaster preparedness, response and recovery capabilities as well as an ambition to be a sub-regional leader in the Western Balkans.
In the past, the lack of an overarching legal framework, together with the lack of national strategy on disaster risk reduction, has led to poor levels of planning and coordination. According to the Ministry of Interior, each Ministry made its own plans and projects in the area of disaster risk reduction. Response coordination remained poor at all levels, while prevention was largely ignored. Serbia is behind on its commitments in implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disaster.[1]
The realization that there was a dire need to improve the coordination of planning, prevention and response led, on 28 December 2009, to the adoption, after several unsuccessful attempts, of the Law on Emergency Management. Among the key changes is the designation of the Ministry of Interior (MoI), and in particular of its Sector for Emergency Management (SEM), as the coordinating body for disaster management and DRR. In order to strengthen the SEM, the law envisages the incorporation of the Ministry of Defence Sector for Civil Defence as well as some personnel from the Ministry for Environmental Protection into the SEM in order to strengthen its coordination capabilities and increase its manpower, while clearly sending the signal that coordination of disaster risk reduction and emergency response is now a MoI responsibility. In particular, the designation of the Sector for Emergency Management (SEM) of the Ministry of Interior as the coordinating body will go a long way towards clarifying the lines of command and responsibility in terms of disaster management.
In November 2011 the National Parliament has adopted the National Strategy for Protection and Rescue in Emergency Situations. The National Strategy defines five ‘Strategic Areas’ that form the framework for disaster management and disaster risk reduction in Serbia and are consistent with the five priorities of the Hyogo Framework for Action. In addition, the National Parliament adopted the amendments to the Law on Emergency Management thus paving the way for the establishment of the Republican Emergency Management Headquarters as the National Platform for DRR in Serbia.[2]
The adoption of the new Law, National Strategy and the amendments to the Law are important steps forward in the improvement of the disaster risk reduction and disaster management system in Serbia. The current situation presents a unique opportunity for UNDP together with other UN agencies and other partners to support Serbian authorities in their efforts to strengthen disaster risk reduction and response. The disaster management system is being comprehensively re-built and Serbia authorities need support in order to ensure that the new structures and systems are set-up and operationalized in an efficient manner while ensuring the gender perspectives are taken into account.
UNDP in Serbia is working actively with the Ministry of Interior and the Sector for Emergency Management to strengthen national systems and procedures, to promote inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination and cooperation at the national level; and to strengthen coordination between the national and local levels.
Under supervision of Team Leader a.i. and in close cooperation with the National Disaster Reduction Advisor the Expert will draft recommendations for enhancing gender responsiveness of disaster risk reduction in Republic of Serbia based on a desk review of key documents and interviews with key stakeholders.
[1]The Hyogo Framework for Action is a 10-year plan to make the world safer from natural hazards adopted by 168 Member States of the United Nations in 2005 at the World Disaster Reduction Conference.
[2] National Platform for DRR should serve as a multi-stakeholder national mechanism that serves as an advocate of DRR at different institutional levels. It provides coordination, analysis and advice on areas of priority requiring concerted action.
Duties and responsibilities
• Collect and review available materials and information (documents, reports, studies, analyses and assessments) on DRR and gender relevant for the assignment;
• Through the desk review of collected materials and information identify the areas and systems’ components that need to be developed and/or further enhanced in order to strengthen and enhance capacities and competences for mainstreaming gender in to disaster risk reduction and disaster management at the national, sub-national and local self-government level;
• Identify and liaise with the key national DRR stakeholders, conduct interviews with the aim to assess their capacities, weaknesses and roles in the area of mainstreaming gender in to disaster risk reduction and disaster management ;
• Provide a set of practical recommendations for enhancing gender responsiveness of disaster risk reduction in Republic of Serbia;
• Present final findings and recommendations from the ‘Study on Gender and DRR in Serbia’ at the Seminar/Round Table organized by the UNDP/SEESAC.
Deliverables and timelines
The Expert is responsible for the following deliverables:
• Deliverable 1: Inception report including methodology and work plan prepared and accepted - deadline for completion: 2 weeks after contract start;
• Deliverable 2: Draft findings and recommendations, including the lists of documents reviewed and stakeholders interviewed prepared - deadline for completion: 15 August 2012;
• Deliverable 3:Final Document ‘Study on Gender and DRR in Serbia’ (max 40 pages) submitted - deadline for completion: 1 September 2012;
• Deliverable 4: Findings and recommendations of the ‘Study on Gender and DRR in Serbia’ presented - deadline for completion: to be determined.
Payments for the deliverables will be made in 2 installments, upon billing by the consultant and subject to quality review, clearance and acceptance by the Team Leader a.i.
Competencies
• Integrity and fairness - embodies UN values and promotes the well-being of all individuals regardless of gender, religion, race, nationality, or age;
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability - communicates effectively with and relates to people of different cultures, demonstrating an ability to see issues from other perspectives;
• Strong corporate commitment - works to achieve the goals of UNDP as a whole making significant contributions to corporate priorities or initiatives led by other UNDP offices and bureaus;
• Ability to build strong relationships with external actors – cultivate productive relationships with donors, partners and other stakeholders;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Ability to anticipate and understand client needs, formulate clear strategic plans, prioritize interventions, and allocate resources according to priorities;
• Ability to develop innovative solutions - encourages and contributes creative solutions to address challenging situations.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
• Advanced university degree in social sciences or discipline relevant to disaster reduction or gender equality.
Experience:
• Track record of conducting complex research in social sciences and writing analytical reports as well as in formulating recommendations for strategic policy making;
• Demonstrated abilities and contributions to policy formulation and ability to provide inputs for strategic level policy making;
• Knowledge of gender and disaster risk reduction in general;
• Knowledge of gender and DRR context in Republic of Serbia.
Language Requirements:
• Fluency in English and Serbian required.
Background documents (not exclusive):
• Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters
• Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015 Mid-Term Review
• Making Disaster Risk Reduction Gender-Sensitive - Policy and Practical Guidelines
• UNDP the Eight Points Agenda: Practical, Positive Outcomes for Girls and Women in Crisis
• Implementing the Hyogo Framework for Action in Europe: Advances and Challenges, Succinct Report for the Period 2009 – 2011
• HFA Progress Report for Serbia for 2011
• Country Need Assessment for Serbia
• DRR Capacity Need Assessment for Serbia
• Law on Emergency Situations
• National Strategy for Protection and Rescue in Emergency Situations
• Draft Action Plan for the National Strategy implementation
• Draft Methodology for Natural and Other Disasters Risk Assessment
• Concept for a National Platform as per HFA
• Rules of Procedure of the Republic Emergency Management Headquarters