Samoa national coordinator

Background

The Asian Development Bank approved TA 8238-REG: Strengthening Disaster and Climate Risk Resilience in Urban Development in the Pacific on 7 December 2012. The regional technical assistance project (TA) is being financed through a $650,000 grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, and covers 5 Pacific Developing Member Countries: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga.

This TA project is part of the Pacific Catastrophe Risk and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI), supported by the Asian Development Bank, SPC and the World Bank. The aim of the TA is to demonstrate how risk information included in the Pacific Risk Information System, and other available sources of risk data, can be used to support more risk resilient urban management in the Pacific, through the development of appropriate methodologies for risk assessment and response, and associated capacity building activities.

As part of the TA activities, two urban case studies in Apia and Nadi will be prepared to demonstrate the use of practical approaches for integrating climate and hazard risk information into urban planning and management strategies.

Objective

The objective of the assignment is to support the development of the country case study for Apia Urban Area. The Samoa National Coordinator will be based with the Planning and Urban Management Agency (PUMA), and will also report to ADB and SPC. The scope of the assignment will include administrative, logical, communications, and GIS support for the TA consultants.

Specific Tasks

1. Act as focal person for case study activities in Apia to assist with coordination between PUMA, the Disaster Management Office (DMO), SPC, TA consultants and other relevant stakeholders
2. Ensure that PUMA, DMO and other urban stakeholders are kept updated on the progress of case study activities in Apia
3. Provide logistical support for the TA team while case study activities are being undertaken, such as organizing meetings and consultations
4. Provide support to the TA team for GIS work to update the Pacific Risk Information System with TA map outputs
5. Assist with the collection of other data and information as needed for the successful development of TA outputs

Minimum Qualifications

The national coordinator should have a Bachelor's degree in geography or a related field, and a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience. Basic GIS mapping skills would be an asset. Although not essential, preference will also be given to candidates with previous experience working on urban development or disaster risk management issues. The consultant should also been highly motivated and have strong organizational and communications skills.