UNDP Jobs - 54163- National Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant

National Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant

Location :

Tirana, ALBANIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

05-Mar-2015

Application Deadline :

01-Mar-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

6 months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Albania is vulnerable to a number of natural and man-made hazards and risks which include earthquakes, torrential floods, and forest fires, with the most recurrent disasters being the floods. Albania ranks as one of the countries with the highest economic risk in the world from multiple hazards, with 86% of its territory prone to two or more disasters, where 88.5% of GDP is generated. The impact of disasters in Albania and the vulnerability of its citizens affected by them are significantly compounded by a relatively high degree of poverty, lack of infrastructure maintenance, unsafe building and land use practices linked to rapid urbanization, depletion of natural resources etc.

The most recent floods disaster affected the southern and southwestern areas of Albania in the first week of February 2015. Above normal rainfall of up to 200 mm in only three days between February 1st and 5th, 2015 impacted severely the areas are located along Vjosa, Drino, Osum and Gjanica river basins, where river embankments breached and particularly affected drainage and irrigation areas. Figures from Albanian Red Cross and local authorities estimate approximately 42,000 people affected and one flood related casualty. From subsequent situation reports issued by the National Civil Emergencies Office (NCEO), the number of evacuated families in the first days of February reached up to 850. Between 1,000 and 2,000 families were reported to suffer from loss or seriously damaged houses, while 17,000 ha of mainly agricultural land were flooded and 53,000 livestock and poultry were lost. The flood impact though substantial in some parts of the country, remained localized.

As the weather has stabilized and returned to normality one week later, technical personnel fielded by NCEO and line ministries, in collaboration with the local commissions established at prefecture and local levels are still working to assess damages and gather additional data that will help precise the magnitude and nature of recovery actions to be undertaken.

While work continues on the ground mainly focused on emergency response and damage assessment, consultations have been intensified among international partners, especially the local offices of the World Bank, EU and UN for a unified needs assessment and recovery framework. The necessity and an adequate approach for carrying out this exercise is critical as these organizations would be to shape their support for recovery based on a structured and reliable assessment.

Indeed the three organizations at a global level have come to an agreement in 2008 in undertaking whenever needed a joint post-disaster needs assessment, called PDNA. The joint declaration requires key international institutions to work together under government leadership to conduct a single assessment of the consequences and implications of disasters. This joint effort is reflected in the intended design of the PDNA, which pulls together information provided by sectorial assessments in an integrated view of three assessed dimensions: (i) physical / infrastructural impacts, (ii) economic values of the damages and losses as well as (iii) a comprehensive human recovery needs framework that reflects the social, institutional, political consequences of the disaster, the perspectives of affected populations and a strong emphasis on disaster risk reduction.

A PDNA therefore contributes to: (i) Credibility of the request for assistance from the government, (ii) Accelerated mobilization of resources through the inclusion of early recovery requirements and reconstruction, (iii) Effective and efficient investment through a coordinated approach in the allocation of resources for recovery and reconstruction, which are congruent with the national and local development frameworks, priorities and plans, and (iv) Complementary support as it takes account of and builds on DRR interventions underway in the country/affected area.

However, in view of the localized floods of February 2015 and in line with consultations with government authorities, the specific situation may not warrant a comprehensive post disaster needs assessment. The common understanding is however that a light, like-PDNA exercise should be undertaken being contemplated, targeting assessment of impacts and planning recovery and reconstruction in most affected sectors without leaving outside the social ones. The understanding is that the government should have and takes the lead in assessing the damages and losses and formulating needs for reconstruction and recovery, supported by the international community with technical advice, where necessary. UNDP, as part of the joint international effort to carry out a well-structured needs assessment and promote the DRR approach is seeking the services of a qualified DRR consultant to assist the development of this process and build upon this possible future entry points/follow up actions.

Duties and Responsibilities

In order to assist the UNDP in the process of participating in a joint rapid needs assessment as well as in providing professional support to a possible shaping of future UNDP’s assistance in the area of DRR, UNDP is seeking to hire a National Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant to help the office participation in the said needs assessment as well as strengthen cooperation with the National Civil Emergency Office and other relevant stakeholders in the country. The Consultant is expected to carry out the following, non-exhaustive tasks:

Coordinate and collaborate with the National authorities, the World Bank and European Union, and other partners to identify relevant information to feed in the needs assessment process
Collaborate with the institutional representatives identified in the preliminary assessment, including government and UN agencies, donors, the EU and World Bank where appropriate in order to arrange all necessary meetings and other activities required to conduct a thorough assessment process.
Cooperate with the related UNDP operations’ professionals in order to ensure adequate logistical and administrative support for the needs assessment.
Provide recommendations on the assessment approach undertaken and ensure that the sector assessment components are in line with the scope of the assessment. Ensure that cross cutting issues such as Gender, Disaster Risk Reduction and Environment are integrated into the assessments.
Support drafting of briefing notes and updates on the needs assessment process for CO and the respective Democratic Governance Cluster Manager and other related UNDP personnel and partner agencies.
Provide technical advice and support the development of sector based recovery and reconstruction plans confirming to internationally accepted recovery guidelines.
Advice and propose interventions for UNDP to engage in strengthening institutions for coordination, management and implementation of post disaster recovery, immediate restoration of livelihoods, basic services and public services for the affected areas.
Advise and support UNDP to develop initiatives and conduct actions to address the impacts of the floods and mainstreaming climate change and risk reduction into all recovery and development activities.

Deliverables

The National Disaster Risk Reduction Consultant will produce monthly reports, covering the tasks carried out along his/her entire assignment.

Competencies

Core competencies and values:

Demonstrates integrity and fairness by modelling UN values and ethical standards;
Demonstrates professional competence and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
Display cultural, gender, nationality, religion and age sensitivity and adaptability.

Functional competencies:

Demonstrated analytical skills to identify, obtain and synthesize information from various sources and formulate objectives and conclusions
Understanding of public information management and financial tools in disaster risk management
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to liaise effectively with government officials, regional partners and representatives of international organizations
Advanced computer skills (especially Microsoft office applications) and the ability to use information technologies as a tool and resource.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

University Degree or higher in disaster risk reduction, civil protection, development studies or other fields relevant to the requirements of this assignment

Experience:

At least 3 years of experience in the area of disaster risk reduction and/or management
In-depth knowledge of the national DRR context including Albania's hazards, vulnerabilities and risks
Knowledge of the international DRR system
Knowledge of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) process and methodology would be preferable

Language Requirements:

Fluency in English, with excellent drafting, writing and presentation skills is required.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultant will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.

The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max points: 70

Compliant educational background (max 20 points)

Professional experience in the required area (max 40 points)

Writing and presentation skills in English (max 10 points)

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max points: 30

Application procedure:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application;
Filled P11 form for SC and ICs;
(blank form can be downloaded from http://www.al.undp.org/content/albania/en/home/operations/jobs/ ;please upload the P11 instead of your CV;
Financial Proposal* - The financial proposal shall include the consultancy monthly rate expressed in ALL.

Applications without financial proposal will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all other requested materials.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

UNDP applies a fair and transparent selection process that would take into account both the technical qualification of Individual Consultants as well as their financial proposals. The contract will be awarded to the candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores. UNDP retains the right to contact references directly. Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture.