UNDP Jobs - 59350- International consultant

International consultant – Training on Landslides Risk Management

Location :

Sarajevo, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

03-Sep-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

20 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

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

During May, 2014 heavy rains fell over Bosnia and Herzegovina, causing massive flooding in northern, eastern and central parts of the country bordering Croatia and Serbia. The floods are the worst in 120 years and have brought enormous destruction in a country that is still recovering from the consequences of the 92-95 war and where significant groups of the population suffer from chronic poverty and unemployment. The floods had multiple adverse effects on people’s lives including landslides.

Landslides are a continuous and well known hazard for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and represent a complex and ever-increasing problem for authorities at all levels, as well as for affected communities. The Risk Assessment for Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted by the Council of Ministers in 2012 registers more than 1,800 active landslides in the country. The 1992-1995 war in the country caused massive migration of people, linked with illegal construction of houses in sloping living areas, or alongside riverbeds. Furthermore, lack of spatial planning documentation based on geological analysis leads to unsustainable territorial development and infrastructure investments, which in the long-term also causes landslide hazards. Human activities relating to expansion on unsafe locations, unscientific mining, haphazard construction of roads, dams and ignoring natural features also contributed to increased intensity of landslides.

Apart from the massive recovery efforts, UNDP is implementing interventions related to strengthening of resilience in particular floods and landslides risk reduction. As a part of the project Landslide Disaster Risk Management in Bosnia and Herzegovina one of the outputs is to design and conduct a training on landslides management and risk mitigation to relevant government stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultancy will contribute to the fulfillment of the Output 2 of the Landslides Risk Management Project. This training package will increase capacities of the relevant government counterparts and will contribute to overall better management of risk posed by landslides in BiH. To sustain and expand the knowledge in this area, the training package will be handed over to the Training System for Local Governments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, so it can be delivered to additional local governments country-wide.

The scope of the work is to design and deliver a training package on landslides management and risk mitigation to relevant government counterparts based on best practices and local and international standards.

Therefore the consultant will be entrusted with the following tasks:

Development of situation analysis and training needs assessment.

In order to be able to prepare tailored training programme for local authorities and to develop practical manual on “Landslide Management and Risk Mitigation”, the consultant will take into consideration the current risks associated with the landslides risk management in BiH, current relevant legal framework and existing practices in BiH. The consultant will collect all the relevant inputs (information, assessment reports, etc.) for this task, and s/he will hold at least one focus group meeting with the local governments’ representatives in order to precisely define gaps in landslides risk management, as well as to define a scope and topics to be included in comprehensive training programme. As a result, a draft report will be prepared and shared with UNDP for comments that provides straightforward analysis of the existing deficiencies in the landslides risk management at local level, the list of recommended measures, divided from the most to the least urgent, to reduce the identified weaknesses, as well as the list of the recommended training programmes to be developed for that purpose. The final version of the document will include the comments provided by UNDP.

Design of tailored training programme on landslides management and risk mitigation and development of practical manual on “Landslide Management and Risk Mitigation”.

Using the findings from the Situation Analysis and Training Needs Assessment, that is the specific training scope and topics identified therein, the consultant will design an outline of the training curriculum and training plan presenting the purpose, learning objectives, content and methodology to be used, training agenda, and training outcome to be used in training evaluation process. The outline will be submitted for approval to UNDP Project Team, and upon its consent the consultant will design full-fledged programme and materials for the training (up to 5 training days in total). Training materials developed by the consultant will consist of: agenda, PowerPoint presentation, compilation of relevant readings, list of references, exercises, tools, models of relevant legal documents and a training evaluation form. The UNDP Project Team will provide templates for training materials. The training will be delivered only upon UNDP’s approval of programme and materials.

Based on these products consultant will also develop a practical manual on “Landslide Management and Risk Mitigation”. UNDP will approve final version of the manual after draft version was submitted to UNDP and all comments included.

Delivery of designed training programme on landslides management and risk mitigation.

The consultant will deliver the designed and approved training programme to selected beneficiaries. The training aims at increasing knowledge and skills of up to 15 selected municipalities and/or other relevant governmental institutions. The 5-days training will be delivered in February 2016, while the training package will be finalized by the end of 2015. Following the completion of training delivery, the consultant will provide a report with his/her observations and eventual recommendations for the training improvements.
UNDP will provide logistical support for the organization of the training.

The duration of this task is estimated to be 20 days within 3 months. The consultant will work directly with national consultant that will be recruited to support this assignment.

The consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables and services:

Deliverables and Services Deadline

Situation Analysis and Training Needs Assessment (including in-country filed missions of up to 5 travel days) 15th October 2015;
Design of a comprehensive and tailored training programme on landslides risk management and practical manual on “Landslide Management and Risk Mitigation” 30th November 2015;
Delivery of the designed training programme for the selected practitioners (including in-country field mission up to 6 travel days) 15th February 2016.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.

Functional Competencies:

People Skills:

Demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

Results-Orientation:

Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

Technical writing skills, formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
Strong communication and presentation skills;
Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

Strong analytical skills;
Knowledge and experience on landslides risk management;
Demonstrates substantive and technical knowledge to meet responsibilities and post requirements;
Initiative and sound judgment.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in disaster risk management, engineering, geology, environment or development or other related fields;
BA in combination with 2 additional years of working experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in landslides risk management;
Experience in conceptualizing and delivering training/education programmes;
Proven knowledge of methodologies for capacity and needs assessment and previous experience in preparation of analysis and reports is an asset;
Experience in capacity building;
Excellent proven skills in training, communication, analysis and overall diplomatic skills;
Proven experience on preparation of written reports in an accurate and concise manner, and public presentation skills;
Good organizational, time management and facilitation skills;
Proficiency in computer applications such as MS Word, Excel etc., CAD, GIS.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English language is required for this assignment.

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

Personal CV and P11 including past experience professional experience in the relevant field of civil engineering, especially in preparation of construction technical documentation;
Financial proposal indicating lump sum fee for the assignment must be submitted alongside the offer.