UNDP Jobs - 61673- Project Formulation on Innovation and Technologies

Project Formulation on Innovation and Technologies for Disaster Risk

Location :

Bangkok, THAILAND

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

30-Nov-2015

Application Deadline :

26-Nov-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

3 months

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

A changing climate and rapidly growing exposure to disaster risk present the world with unprecedented challenge. More frequent extreme weather events are impacting development and affect all countries but for developing countries – which are both likely to be affected and less able to cope with the impacts- the challenge is particularly severe. Asia-Pacific region is one of the worst affected regions of the world. During 1970 and 2011, almost 2 million people perished in disasters representing 72 percent of all disaster fatalities. The poor, and especially women, children and the elderly, more than anyone else bear the brunt of natural disasters, including climate change-induced disasters. Given the growing risks and vulnerabilities due to haphazard development trends and increasing intensities and frequencies of climate-induced disasters, Outcome 5 of the UNDP’s Strategic Plan (2014-17) emphasizes an imperative to achieve: “Countries are able to reduce the likelihood of conflict and lower the risk of natural disasters, including from climate change”.

Advances have been made. Since the Hyogo Framework for Action was agreed in 2005, investments in preparedness and early warning have reduced mortality across wide range of countries; institutional and policy frameworks have advanced, there was slow growing acceptance that the reduction of disaster risk is a development issue directly linked to the effectiveness of development decisions.

Despite these successes, disaster losses continue to accumulate, and the exposure of people and assets continues to grow especially in developing countries context. Poorly planned development continues to drives both disaster and climate risk, with the majority of public and private investments not yet pinned by an adequate understanding of risk. Risk governance capacities for building resilience remain weak in many contexts.

To address these challenges, UNDP is committed to Risk Informed Development. This entails a renewed urgency and need to scale up efforts to support the implementation of DRR at the country level over the next 5 years through the following:

Comprehensive programmes of risk governance- moving away from stand-alone programming and towards long term engagements at a country level;
Understanding the complexity of country level risk reduction- brining experience from contexts of conflict, poverty and climate change;
Focus on evidence and INNOVATION- UNDP will invest heavily in ensuring not only that its activities are underpinned by lessons learnt and evidence, but are also continually informed by cutting edge innovation;
Renewed emphasis on local level implementation- building sustained capacity for risk reduction for all actors where it most counts;
Assisting governments in making the Sendai Framework for DRR both a national and local priority- building on its ongoing engagement, and recognizing that different countries are at different stages of evolution in their DRR practice.

UNDP through its Bangkok Regional Hub has been driving for innovation in the development recognizing that in an increasingly complex world where development challenges are continuously emerging and changing, there is an urgent need to move away from business as usual. Currently, the in house UNDP Asia-Pacific Innovation portfolio is supporting projects in 20 Country Offices that offer solutions outside of traditional project cycles. The portfolio includes a catalytic fund that offers a creative space to experiment – with agile pilot projects through prototyping, scaling up, monitoring and communicating the impact of innovative solutions. These initiatives cover a variety of thematic areas such as citizen engagement in public policy, gender-based violence, disaster risk reduction, youth unemployment, and environmental protection. The methods employed range from mobile app creation to crowdsourcing, gamification, behavioural insights and user centered design. The success of many of the prototypes and the generation of new and non-traditional partnerships and the media attention generated contributed to UNDP’s positioning as a go to partner for innovation in the region.

The disaster risk reduction and recovery team at UNDP BRH is the focal group for promoting innovation underpinning its work on risk informed development in the Asia Pacific Region:

During the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery (WCDRR) in March 2015, UNDP together with Tohoku University of Japan launched a Global Centre for Disaster Statistics (GCDS). The GCDS aims to support the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and Sustainable Development Goals by promoting risk-informed development through developing capacities of disaster-prone countries. Building on its past and ongoing work in support of countries, UNDP would like to exploit new technologies, use innovation and the new partnership with International Research Institute of Disaster Sciences (IRIDeS) of Tohoku University to build resilience of communities and countries to the negative impacts of disasters and climate change;
During the UNDP Regional Management Meeting (RMM) in Kuala Lumpur in October 2015, participants discussed and endorsed a package of “Solutions” to building resiliency. The ideas generated involved a) the development of a regional resilience index building on UNDP’ work on establishing national disaster loss and damages data bases and MDGs reporting; b) a sub regional preparedness (resilience development) investment programme; and c) a diaspora-community investment on DRR. Underpinning these ideas is the imperative for innovation and evidence that will provide the framework for goal setting, performance metrics and reporting periodically and real time;
In November 2015, a regional DRR practitioner’s workshop will be conducted by UNDP along with the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, ECHO for Asia-Pacific, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and FAO in Bangkok, Thailand. UNDP is the lead organizer for the theme: Innovation and Risk Informed Development whereby a fore sighting exercise was conducted prior to the workshop that involved a huge number of practitioners in mapping DRR priorities in the next 15 years and identify innovation solutions that are fit for purpose. The workshop will feature a discussion of the results of the fore sighting exercise and discussion of innovation solutions, i.e. big data, internet of things, sensor, SMS technology, Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) or drones, crisis mapping and others.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of the assignment is to lead and guide the design, consultation and development of a Project Proposal on Innovation for disaster risk reduction and recovery team at the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub.

The consultant will work under the DRR Team in close collaboration with the Innovation team and other teams at UNDP BRH, the Global Centre for Disaster Statistics, country offices, potential development partners and governments in fulfilling the scope of work outlined here.

Specific duties will include:

Review the lessons from past and on-going initiatives in application of innovation on disaster and climate risk management as well as recent development trends;
Build on the data emerging from an ongoing foresight exercise, conduct further consultation with key stakeholders to formulate the core components of the programme;
Participate in the DRR Practitioners’ Workshop in Bangkok and co facilitate the discussion on innovation solutions that can form as basis for project proposal development;

Draft and finalize a programme document covering the following key requirements:

Rationale and Opportunities for innovation - what local or global innovations in disaster resilience might be appropriate for piloting and scaling up in selected countries/region? What successes from previous programmes, can be scaled up and improved upon to strengthen resilience? What new ideas can be prototyped that speak to future trends and explore the application of new frontier technologies and establishment of 21st century public institutions for DRR;
Specific entry points in UNDP’s ongoing work on disaster risk reduction and recovery at regional/ national levels and recommendations on how these can promote and support innovation to contribute to building resilience of communities;
New partnerships for innovation for resilience - what new partnerships might offer a high impact on resilience in Asia-Pacific region and how might those potential partnerships be created and sustained?
The Consultant will make a powerful presentation of the proposed strategy to key stakeholders upon completion of the document.

Final products will include:

A Synthesis Report/Concept Note based on the Foresighting Exercise and results of the DRR Practitioners Workshop identifying opportunities for UNDP and clear entry points- by December 31, 2015;
Draft Project Document by January 31, 2016;
Final Project Document by February 28, 2016.

Competencies

Knowledge of content management, Managing social media tools, and communications;
Good writing skills;
Knowledge in project management, tracking projects and reporting.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s degree in information technology, statistics, international relations, sustainable development; design, communications or related field.

Experience:

At least 5 years of work experience in area of development of innovative products and services to serve countries and communities in the context of development issues particularly DRR;
Knowledge of climate change, disaster management and development issues and familiarity with major relevant international development frameworks (SDGs) and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR);
Knowledge of innovation and technology approaches;
Excellent writing skills, ability to undertake and lead new thinking;
Excellent organizational skills, self-motivated, proactive and reliable with good communication and ability to work in harmony with staff members of different national backgrounds;
Strong interest in development work and dedication to UN principle.

Language:

Fluent in English.

Interested individuals must submit the following documents /information to demonstrate their qualification, experience and suitability to undertake the assignment. All supporting documents (a-d) must be part of the detailed CV and uploaded as one document.

Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Brief description of why the individual considers him/herself as the most suitable for the assignment;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive daily rate/fee of the candidate in US dollar.

Contracts will be based on daily fee in US dollar.

The financial proposal will specify the daily fee, travel expenses and per diems quoted in separate line items. Payments are made to the Individual Consultant based on deliverables.

Travel

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal. In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket, quoted by UNDP authorized travel agent. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Unforeseeable travel

In the case of unforeseeable travel for official mission as required, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be covered and paid by UNDP.

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;
Technical Criteria weight [70%];
Financial Criteria weight [30]%.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 350 Technical points would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Annexes:

Annex 1 – Terms of References (TOR);
Annex 2 – Individual Consultant General Terms and Conditions;
Annex 3 - Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability Template;
Annex 4 - Financial Proposal Template.

All document can be downloaded at http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=26679