UNDP Jobs - 64031- Lead Consultant - District Disaster Management Pla

Lead Consultant - District Disaster Management Plan (DDMP) - Open to Indian Nationals Only

Location :

Home Based, Preferably in Himachal Pradesh, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

10-Mar-2016

Application Deadline :

02-Mar-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

108 days (spread over 8 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

Review and Revision of District Disaster Management Plans in 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Project name: Development Support Services (DSS) to the State Government of Himachal Pradesh for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The geo-climatic conditions as well as its close proximity to the Himalayas make Himachal Pradesh among the most vulnerable to natural hazards in the country. The State is highly vulnerable to earthquake, landslide, flood, cloud bursts, forest fire etc. The entire state falls under one of the most seismically active regions falling in zone V. The state is also highly susceptible to landslide and avalanche hazards. Unplanned and unscientific development activities in the hill areas, indiscriminate felling of trees and removal of forests, growing urbanization and increasing pressure of population are the primary causes of landslides. Further, the climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of current extreme weather events and give rise to new vulnerabilities with differential spatial and socio-economic impacts on communities. The climate change impacts are likely to have severe impacts on the hydrological cycle, water resource, forest & ecosystems, food security, health and other related areas.

Enhancing institutional and community resilience is one of the emerging priority areas of the UNDP, Government of India and State Governments. Under the ongoing GOI-UNDP project on “Enhancing Institutional and Community Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change (2013-2017)”, UNDP has already been providing technical support to the Government of Himachal Pradesh to strengthen capacities of government, communities and institutions to fast-track implementation of the planning frameworks on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA).

The UNDP India Country Programme Action Plan (2013-17) signed with the Government of India envisages that UNDP will provide demand-based Development Support Services (DSS) with a view to supporting administrative efficiency and developing capacities of government agencies, including procurement support services, with requisite professional skills, personnel and technical resources. Under this modality, UNDP has entered into an agreement with the Revenue Department (DM), Government of Himachal Pradesh for implementing a project on strengthening SDMA and DDMAs in all districts and enhancing institutional and community resilience to disasters.

As mandated under the Disaster Management Act 2005, the State has already formulated District Disaster Management Plans (DDMP). As disaster and climate risks are on rise, it is considered important to review the existing DDMPs and update it at regular intervals so that these are effective. Review and revision of DDMPs is one of the component of the project. This seeks to ensure, among other things, support and linkages required from a communitive resilience perspective. Apart from establishing systems to undertake variety of preparedness and response functions, the plans would also conceptualize and outline actions required to pursue mitigation activities. These DDMPs would include disaster specific mitigation and response plans including SOPs for effective response and relief.

In this context, UNDP is looking for a Consultant to provide support to the UNDP and Government of Himachal Pradesh in reviewing and revising 12 DDMPs in close coordination with district level consultants who would assist in holding consultation workshops, obtaining inputs and revising DDMPs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Individual Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Emergency Analyst, Energy & Environment Unit, UNDP-India. He/she would be responsible for carrying out the following tasks:

Carry out a desk review of existing 12 District Disaster Management Plans (DDMPs) with a view to assess comprehensiveness in terms of multi-hazard risk mitigation & preparedness, clarity of roles & responsibilities, operational efficiency and appropriateness in aftermath of a disaster;
Collect and review other district level contingency plans, SOPs, guidelines, reports etc. that could be relevant for DDMPs;
Identify gaps in the existing DDMPs and provide specific recommendations on each of 12 DDMPs addressing the gaps established during the review process;
Prepare check-lists and guidance notes that will inform the district level Consultants to revise and update DDMPs;
Guide district level Consultants on collection of inputs for revision of DDMPs;
Review background notes and agenda prepared by district/sub-division level Consultants for consultation workshops to be organized for revision of DDMPs;
Supervise district level Consultants in conducting district and sub-division level consultation workshops and revising DDMPs;
Review Report of Consultation Workshops prepared by district level Consultants;
Review Revised DDMPs submitted by district level Consultants duly incorporating all suggestions and recommendations of the Workshops;
Submit the draft DDMPs and obtain feedback from the SDMA, UNDP and concerned authorities of the District to finalize it.
Submit final versions of DDMPs to the DDMA/SDMA/ UNDP after duly incorporating feedbacks/ suggestions received from DSMA, DDMA and UNDP.

Deliverables:

Submission of draft review reports in respect of the existing 12 DDMPs based upon desk research within 2 months from the date of signing of the contract;
Submission of Draft Revised DDMPs after review and revision within 15 days from the receipt of Draft Plans from the district level Consultants for feedback of UNDP, SDMA and DDMA;
Submission of the final revised DDMPs within 15 days after receiving comments from UNDP/DDMA/SDMA.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Good communications and organizational & interpersonal skills;
Ability to coordinate and facilitate consultations.
Ability to work independently to fulfill assigned tasks;
Excellent analytical and writing skills;
Promotes a knowledge sharing and learning culture;
Working knowledge of computers including MS Office package is essential;

Corporate Competencies:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Masters in Social Science/Management/Planning and/or related development studies.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years’ experience in disaster risk management, emergency/crisis management or related discipline;
Proven experience of undertaking similar assignments;
Experience in working with Government/ UN / International organizations will be preferred. .

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English is required;
Knowledge of Hindi is desirable.

Payment Schedule:

On submission of review report of the 12 DDMPs : 30%
On submission of draft of 12 revised DDMPs : 30%
On submission of final version of 12 DDMPs : 40%

Documents to be submitted:

Proposed Work Plan for undertaking the Assignment with approach & methodology;
Detailed CV with contact details of three references;
Financial Proposal specifying per day consultancy fee. Prior approved travel expenses will be reimbursed as per actuals in line with UNDP rules.

Evaluation Criteria:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies i.e. cumulative analysis.

When using this weighted scoring method, 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%

Shortlisting would be done based on the following criteria:

Relevant Experience 35% Marks;
Proposed Work Plan for undertaking the Assignment 35% Marks;
Financial 30% Marks.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 70% point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

For any clarifications, please write to vijay.thapliyal@undp.org

Any kind of miscellaneous charges i.e. internet, phone etc. would not be reimbursed;
Individuals working with institutions may also apply, contract would be issued in the name of institution for the specific services of individual;
Please note proposals without financial proposal will not be considered;
CV , Financial and proposed work methodology must be clubbed in one file for uploading, as the system has provision of uploading one document only;
The consultants must bring his/her own computing equipment.