Historique

Due to its geographical location on the island “La Hispaniola”, the Dominican Republic throughout its history, has undergone seismic movements of significance in different zones in its territory which have considerably affected the populations and structures of its main cities. These events have evidenced the exposure of the country to a latent seismic threat given that the territory is located on the edge of the interaction of the North American and Caribbean plates, and is affected by the major Septentrional and Enriquillo faults. One of the most relevant seismic effects was the one that took place in 1946, whose magnitude was 8.1 degrees, which generated a tsunami with waves of up to 5 meters and was propagated from east to west affecting the north coast and leaving around 500 deaths.

In the course of the last years, the principal cities of the country have experienced accelerated and uncontrolled urban growth, with a trend towards the construction of buildings without adequate technical standards. Given that the new seismic resistance code “Regulation for Seismic Design and Analysis of Structures” entered into effect as of 2011, many of the construction have not been built with the minimum requirements to resist seismic movements and guarantee human security[1]. This becomes more evident in the poorer districts, where the building of housing or the expansion of housing already constructed is carried out in most cases without adopting the minimum considerations of safety for this kind of structures.

Background

The sever impact left by the earthquake of 12 January 2010 in Haiti caused substantial human, economic and environmental losses. In terms of physical damages, the governmental, hospital, educational, police and housing buildings were affected in the city of Port-au-Prince. As a consequence, this event gave impetus to the drive towards awareness by Dominican authorities about the seismic threat in the territory and the existence of a high concentration of physical and social vulnerabilities in its main cities.

Given this scenario, as an initiative with the purpose of generating geo-scientific information in order to know about the seismic risk and contribute subsequently to the reduction of the seismic risk of the country, a study was carried out of the seismic micro-zoning of the city of Santiago de los Caballeros in the year 2011. This study was conducted within the framework of Program SYSMIN II (2005-2010), which was financed by the European Union and had as one of its principal results the formation and organization of the National Geological Service (Servicio Geológico Nacional - SGN), ascribed to the the Economy, Planning and Development Ministry (Ministerio de Economía, Planificación y Desarrollo - MEPYD) under Law 50-2010.

On the basis of the follow-up to this important experience and again at the initiative of the National Geological Service (Servicio Geológico Nacional - SGN), at the beginning of 2012, a process of gathering information was carried out which gave the result a Project Proposal and Terms of Reference for the Study of Physical Vulnerability and Seismic Threat of the city of Santo Domingo. This process was given technical assistance by the European Union and had participation from different governmental institutions at the national level, among them DIGECOOM, SGN, ONE, ONESVIE, MOPC, CNE and the Fire Fighters Corps of the National District.

The European Union, as principal donor institution, has requested the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to be the entity responsible for formulating, coordinating and executing this Project. In like manner, this initiative has the co-financing of 4 international institutions: the Mining and Geological Institute (Instituto Geológico and Minero - IGME) of Spain, the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BGRM), the Consiglio Nazionale delle Richerche (CRN) – Istituto di Richerche sulle Attività Terziarie (IRAT) and French cooperation.

Justification

The Province of Santo Domingo and the National District concentrate one third of the population of the Dominican Republic, a total of de 3,339,410 inhabitants according to the census of the year 2010. This significant number of people are found to be at risk of being affected by the occurrence of any considerable seismic event, principally due to the condition and quality of the constructions, which in their great majority have not been built to the seismic resistance code in effect and were designed without being backed with geo-technical studies which determine adequate planning and ordering of the territory.     

The National District is home to most of the governmental buildings of the country such as the seat of power of the Presidency of the Republic, the ministerial seats of power and governmental offices. In like manner, within its geographical area, most of the hospitals, universities, schools,  vital lines and decision centers of civil defense and the military are found. A considerable exacerbation is that most of these buildings were built in the 60’s and 70’s and there are few with structures that have been subjected to a process of evaluation, re-design and reinforcement.

Given the possible scenarios of loss the city of Santo Domingo could face given its risk situation, strengthening the capacities of the city governments is high priority, insofar as the regulation and management of urban planning, the use of soil, and building on its territory, via the upgrading of geo-technical instruments and guidelines. In like manner it is necessary to strengthen the local structures for preparation and response, which are represented by the Municipal Committees of Prevention, Mitigation and Response (Comités Municipales de Prevención, Mitigación and Respuesta  - CN-PMR), in coordination with the national response instances.

Added to this, with an eye towards reducing seismic risk and via a culture of prevention, it is imperative to improve the capacities and synergies of the institutions responsible for generating geo-scientific knowledge, to evaluate and reduce physical vulnerability, to regulate the formal and informal construction sector, to ensure the processes of risk management and response and to guarantee the planning and ordering of the territory.

Finally, based on the scanty knowledge of the Dominican population on seismic risk and the weak culture of prevention at the social and institutional level, it is necessary to promote actions for training and awareness-raising of the private and public sector, particularly the construction sector and the population in general.

This Project is incorporated within an integral and strategic process at the national and local level geared towards the reduction of seismic risk in the country. The National Plan for the Reduction of Seismic Risk (Plan Nacional para la Reducción del Riesgo Sísmico - PNRSS) represents an instrument that establishes a set of strategic guidelines that gives direction to this strategic process. This is linked to the National Plan of Risk Management, Law 147-02 on Risk Management and the National Development Strategy, Law 1-12. It should be noted that the activities of this project are incorporated into PNRSS, whereby this project represents a great contribution towards the reduction of seismic risk in Dominican territory.

Until March 2011, the construction sector had been regulated by a code created in the year 1979, “Provisional Recommendations for the Seismic Analysis of Structures”.

Devoirs et responsabilités

The principal responsibility of the International Technical Advisor is to work in close coordination and consensus with the National Director and the Coordinator Unit of the Project, in order to guarantee the achievement of the products specified in the Project Document, at the required quality levels and within the restrictions specified on time and cost.

Summary of Key functions:

• To oversee, along the Project National Director and the Project Coordinator Unit, the appropriate management of the personnel and budget of the Project. In like manner, to facilitate the work of the Project Board. In doing so he/she will maintain close linkage with the National Director of the Project, designated by the National Geological Office, with whom he or she will decide jointly the technical orientations and strategies to be implemented to fulfill the foreseen resources, timing and activities, guaranteeing compliance with the objectives and indicators;
• To ensure the implementation of Projetc results and activities;
• To provide technical leadership and strategic direction for the development of the activities of the Project focusing on human rights and sustainable development perspectives;
• To ensure operational management, institutional coordination with counterparts and donor partners and follow-up of project activities and results;
• To guarantee the proper utilization of the funds and compliance with the administrative standards of UNDP and UE;
• Timely submit annual work plans and project reports, and ensure their approval;
• Ensure timely disbursements of donor contributions to the project;
• To guarantee the development and strengthening of capacities for the different institutions involved as specified in the Project;
• To develop the sustainable exit strategies for each Project product;
• To draw up and update the work plans, the preparation of the budgets and the assignment of resources for the activities foreseen;
• To orient, supervise, coordinate and evaluate the performance of consultants, workshop facilitators and other personnel linked to carrying out the project activities;
• To ensure compliance with the guidelines and standards established by the UNDP and the donors;
• To supervise the requisitions, purchase orders and requests for payment in ATLAS, as well as the control of expenses according to the approved budget;
• To ensure that the personnel of the project is duly trained in the standards and procedures of the UNDP and the EU;
• To prepare and present the substantive and financial reports in accordance with the standards established by the UNDP, EU and donor partners;
• To carry out quality control functions for the project, including the evaluation of impact and efficacy, follow-up with the results and to guarantee timely and efficient delivery of the results of the project with a focus on customer satisfaction;
• To support and advise on the activities of mobilization of resources to seek the financing of associated projects;
• To process the reports of substantive and financial reports, as per that required by the UNDP or the donors;
• To prepare the documentation of relevant experiences and good practices that highlight the learning and achievements of the Project to be shared in the country and the region;
• To represent the UNDP when required in the localities of the project and governmental offices, with respect to key actors and donors;
• To review and validate the products of visibility, taking as a basis the established: UE – UNDP guidelines.

Compétences

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrate integrity upon modeling the values of the United Nations and ethical standards;
• Promote the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the UNDP;
• Demonstrate sensitivity and adaption for culture, gender, religion, race, nationality and age;
• Deal with all persons with justice without favoritism;
• Share knowledge and experience, contributing to the UNDP’s areas of practice, and work actively towards ongoing learning and personal development;
• Lead teams effectively and to demonstrate the skills of conflict resolution.

Functional Competencies:

Management:

• Demonstrated capacity for management and leadership, particularly in programs and projects oriented  towards the management of disaster risks;
• Good inter-personal skills and team work, aptitude in networks, capacity to work in multi-cultural teams;
• Capability to make decision, pro-activity and initiative;
• Have communication and negotiation capabilities;
• Have team spirit;
• Demonstrated capacity to provide for other consultants (national and foreign) and to administer diverse complex tasks.

Technical:          

• Capability to provide better quality consulting services on policies and processes in the area of disaster risk management;
• Capability to direct the formulation and evaluation of programs and projects for risk management and ordering of the territory;
• Facility for exchanging experiences and knowledge to contribute towards the compilation of good practices;
• Capability to carry out specialized activities related to the project;
• Knowledge of office automation, word processing, spread sheets, mail, data bases, presentations and project management;
• Good knowledge of the methodologies of a Logical Framework Focus;
• Written and communication skills.

Qualifications et expériences requises

Education:

• Masters degree in engineering, geology or related field.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in the management of projects related to studies of seismic threat (seismic micro-zoning) and susceptibility to tsunamis, evaluation of the physical vulnerability of urban zones, regulation of the construction sector, and implementation of measures for the mitigation and prevention in the face of seismic risk at the local and national level;
• Professional experience in the field of risk management and respond to emergencies and disasters, institutional coordination and development of emergency activities;
• Experience in the facilitation of development processes and strengthening of capabilities;
• Experience in the development of methodologies, modeling and construction of instruments for the evaluation of disaster risks;
• Experience in the development of processes for systematization, training and capability formation on the issues of reduction of risks and response to disasters;
• Experience related to the analysis of seismic threat and its application in process of territorial development and ordering;
• Knowledge of the institutional context of the Dominican Republic and its situation with respect to seismic threat;
• Proven capacity to build strategic relations, coordinate actions with multiple actors and to work with interdisciplinarians;
• Knowledge of the norms and regulations of the European Commission and the UNDP program, specifically the FAFA would be a plus but is not required;
• Experience in team coordination and human resources management;
• Technical, administrative and management experience within UNDP. Knowledge of result-based management;
• Knowledge of the United Nations System: internal regulations, policies and orientation;
• Ability to construct strategic relations with authorities and institutions at the local and national levels;
• Capability and liaison with authorities, institutions and communities;
• At least 3 publications on issues of the reduction of risks and response to disasters;
• Experience in resource mobilization.

Language:

• Oral and written fluency in Spanish and English.