UNDP Jobs - 48766- International Expert in Education to Disaster Risk

International Expert in Education to Disaster Risk Management

Location :

Port Louis, MAURITIUS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-Sep-2014

Application Deadline :

17-Aug-14 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

55 working days, including 2 field missions of 10 days each, over a period of 4 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

55 working days, including 2 field missions of 10 days each, over a period of 4 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

Project title:

Build a more resilient society through innovative education tools promoting the culture of prevention.

Project Description:

Despite a high level of vulnerability to natural disasters, DRM is a new area for Mauritius, with a National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre established less than one year ago. UNDP supports this critical national dynamic in a flexible and diversified manner, innovating on operational set ups and programme contents wherever possible.

DRR and DRM are not currently part of the Mauritian culture, especially among young generations which have not experiences the severe natural disasters their parents and grand-parents have known. There is a strong need for tailored and gender-differentiated education programmes that will reach target audience on a very strong and efficient level, through innovative designs, delivery ways and materials. Targeted education programmes will therefore help increase awareness at all level, with a specific focus on sustainability through targeting of youth, train-the-trainers activities and training of civil servants.

Outcome:

To make the country more resilient through an informed population committed to a culture of prevention and mitigation of disaster risks, aware of risks faced and actions to be taken in the event of a disaster, as well as how to avoid the creation of future risk.

Output 1: Primary and secondary education curriculum are designed in a participatory manner, supported by adequate educational tools and tested in pilot schools;
Output 2: Recommendations for tertiary education modules are approved and ready for implementation;
Output 3: Sensitization materials are designed and ready for production;
Output 4: Train-the-trainers activity guarantees sustainability of the results, through training of 10 certified trainers;
Output 5: DRR/DRM e-learning module is operational and accessible by civil servants on the Government’s LMS platform.

Although education to DRM is not a new field of intervention, the content of the education programme will be fundamentally innovative, building on international lessons learned and most recent progress in the field. To increase ownership, the curriculum will be based on a participatory vulnerably assessment and lead to the design of a game tailored to Mauritius. The use of ICTs which are largely available in Mauritius will be fully mainstreamed into the design of education materials. Building on the development of an LMS for civil service, a module will be developed to be accessible by more than 30,000 civil servants.

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work:

The International Expert in Education to Disaster Risk Management will be an experienced individual, with wide international experience in Disaster Risk Management, including preferably in other SIDS. The International Expert in Education to Disaster Risk Management will be responsible for the design and – where required – implementation of the different components of the Education Programme, including liaison with relevant stakeholders, presentation of the project and draft materials, sensitization at all level.

Key tasks are:

Design gender-sensitive Disaster Risk Management (DRM) curriculum inputs at primary and secondary education levels, including participatory vulnerability assessment in target schools and development of a game based on the results of this exercise;
Make recommendations for tertiary level DRM modules;
Design appropriate educational materials targeting youth groups, especially based on ICTs, to under-pin the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programme, which is committed to saving lives and reducing damages inflicted by extreme event;
Design and implement a train-the-trainers programme for 10 trainers targeting local disaster management coordinators;
Design an e-learning module on DRM and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management programme to be integrated to the existing LMS platform accessible by all civil servants.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The selected consultant shall be remunerated in accordance with the following time schedule and deliverables:

Activity: Advance payment;
Tentative date: 1 September 2014;
Fee (%): 10%;
Means of verification: Signed contract.

Activity: First draft Disaster Risk Management (DRM) curriculum inputs for primary and secondary education levels (including game) and recommendations for tertiary level DRM modules;
Tentative date: 15 October 2014;
Fee (%): 15%;
Means of verification: First draft report.

Activity: Final draft education/sensitization materials targeting youth groups;
Tentative date: 15 November 2014;
Fee (%): 15%;
Means of verification: Final draft materials.

Activity: Final draft e-learning module on DRM;
Tentative date: 15 November 2014;
Fee (%): 15%;
Means of verification: Final draft module.

Activity: Final draft design and implementation of train-the-trainers programme (10 persons);
Tentative date: 30 November 2014;
Fee (%): 15%;
Means of verification: Training report.

Activity: Final draft Disaster Risk Management (DRM) curriculum inputs for primary and secondary education levels (including game) and recommendations for tertiary level DRM modules;
Tentative date: 15 December 2014;
Fee (%): 30%;
Means of verification: Final draft report.

The language of the assignment shall be English. All deliverables shall be in English language.

Institutional Arrangement:

The International Expert in Education to Disaster Risk Management will provide service to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center of the Republic of Mauritius, and report to the Adviser for Disaster Management. All deliverables shall be approved by the Adviser for Disaster Management and UNDP Environment Programme Officer.

Other Working Arrangements:

The Consultant will be given access to relevant information necessary for the execution of the tasks under this assignment.
The Consultant will be responsible for providing her/his own working station (i.e. laptop), while the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center will make efforts to provide reliable internet connection in the office space to be provided.
Payments will be made upon submission and approval by UNDP Environment Programme Officer and Adviser for Disaster Management of deliverables and submission of related invoices by the consultant.

Travel:

This assignment will include international travel from home base to country and must be approved by UNDP before departure;
The Advance and Basic Security in the Field II courses must be successfully completed prior to commencement of travel;
The incumbent is responsible for ensuring that s/he has the necessary vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director;
The incumbent is responsible for obtaining any visas needed in connection with travel with the necessary support from UNDP;
Consultants are required to comply with the UN security directives;
The incumbent will be responsible for making his/her own mission travel arrangements in line with UNDP travel policies.

Duration of the Work:

The International Expert in Education to Disaster Risk Management shall be appointed for a period of 55 working days, including 2 field missions of 10 days each, over a period of 4 months, with start date no later than 1 September 2014;
The first mission has to be effected in September. The contract cannot be extended after December.

Duty Station:

During the field missions, the consultant will be based at National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center, Port Louis, Mauritius.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN values and ethical standards;
Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism.

Functional Competencies:

Operational effectiveness;
Solid knowledge of financial and human resources management, contract, asset and procurement, information and communication technology, general administration;
Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
Demonstrates excellent oral and written communication skills;
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
Shows mentoring as well as conflict resolution skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum a Master degree in Education, Disaster Risk Management or other relevant field. PhD is considered an advantage.

Experience:

Minimum 10 years general experience in DRM at international level;
Minimum 5 years specific experience in education to DRM and capacity-building linked with DRM;
Experience developing games for Disaster Risk awareness is considered a strong advantage;
Excellent, demonstrable knowledge of participatory / community-based DRM approaches;
Knowledge of SIDS DRM challenges would be an asset.

Language:

Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory;
Knowledge of French is an asset.

Financial Proposal and Schedule of Payments:

The financial offer should be quoted as a lump sum amount, all-inclusive (professional fee, insurance, all travel costs, per diem, etc.).

In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the consultant wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources. For information only, the UN Daily Subsistence Allowance at the duty station is 277 USD as of July 2014.

The contract price is fixed regardless of changes in the cost components.

Payments will be effected based on deliverables and tentative schedule as per section Expected Outputs and Deliverables, above.

Recommended Presentation of Offer:

The following documents are requested:

Duly completed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV and P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate;
A brief (max 2 pages) technical approach to the assignment;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided by UNDP.

Criteria for Selection of the Best Offer:

The Submission Score will be evaluated based on the candidate’s CV/P11 and technical approach to the assignment, against section qualifications, experience and competencies of this TOR, as follows:

Qualification – 10 marks;
Experience – 35 marks;
Knowledge of participatory DRM approaches – 10 marks;
Experience developing games for Disaster Risk awareness – 15 marks;
Knowledge of SIDS – 5 marks;
Language (English mandatory/French is a plus) – 5 marks;
Suitability of technical approach – 20 marks;

Total = 100 marks.

The top 3 available candidates will be short-listed for Skype interview.

The Technical Score will be calculated as follows:

Criteria: Submission score;
Weight: 50%.

Criteria: Interview score;
Weight: 50%.

The financial offers will be evaluated giving the lowest price proposal 30 marks and marking the other more expensive proposals reverse proportionally to the cheapest offer.

The final selection will be calculated as follows:

Criteria: Technical score;
Weight: 70%.

Criteria: Financial score;
Weight: 30%.

The candidate ranking highest shall be selected following reception of satisfactory reference checks.

Important note:

Interested offeror is strongly advised to view the general terms and conditions of IC and templates to be included when submitting offer from the CO website at http://www.mu.undp.org/content/mauritius_and_seychelles/en/home/operations/procurement/ ;

Interested offerors above the age of 62: UNDP regulations require, at their own cost, to undergo a full medical examination including x-rays. Medical evaluation documentation does not need to be submitted with the other requested documents listed above, but will be requested should the candidate be chosen;

Interested offeror is required to submit application via UNDP jobsite system, because the application screening and evaluation will be done through UNDP jobsite system;

Please note that UNDP jobsite system allows only one uploading of application document, so please make sure that you merge all your documents into a single file. Your on-line applications submission will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary.