Background

Tajikistan, with 93% of its territory covered with mountains, is disaster prone country. Mudflows, landslides and floods are most frequent, followed by avalanches and small-scale earthquakes. Disasters in Tajikistan are most often local, frequently affecting the more inaccessible piedmont and mountain areas of the country.

In September 2016, Disaster Risk Management Programme (DRMP) of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the new project support to the Government of Tajikistan in undertaking a nation-wide risk assessment, establishment and implementation of risk reduction measures, improvement of early warning and disaster management planning, preparedness and response, as well as strengthening capacities of search and rescue teams. UNDP DRMP has been working with Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoES) as a national counterpart. CoES has historically been the Government counterpart for community-focused disaster risk reduction (DRR) projects. However, DRR is not specifically part of CoES’ mandate and the implementation of the Unified System Law is likely to increase CoES’ internal focus on preparedness and response, at least in the short term.

In this project, one of the topics to be addressed and analyzed is the disaster risk management at the municipal level. There is, as noted, a significant long-term threat from a large seismic event affecting not only Dushanbe but other large cities. In the last decade, Tajikistan has also seen a significant growth in the size and populations of mid-sized cities and towns such as Kurgan-Tyube, Shaartuz, Kulyab, Gharm, Khujand, Tursunzade, Jayhun (Kumsangir), Khorog and Panjakent and these cities and towns are increasingly under threat from disasters. Urban areas are also facing an emerging threat of new or larger disasters as a result of the growth process and changes in the urban context.

In addition, this project is undertaking a nation-wide risk assessment across the country to visualize the risk, and to encourage the preparedness activities at municipal level. Currently, this simplification of risk assessment process is under way by the project team. When this process becomes more simplified and user-friendly, risk assessment is to be widely used in Tajikistan which can envisage to back up the disaster risk management in urban areas.  

Improving risk management in urban areas will be addressed in the National Disaster Risk Management Strategy (2017-2030), which is being developed by the government but not approved yet. The one of the prioritized area in this strategy is to incorporate disaster risk reduction into the development process, and prevent human and material losses from disasters. In terms of the Sendai Framework, improving urban risk management addresses priorities to strengthen disaster risk governance, investment in disaster risk reduction and enhances disaster preparedness for effective response. Improving disaster risk management in urban areas also contributes to the resilience of these areas when disasters do occur.

Stronger resilience in urban areas will also contribute to improved rural resilience as urban areas are significant source of support to rural areas following a disaster. The municipality disaster risk management improvement plan is to address critical gaps in the disaster management process, including changes to operating procedures and capacities.

The management of urban risks should:

  • Improve the integration of risk assessment results into local land use and disaster planning.
  • Improve local level disaster preparedness including development/updating warning and response plans, capacity building, scenario-based exercises and public education.
  • Integrate community-based disaster risk management systems into the overall local government disaster risk management structure.

The resulting municipality disaster risk management improvement plan will define specific actions, undertakings and capacity building needs to improve government and civil society engagement with disaster risk management at the municipal and neighborhood levels. Another element of the municipality disaster risk management improvement plan will look at the costs and benefits of risk reduction and preparedness activities which can be initiated at a sub-municipal (neighborhood) level and how these activities can be integrated into local community action plans.

Duties and Responsibilities

Goals and objectives:

UNDP DRMP is seeking for an International Consultant, who, under an overall supervision of UNDP DRM Programme Manager and Project Analysts, and in close consultation with the national stakeholders and other relevant counterparts will support and lead to assess urban disaster management challenges and opportunities.

Duties and responsibilities:

The International Consultant will be responsible for leading the assessment of urban disaster risk management challenges at municipal level and assist in the inclusion of assessment results into municipality DRM improvement plans. Specifically, the International Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

  • Assess the challenges of natural and man-made hazards including current disaster preparedness, warning and response capabilities, and geographic and indigenous character of disaster risk management in selected municipalities (Kurgan-Tube, Kulyab, Khujand);
  • Conduct gender analysis of impacts of hazards and roles in addressing these hazards in the selected municipalities;
  • Develop the municipality DRM improvement plan to address critical gaps in the disaster management process, including changes to operating procedures and capacities;
  • Conduct the workshop of disaster risk reduction costs and benefits and preparedness activities to municipal authorities that will be a part of the municipality DRM improvement plans;
  • Closely communicate with the National Consultant as an advisory role to support the assessment process and DRM improvement plan in Shaartuz, Khorog, Gharm, Tursunzade, Jayhun (Kumsangir), and Panjakent;.

For detailed information, please refer to annex 1- Terms of Reference of the below link. 

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
  • Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
  • Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. 

Functional Competencies:

  • Strong analytical skills, initiative and self-starter;
  • Strong networking and coordination skills, and demonstrated ability to liaise and involve partners;
  • Good presentations skills;
  • Strong interpersonal skills with ability to work under pressure and to establish and maintain effective work relationships with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
  • High sense of responsibility, attention to detail, willingness to take initiative, excellent communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  1. University degree or higher in Social Science, Sociology, Development Studies, Urban Planning related to disaster risk management and reduction perspectives, or other relevant fields.

Experience:

  • At least 8 years of working experience related to disaster risk management and reduction, or urban planning with state or non-state institutions;
  • At least 5 years of working experience in the similar professional role (i.e. disaster planning, national consultant) with national and international organizations, and municipalities. 

Language:

  • Written and verbal fluency of English language;
  • Knowledge of Russian or Tajik is an asset. 

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:http://www.undp.tj/va/upload/va/ICPN%20International%20Consultant%20on%20Urban%20Disaster%20Risk%20Management.doc

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