Background

Due to the diverse and complex terrain of the Caucasus mountains, its significant influence and the influence of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea on the climate and weather of the region, Georgia is exposed to various climate-induced hazards including floods and flash floods, climate-induced geological hazards (including landslides, mudflow, debris flows), droughts, soil erosion, severe winds, hailstorms and avalanches. Furthermore, according to Georgia’s 2nd and 3rd National Communications, the frequency, intensity and geographical spread of extreme hydro meteorological hazards will increase under climate change and may result in significant impacts on key sectors including agriculture, critical infrastructure (transportation networks, buildings, roads, water supply, energy installations), natural resources and eco-systems, glaciers and forests.

Consequently, to address the existing development challenges, UNDP designed a program aimed at reducing exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards reduced through a well-functioning nation-wide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action. The program encompasses two interrelated projects funded by Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC), under which the current assignment is being announced and Green Climate Fund (GCF). The GCF funded interventions will target at expanding hydro-meteorological network & modelling capacities and improving community resilience through implementation of the EWS & risk reduction measures. The project will provide critical climate risk information that would enable the Government of Georgia to implement number of nation-wide transformative policies and actions for reducing exposure and vulnerability of the population to climate-induced hazards. The project will thus catalyse a paradigm shift in the national climate risk management, climate-proofed disaster risk reduction and early warning approaches.

The project Strengthening the Climate Adaptation Capacities in Georgia, funded by SDC, is also designed with an overall goal of reducing the exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nation-wide Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) and risk-informed local action serving 1.7 Million ordinary Georgians currently at risk from climate-induced hazards. The stated goal is expected to be achieved through: 1. equipping the Georgian authorities with the financial, technical and human capacities to establish a nation-wide multi-hazard hydro-meteorological risk monitoring, modelling and forecasting. and 2. Increasing vulnerable communities, regions’ resilience facing risks from natural and climate change threats to their livelihoods.

Implementation and maintenance of a multi-hazard early warning system of this scale requires technical capacities in all areas of hazard and disaster risk management to ensure the long-term sustainability of the system. Technical expertise and experience in disaster management and emergency response is present, both at central and local levels. There are sound capacities to elaborate long-term development policies, strategies and plans in various sectors. This however is mostly the case at the central level, rather than decentralized levels (regional, municipal and local).

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall responsibility of the incumbent will be to provide technical support to the International expert in Disaster Risk Management in the activities related to development of risk informed municipal risk management plans (preparedness and response plans).  The incumbent shall work under guidance of international expert and supervision of the Project Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The incumbent will be responsible to:

• Develop a work plan, with description of activities and timelines to be implemented by the incumbent under guidance of the international expert;
• Provide inputs to international expert in situation analysis of risk management planning practices (preparedness and response planning) on municipal level in Georgia, through:
  • Identify the relevant stakeholders in municipal preparedness and response planning;
  • Provide review of existing laws and by laws regulating development of municipal risk management plans;
  • Provide review of existing municipal risk management plans;
• Support international expert in development of generalized guidance notes for preparedness and response planning for the following disasters: floods, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm, drought, through:
  • Preparing Georgian version of the methodology;
  • Circulation of the draft version with relevant stakeholders and collection of the comments and incorporation into the final English version of the document under guidance of the international expert;
• Support international expert in drafting of the methodology and SoPs for developing a risk informed municipal disaster risk management plan, that would include:
  • Preparing Georgian version of the methodology and SoPs
  • Arrangement of the consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders and collection of their comments;
  • Finalization of the English and Georgian version of the methodology based on the comments received, under guidance of the international expert.

The methodology for risk-informed municipal disaster risk management planning should be gender-sensitive and ensure participation of the community; Gender advisors hired through the UNDP program will provide support in gender-mainstreaming into the process. The methodology should be developed in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders identified through the assignment.

• Support international expert in assessment of training needs and development of training manual for Emergency Management Service staff and conducting the ToTs

Deliverables:

1. The schedule of works to be implemented by the expert (two weeks after signing the contract);
2. Situation analysis of municipal risk management planning (22 November 2019);
3. Progress report on stakeholder consultations for finalization of the guidance notes for preparedness/response planning for the disasters: flood, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm and drought (20 December 2019)
4. Georgian version of the generalized guidance notes for preparedness/response planning for the disasters:  floods, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm, drought (20 December 2019)
5. Training needs assessment report and ToT programme in Georgian (20 December 2019)
6. Progress report on stakeholder consultations for finalization of the methodology for risk-informed municipal disaster risk management plans (July 2020)
7. Georgian version of the methodology for risk-informed municipal disaster risk management plans (July 2020);
8. Progress report on provided support in training of trainers for EMS staff on risk-informed municipal preparedness and response planning methodology, supplemented by training report with attendance sheet and pre-post training test results (15 November 2020).               

Management Arrangements:

The work of service provider will be directly supervised by the Project Manager under the overall supervision of the Environment and Energy Team Leader and guidance of the international expert. The service provider will be directly responsible to, reporting to, seeking approval from, and obtaining certificate of acceptance of outputs from the above-mentioned persons.

Payment modality and deliverables:

The payment schedule is given below and will be made upon satisfactory completion/submission and approval of the deliverables by the supervisor:

• 10% of consultancy fee: upon successful submission of deliverable 1. Technical note and work plan indicating the schedule of works and responsibilities of the team members;
• 20% of consultancy fee: upon successful submission of deliverable 2. Situation analysis of municipal risk management planning;
• 40% of consultancy fee: upon successful submission of deliverable 3. Progress report on stakeholder consultations for finalization of the guidance notes for preparedness/response planning for the disasters: flood, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm and drought; deliverable 4. Georgian version of the generalized guidance notes for preparedness/response planning for the disasters:  floods, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm, drought and deliverable; and deliverable 5. Training needs assessment report and ToT programme in Georgian;
• 20% of consultancy fee: upon successful submission of deliverable 6. Progress report on stakeholder consultations for finalization of the methodology for risk-informed municipal disaster risk management plans; deliverable 7. Georgian version of the manual for preparedness and response planning for the   disasters and methodology for risk-informed municipal disaster risk management plans;
• 10% of consultancy fee:  upon successful submission of deliverable 8. ToT report supplemented by training report with attendance sheet and pre-post training test results

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Understanding of the mandate and the role of UNDP would be an asset; 
• 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 favouritism.

Functional competencies:

• Strong communication and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated skills in drafting reports;
• Ability to work under pressure with several tasks and various deadlines;
• Actively generates creative, practical approaches and solutions to overcome challenging situations;
• Excellent writing, presentation/public speaking skills;
• A pro-active approach to problem-solving;
• Computer literacy.

Leadership and Self-Management skills:

• Builds strong relationships with the working group and with the project partners; focuses on impact and results for the project partners and responds positively to feedback;
• Cooperates with working group effectively and demonstrates strong conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy, positivity and a constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong influencing and facilitation skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change, new ideas and ability to manage ambiguity;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to transfer knowledge and competencies;
• Is able to work independently and hurdle competing priorities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in disaster risk management, civil protection, natural hazard management and other related fields (minimum requirement: Bachelor's degree - 12 points; Master’s Degree or higher - additional 3 points).

Experience

• At least 3 years of experience in disaster risk management and/or civil protection field (minimum requirement: 3 years - 12 points, more than 3 years -  additional 3 points);
• At least 2 years of experience in preparing assessments in the disaster risk management and/or civil protection (minimum requirement: 3 years - 11 points, more than 2 years - additional 4 points); 
• Familiarity with EU Civil Protection standards for preparedness/response planning will be an asset (5 points).

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in both spoken and written Georgian and English.

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis method, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum total obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria (desk review and interview) equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30.  Offerors that do not meet any of the Minimum Requirements will be automatically rejected, while the rest will form up the long list. Technical evaluation will comprise of desk review and interview stages. Candidates who collect 70% (35 points) of points obtainable as a result of the desk review will form up short list and be invited to the interview.Offerors passing 70% threshold as a result of the interview (i.e. obtain minimum of 14 points) will be recommended for financial evaluation. 

Financial Proposal:

The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR.  In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount. Maximum 30 points will be assigned to the lowest price offer. All other price offers will be scored using the formula (inverse proportion):  Financial score X = 30* the lowest price offer/suggested price offer.