Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is providing continued assistance to the Government of Tajikistan, specifically to the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoES) in improving the disaster risk management. Within the project of “Improved DRR Policy Making Mechanism. Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance in Tajikistan (SDRGT)” funded by Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC), UNDP will be supporting the Government in policy level risk governance.
The overarching goal of SDRGT project is to reduce the loss of life and economic cost of disasters in Tajikistan through improvement of risk governance across the Government and the international community. The project defines the governance of risk as the process by which the Government, the country’s residents and external partners create and use legal and social constructs that enable these stakeholders to take a range of actions to reduce risk. The project uses a three year timeframe to (a) expand approaches to risk governance at the national level involving the government and the international community and (b) improve local risk governance using risk assessments, risk information-based land use planning and risk communications targeting land owners and users by selected local governments. These efforts are linked to (a) increasing awareness of specific river basin organizations (RBOs) on managing water-based risks (e.g., floods and drought) at and below the watershed level, and (b) linking local and RBO-level water-based risk management. The project will incorporate a gendered perspective into improving risk governance, particularly in work at the district level.
The project is considered as a lead into further work at the national and local levels in the context of the National Disaster Risk Management Strategy 2018-2030 and linked Sendai priorities. Project activities build on earlier SDC-funded work establishing the National Platform and risk assessment process, and UNDP-supported work on risk management at the sub-national level.
Duties and Responsibilities
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
UNDP in Tajikistan is seeking for an International Consultant, who, under direct supervision of UNDP DRMP Manager, in close consultation with the Team Leader on Climate Change, DRR, Energy and Environment, as well as in close cooperation with the key national stakeholders and other relevant counterparts will bear the responsibility to broaden the engagement of key government, private sector and external organization actors in disaster risk governance in Tajikistan through discussions, topical meetings and development of policy notes.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The International Consultant will be responsible for an effective engagement of key government, private sector and external organization actors in disaster risk governance in Tajikistan through discussions, topical meetings and development of policy notes. Specifically, the International Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:
OUTCOME ONE: National government has improved governance of natural risks and is actively engaged in risk management
This outcome will demonstrate a broader cross-government engagement in risk management by moving beyond the current focus on preparedness and response to strengthening risk governance as an overriding concept.
- Output 1: National Focal Point for Disaster Risk Management appointed and engaged
- Output 2: National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Expert Group Strengthened
- Output 3: Disaster risk assessment results integrated into local risk management
Output 4: Selected River Basin Organizations (RBO) and Districts integrating water-based risk information into common risk governance planning and activities
For detailed information, please refer to annex 2- Terms of Reference of the below link.
Competencies
Functional Competencies:
- Knowledge of institutional mandates and practical experience of the political, social and environmental factors and issues related to disaster risk management, climate change mitigation in Central Asia, preferably in Tajikistan;
- An independent, reliable, responsible self-motivator able work under pressure;
- Excellent communication, team-building and diplomatic skills to develop partnerships;
- Good knowledge of UNDP programming policies, templates and requirements;
- Deliver results for clients; proactively understands client’s stated and unstated needs and develop relevant reports/deliverables in a timely matter.
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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Advanced postgraduate university degree in political science, natural sciences, sociology, law, international relations, public administration, or other relevant field; or an equivalent combination of education and extensive relevant professional experience in a related area.
Experience:
- At least 10 years of progressively professional experience in disaster risk management/disaster risk reduction at the international level. Part of that experience must be in the field involved with high-level interactions and inter-agency, agency-government coordination (technical advisor and/or expert);
- Professional experience in developing policy notes on development, disaster management, and/or climate mitigation and/or other relevant fields.
Language:
- Proficiency in English, excellent analytical and drafting skills; knowledge of written and spoken local language (preferably Russian) is an advantage.
Application Procedure:
Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:
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.