UNDP Jobs - 87941- Expert in Disaster Risk Management

Expert in Disaster Risk Management

Location :

Home Based with three missions to Tbilisi, GEORGIA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

18-Oct-19 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

up to 50 consultancy days during October 2019 – 30 November 2020, with three missions (18 days)

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

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 the 2nd and the 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 given 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 incumbent will be responsible to:

Develop technical note for implementation of the assignment, with description and scope of activities to be implemented by the incumbent;
Conduct 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;
- Review of existing laws and by laws regulating development of municipal risk management plans to identify consideration of specific risk information in developing municipal plans;
- Review of existing municipal risk management plans to identify the level of consideration of risk information;
Develop generalized manuals for preparedness and response planning for the following disasters: floods, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm, drought. The activity should be developed in close consultations with relevant stakeholders;
Prepare the methodology and SoPs for developing a risk informed municipal disaster risk management plan, that would include:
- functioning of municipal operational centre;
- activation, mobilization and engagement of forces and resources;
- actions of municipality administration related to implementation of civil protection and rescue activities;
- measures of protection and rescue;
- informing of citizens and general public;
- means of cooperation with other levels of government.

The methodology for risk-informed municipal disaster risk management planning should be gender-sensitive and ensure inclusion 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.

Development of training manual for Emergency Management Service staff and conducting the ToTs, through assessing the training needs;

Deliverables:

Technical note and work plan indicating the schedule of works and responsibilities of the team members (two weeks after signing the contract);
Situation analysis of municipal risk management planning (30 November 2019);
Generalized manual for preparedness/response planning for the disasters: floods, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm, drought (20 December 2019)
Training needs assessment report and ToT programme (20 December 2019)
Methodology for risk-informed municipal disaster risk management plans (July 2020);
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 Chief Technical Advisor. 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

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 deliverables 1. Technical note and work plan indicating the schedule of works and responsibilities of the team members;
30% of consultancy fee: upon successful submission of deliverable 2. Situation analysis of municipal risk management planning;
30% of consultancy fee: upon successful submission of deliverable 3. Generalized manual for preparedness/response planning for the disasters: floods, landslide, mudflow, avalanche, windstorm, hailstorm, drought and deliverable; and deliverable 4. Training needs assessment report and ToT programme;
20% of consultancy fee: upon successful submission of deliverable 5. 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 6. Training programme and ToT report

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 5 years of experience in disaster risk management and/or civil protection field (minimum requirement: 5 years - 12 points, more than 5 years - additional 3 points);
At least 5 years of experience in developing disaster risk management plans (preparedness and response plans) (minimum requirement: 5 years - 11 points, more than 5 years additional 4 points);
Experience of working in Georgia and/or knowledge of the region’s context is an asset (5 points).

Language requirements:

Proficiency in both spoken and written 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. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal as well.