Consultancy, Disaster Law - Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. IFRC through its Disaster Law and Auxiliary role program is a leader in developing and disseminating guidance on best practice for disaster risk governance and the national societies’ auxiliary role.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas, the latest comprising thirty four countries throughout its network of eight country cluster/offices.

The IFRC’s approach to collectively reducing the current and future humanitarian impacts of climate change is informed by its Strategy 2030 which places climate change and environmental crises as one the key challenges to be addressed in the coming decade. As part of the IFRC’s holistic approach the Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4All) launched by the UN Secretary-General in November 2022 at the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, calls for every person on Earth to be covered by an early warning system by the end of 2027. The evidence is clear: early warning and early actions systems are one of the most effective risk reduction and climate adaptation measures to reduce disaster mortality and economic losses. 

Half of countries globally do not have adequate early warning/early actions systems and even fewer have regulatory frameworks to link early warnings/early actions to preparedness and emergency plans. Early warning systems have proven to be a cost-effective and reliable solution to protect lives and livelihoods from natural hazards such as floods, heatwaves, storms and tsunamis. The Global Status Report (2022) reveals that countries with substantive-to-comprehensive early warnings coverage have disaster mortality eight times lower than countries with limited coverage.
The Early Warnings for All initiative is built on four pillars to support countries in building and operating effective and inclusive multi-hazard early warning systems: Disaster risk knowledge - led by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR); detection, observation, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting - led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO); warning dissemination and communication - led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and; preparedness and response capabilities - led by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Job Purpose

IFRC seeks a Disaster Law consultant to support the inter pillar work on policy development relating to the Early Warning for All Initiative (EW4All). Integrating early warning and early action mechanisms, considering climate change and environmental approach into existing disaster risk management laws and policies for enhancing Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic preparedness and response capabilities.

The Consultant will support IFRC to gain an enhanced understanding of specific disaster risk governance (law, policies and other regulations) within the context of the of the EW4All initiative in order to better understand the opportunities for strengthening early warning systems and early action processes, including anticipatory action through law, policies and other regulations. Specifically, the consultant is expected to:

• Assess the current disaster risk governance, including at local levels
• Identify gaps and limitations in integrating early warning and early action mechanisms, including anticipatory action.
• Recommend actionable steps for enhancing the integration of early warning and early action in the disaster risk governance frameworks

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Outcomes

The outcome of the consultancy is for IFRC to have furthered its research on Disaster risk governance in Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic to identify the recommended actions necessary to strengthen the national frameworks to better integrate the functional and effective early warning/early actions systems into the national disaster risk governance.

Consultancy outputs

This consultancy is intended to support IFRC with the following deliverables:

Prepare an update of the comprehensive research on in early actions systems -anticipatory action frameworks in Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.

Develop and present a strategic model to implement the findings and recommendations the disaster risk governance studies prepared by the IFRC based on a multi-stakeholder, locally led and National Society’ auxiliary role approach.

Education

Advanced degree in Law, Public Policy, Disaster Management, or a related field.

Experience

Minimum of 5 years of experience in DRM, law, and policy analysis, with a focus on early warning and early action

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required:

Strong analytical, research, and report-writing skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities

Good level of acknowledge on country’s context and international best practices in disaster risk and climate change – environment law and policies

Fluent spoken and written in Spanish

Work command in English

Competencies, Values and Comments

Submission Requirements

Interested Consultants are invited to submit:
•    A detailed proposal outlining the approach to achieving the objectives.
•    Financial proposal, including a breakdown of costs.
•    Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of the Consultant
•    Examples of previous relevant work.

Evaluation:

The proposals will be evaluated based on technical competence, relevant experience, and financial considerations.

 

Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability

Excellent communication and collaboration skills to engage with stakeholders and gather feedback effectively