Disaster Risk Assessment Expert – landslides_Republika Srpska and Brcko District BiH

Background

Development losses caused by disasters as well as population and GDP exposure to hazards are continuously being increased in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The country is exposed to various hazards, with most common ones being earthquakes, floods, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires, landslides and man-made hazards with climate change forecasts predicting an acceleration of extreme weather phenomena. Numerous challenges the country faced after the war, combined with political deadlocks and weak economic situation, resulted in disaster risks being at the bottom of priorities. This lead not only to weak general capacities but also to unabsorbing of improvements and new approaches in dealing with disaster risks. Overlooking of contemporary understanding of disaster risk reduction (DRR), which teaches that disasters are a result of poor development decisions and cannot be solved by civil protection alone, contributed to creation of additional disaster risks. Today, disasters in the country range from high-frequency small disasters to devastating events such as May 2014 floods that caused total of 2 billion EUR losses and damages. To deal with these, every-day more complex disasters, the country needs full implementation of understanding that development efforts have to be disaster proof and climate smart. DRR sector in the country requires a strategic roadmap and actions strengthened with new tools and approaches moving away from business as usual.To address these challenges Interlinking Disaster Risk Management in BiH Project was launched. Project will strengthen DRR capacities at all government levels in BiH by putting in place legal and policy frameworks and implementation of disaster and climate risk management measures. Project is supported by Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented by UNDP. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, Disaster Risk Assessment Expert -  landslides, is to develop landslide hazard maps for municipalities of Zvornik, Laktasi, Gradiska and Brcko District BiH in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hazard maps must be developed using multicriterial method and prepared in GIS (Geographic Information System) as a 10x10 raster for its integration into Disaster Risk Analysis System (DRAS) . The assignment consists of preparing landslide hazard-susceptibility maps for historical/average scenario (this scenario considers the average value of historical rainfall for the period since 1981). The assignment includes: review of existing information, evaluation of existing data, identification of gaps, generation of missing data where appropriate, evaluation of data accuracy, collection and compilation of new data required for the study, analysis and interpretation of the data, generation of the landslide hazard-susceptibility maps for the landslide types potentially affecting the study area.

Description of ResponsibilitiesLandslide hazard-susceptibility maps shall be prepared after due mapping, classification and description of the type of landslides affecting the study area at the scale 1:10000 (or more appropriate scale proposed by expert – must be approved by project manager).Preparing the landslide hazard-susceptibility maps includes the identification of the conditions and processes controlling them as well as the triggering factors. Determining the extent of landslide hazard requires identifying those areas, which could be affected by a damaging landslide and assessing the probability of the landslide occurring within some time period. However, specifying a time frame for the occurrence of a landslide is difficult to determine even under ideal conditions. As a result, landslide hazard is often represented by landslide susceptibility. In general, landslide susceptibility only identifies areas potentially affected and does not imply a time frame when a landslide might occur.

Deliverables:The consultant will be entrusted with the following tasks:

• Carry out a review of the available information to obtain and understanding of the landslide events in the study areas;
• Assess the significance of the various factors influencing landslide movements in the study areas (this should include, among others, lithology, morphology, meteorology, land use, man-made structures);
• Carry out a review of existing data and identify gaps;
• Collect all the data and new information that may be required to prepare the landslide hazard-susceptibility maps. UNDP will assist with collecting all the necessary data. The contractor shall use an existing Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the study areas. This DEM will be provided by UNDP;
• Use multicriterial method and appropriate GIS tools and models to prepare the landslide hazard-susceptibility maps;
• Produce the landslide hazard-susceptibility maps for the municipalities of Zvornik, Laktasi, Gradiska and Brcko District BiH.

The duration of this task is estimated to be 60 working days within 3 months.

Deliverables and Timelines

The consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables and services:

Deliverables and Services Deadline

• LOT 1 Landslide hazard-susceptibility maps for the municipality of Zvornik 20th April 2018;Landslide hazard-susceptibility maps for the municipality of Laktasi 10th May 2018
• LOT 2 Landslide hazard-susceptibility maps for the Brcko District BiH 30th May 2018; Landslide hazard-susceptibility maps for the municipality of Gradiska  20th June 2018

Competencies

Corporate Responsibility and Teamwork:

• Demonstrates commitment to UNDP’s mission, vision and values;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Plans, prioritizes and delivers tasks on time;
• Strives for and promotes excellence in performance continually;
• Participates effectively in a team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others.

People Skills:

• Demonstrates ability to work harmoniously with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Recognizes and responds appropriately to the ideas, interests, and concerns of others;
• Builds trust and engenders morale by displaying open, transparent and credible behavior;
• Respects individual/cultural differences; utilizes diversity to foster teamwork;
• Ensures others’ understanding of, involvement in, and adaptation to a change process.

Partnering and Networking:

• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies;
• Ability to work as a member of a team as well as work autonomously.

 Results-Orientation:

• Plans and procedures quality results to meet established goals.

Communication:

• Technical writing skills, formulates written information clearly and persuasively;
• Strong communication skills;
• Presents information in a clear and articulate manner.

Job Knowledge and Expertise:

• Strong analytical skills;
• Knowledge and experience on disaster risk assessments and risk management;

Required Skills and Experience

Education: 

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in geology or related fields. BA in combination with 5 additional years of working experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience: 

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in landslide hazard and risk assessment and management;
• Strong understanding of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and hazard analysis techniques;
• Proven knowledge of methodologies for landslide hazard and risk assessment and previous experience in preparation of such analysis and reports.

Language Requirements: 

• Fluency in spoken and written B/H/S language and working knowledge of the English language is a requirement.

Other desirable skills 

• Proficiency in computer applications such as MS Office, CAD, GIS;
• Experience in working with international organizations in the region is an asset.

 Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysisWhen using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, andb) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

• Technical Criteria weight-70%;
• Financial Criteria weight- 30%

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points for technical criteria assessment would be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Applicants are required to submit an application including:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

• Proposal:

(i) Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work(ii) Provide a brief methodology on how they will approach and conduct the work

• Financial proposal

Lump sum contractsThe financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount in BAM currency, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (LOTs). 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 per number of anticipated working days.TravelAll envisaged travel costs and other applicable costsmust be included in the financial proposal.

• Completed and signed UNDP Personal History Form (downloadable from http://www.ba.undp.org/content/bosnia_and_herzegovina/en/home/operations/jobs.html) and at least 3 references.

Please scan all above mentioned documents and upload as one attachment only online through this website.

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 62 years or more require full medical examination and statement of fitness to work to engage in the consultancy;
• Due to large number of potential applicants, only competitively selected candidates will be contacted for remaining steps of the service procurement process.