International Consultant on Urban Disaster Risk Management

Background

Tajikistan, with 93% of its territory covered with mountains, is disaster prone country. Mudflows, landslides and floods are most frequent, followed by avalanches and small-scale earthquakes. Disasters in Tajikistan are most often local, frequently affecting the more inaccessible piedmont and mountain areas of the country.

In September 2016, Disaster Risk Management Programme (DRMP) of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched the new project support to the Government of Tajikistan in undertaking a nation-wide risk assessment, establishment and implementation of risk reduction measures, improvement of early warning and disaster management planning, preparedness and response, as well as strengthening capacities of search and rescue teams. UNDP DRMP has been working with Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoES) as a national counterpart. CoES has historically been the Government counterpart for community-focused disaster risk reduction (DRR) projects. However, DRR is not specifically part of CoES’ mandate and the implementation of the Unified System Law is likely to increase CoES’ internal focus on preparedness and response, at least in the short term.

In this project, one of the topics to be addressed and analyzed is the disaster risk management at the municipal level. There is, as noted, a significant long-term threat from a large seismic event affecting not only Dushanbe but other large cities. In the last decade, Tajikistan has also seen a significant growth in the size and populations of mid-sized cities and towns such as Kurgan-Tyube, Shaartuz, Kulyab, Gharm, Khujand, Tursunzade, Jayhun (Kumsangir), Khorog and Panjakent and these cities and towns are increasingly under threat from disasters. Urban areas are also facing an emerging threat of new or larger disasters as a result of the growth process and changes in the urban context.

In addition, this project is undertaking a nation-wide risk assessment across the country to visualize the risk, and to encourage the preparedness activities at municipal level. Currently, this simplification of risk assessment process is under way by the project team. When this process becomes more simplified and user-friendly, risk assessment is to be widely used in Tajikistan which can envisage to back up the disaster risk management in urban areas.  

Improving risk management in urban areas will be addressed in the National Disaster Risk Management Strategy (2017-2030), which is being developed by the government but not approved yet. The one of the prioritized area in this strategy is to incorporate disaster risk reduction into the development process, and prevent human and material losses from disasters. In terms of the Sendai Framework, improving urban risk management addresses priorities to strengthen disaster risk governance, investment in disaster risk reduction and enhances disaster preparedness for effective response. Improving disaster risk management in urban areas also contributes to the resilience of these areas when disasters do occur.

Stronger resilience in urban areas will also contribute to improved rural resilience as urban areas are significant source of support to rural areas following a disaster. The municipality disaster risk management improvement plan is to address critical gaps in the disaster management process, including changes to operating procedures and capacities.

The management of urban risks should:

• Improve the integration of risk assessment results into local land use and disaster planning.
• Improve local level disaster preparedness including development/updating warning and response plans, capacity building, scenario-based exercises and public education.
• Integrate community-based disaster risk management systems into the overall local government disaster risk management structure.

The resulting municipality disaster risk management improvement plan will define specific actions, undertakings and capacity building needs to improve government and civil society engagement with disaster risk management at the municipal and neighborhood levels. Another element of the municipality disaster risk management improvement plan will look at the costs and benefits of risk reduction and preparedness activities which can be initiated at a sub-municipal (neighborhood) level and how these activities can be integrated into local community action plans.

Duties and Responsibilities

Goals and objectives:

UNDP DRMP is seeking for an International Consultant, who, under an overall supervision of UNDP DRM Programme Manager and Project Analyst and in close consultation with the national stakeholders and other relevant counterparts, will develop Municipality disaster risk management improvement plan in Kurgan-Tube or Khujand and Panjakent. 

Duties and responsibilities:

The International Consultant will be responsible for identifying challenges and gaps facing a selected municipality from natural hazards as well as disaster preparedness, warning and response capabilities. Based on the identified challenges and gaps develop Municipality disaster risk management improvement plan. Specifically, the International Consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

Development of Municipality disaster risk management improvement plan in Kurgan-Tube or Khujand  with the assistance of National Expert:

• Conduct assessment of current disaster risk management (DRM) system including preparedness, early warning, and response capabilities and identify its challenges and gaps for natural hazards. In addition, assessment should bring to the surface gender disparities in the municipality DRM;
• Develop the interim report on the challenges and gaps of the disaster risk management system;
• Conduct training on costs and benefits analysis on DRR measures to municipal authorities and local organizations involved in DRM in Kurgan-Tube or Khujand;
• Develop the Municipality disaster risk management improvement plan which address critical gaps of the DRM, proposes changes to operating procedures and capacity building needs. Municipality DRM improvement plan for natural hazards should cover:
  • Preparedness and response planning
  • Training and education
  • Exercises, drills and simulation
  • Land use and DRR
  • Citizen involvement in DRM
  • Neighborhood-driven DRR measures

Supervise National Expert on development of Municipality disaster risk management improvement plan in Panjakent:

• Instruct and support National Expert to conduct the assessment of DRM system, develop the interim report on the challenges and gaps of the disaster risk management system, conduct training on costs and benefits analysis on DRR measures, develop the municipality disaster risk management improvement plan;
• Communicate regularly with the National Expert to navigate his/her assignment smoothly;
• Develop templates, learning paths and assignments for the National Expert;

Submission of the final report including lessons learned from whole process and perspectives of implementation of the Municipality disaster risk management improvement plan.

For detailed information, please refer to annex 1- Terms of Reference of the below link.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Professionalism;
• Communication;
• Teamwork;
• Accountability.

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling 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 favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment. 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree (Masters) or higher in Urban Planning, Social Science, Sociology, Development Studies or other relevant fields.

Experience:

• At least 8 years of working experience related to disaster risk management and reduction, or urban planning with state or non-state institutions;
• At least 5 years of working experience in the similar professional role (i.e. disaster planning, international consultant) with international organizations, and municipalities.

Language:

• Written and verbal fluency of English language;
• Knowledge of Russian or Tajik is an asset.

Application Procedure:

Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:  

http://www.undp.tj/va/upload/va/ICPN%20TOR%20for%20Int.%20Urban%20Risk%20Consultant.doc

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.