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Project Manager, Disaster Risk Reduction

Cox's Bazaar

  • Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme
  • Location: Cox's Bazaar
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Environment
    • Security policy
    • Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
    • Conflict prevention
    • Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
    • Project and Programme Management
    • Environment&Disaster Reduction
    • Managerial positions
    • DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
  • Closing Date: Closed

Background

A total of 671,000 Rohingya have fled violence across the border from Myanmar into Cox’s Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts since August 2017. They have joined the over 300,000 Rohingya who took refuge in Bangladesh in earlier - but smaller scale – crises. While benefiting from the generous hospitality offered to them by the people of Bangladesh, the scale of the crisis is such that Bangladesh cannot be expected to singlehandedly meet the most acute needs of the Rohingya. Substantial additional support from the international community is required.
 
Bangladesh is ranked among the top ten most disaster-prone countries in the world, and Cox’s Bazar district is exposed to numerous hazards including cyclones, landslides, flash floods, and earthquakes. The location, living conditions and status of the Rohingya make them highly vulnerable to disastrous impacts from these hazards. To manage the threat to life and health posed by these risks and hazards, the humanitarian actors in Cox’s Bazar have stepped up their disaster risk reduction and preparedness efforts. An Emergency Preparedness Task Force has been formed to support sectors. UNDP has been requested to play a technical advisory role within this task force, with particular focus on disaster risk reduction and coherence with national systems and capacities. 
 
The location, climate and topography of Cox’s Bazar creates an environment where local communities are exposed to multiple natural hazards, and experience recurring extreme weather events. The influx of the Rohingya has not only increased the size of the population at risk but is also driving the rapid creation of new risks due to deforestation, hill-cutting, and inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure. While these risks will primarily affect the Rohingya, subsequent events such as intensified relief distribution, water contamination, and displacement are likely to have spill-over effects on the host communities. In addition, the utilization of local road networks, infrastructure, and local government capacity for Rohingya response purposes is placing critical disaster management resources under pressure, which will be intensified if a disaster occurs within the camp. 
 
In response to these issues, UNDP, IOM and the IFRC has established a consortium to implement the ECHO-funded project “Strengthening extreme weather and disaster preparedness to enhance the resilience of host and Rohingya communities in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh”. The project objective is strengthened disaster risk management and response capacity at the Upazila, District, and Union level in host communities as well as enhance the disaster resilience of host and Rohingya communities in Teknaf and Ukhia Upazila. Under the project UNDP will (i) provide technical, material and human resource support to local government disaster management structures, and (ii) contextualized technical support on disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction to the humanitarian coordination structure. The project will be implemented over 18 months (April 2018-September 2019), with a budget of EUR 600,000 for the UNDP portion. The project’s human resource for the technical support component is complemented by fully funded deployment of experts from RedR and SDC in 2018 as well as support from UNHCR in 2019. For UNDP, the project is the primary vehicle for one of four pillars under its Cox’s Bazar with improved capacity to respond to the Rohingya crisis. 
 
Under the supervision of the UNDP Cox’s Bazar Head of Sub-Office, the Project Manager – Disaster Risk Reduction plays a dual role in the implementation of this project:
  • Advisory role to the ISCG Secretariat, Emergency Preparedness and Response Task Force and key humanitarian actors on issues related to disaster preparedness, risk reduction and recovery
  • Management of the project processes and its outputs.
The Project Manager – Disaster Risk Reduction will interact with a broad range of disaster management stakeholders in government, the humanitarian system and development community, and is expected to represent UNDP in technical processes and forums. He/she will supervise all staff, personnel and individual contract holders under the Cox’s Bazar disaster risk reduction portfolio, as well as additional deployed disaster risk reduction-related personnel from standby partners.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

Summary of key functions:
  • Provision of high-quality, contextualized technical advice to the humanitarian response stakeholders on issues related to disaster preparedness, risk reduction and recovery;
  • Overseeing and managing the project on day-to-day basis;
  • Managing partnerships, policy, resource mobilization and advocacy efforts;
  • Oversee Monitoring and Evaluation activities of the project
  • Facilitating knowledge management and sharing.
  • Under the overall strategic guidance of the UNDP Cox´s Bazar Head of Sub-Office, and in close collaboration with the Assistant Country Director, Resilience & Inclusive Growth the Project Manager has the following duties and responsibilities:
1. Provision of high-quality, contextualized technical advice to the humanitarian response stakeholders on issues related to disaster preparedness, risk reduction and recovery;
  • Providing contextualized Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management advisory support linking humanitarian processes to the longer-term resilience to the ISCG, the HoSOG, the Emergency Preparedness and Response Task Force, the ISCG secretariat, key agencies and other humanitarian stakeholders;
  • Create synergies between relevant stakeholders involved in DRM efforts, while promoting national ownership of coordination processes through increased participation of national and local stakeholders;
  • Support mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction, resilient recovery and Build Back Better approaches in the Inter-Sector Coordination mechanisms and related response preparedness plans. 
2. Overseeing and managing of the project on day-to-day basis;
  • Manage the project team and ensure timely implementation, results –orientation and accountability for project results;
  • Set direction for the team including roles and responsibilities, accountability and reporting ensuring that the work of the team is conducted in accordance with UNDP’s relevant business processes and that high – quality outputs are delivered on time;
  • Monitor the progress on agreed results framework and performance indicators and take action/decision and/or provide timely support to project staff;
  • Provide intellectual and strategic guidance in the area of disaster risk reduction;
  • Ensure project meets expectations with respect to quality, budget, delivery timelines, and strategy;
  • Brief and consult with sub-office and country office senior management on project progress and provide information and advice as required to contribute to the Country Office initiatives;
  • Identify areas of improvement by applying best practices/lessons learnt using UNDP corporate monitoring tools and corporate reports;
  • Manage project budgets and ensure timely and accurate reporting.
3. Managing partnerships, policy, resource mobilization and advocacy efforts;
  • Set and manage consortium partners’ expectations and manage day-to-day consortium interaction;
  • Advise, guide and provide support to the UNDP Country Office and Sub-Office on disaster risk management in Cox’s Bazar;
  • Set and manage donor expectations and manage day-to-day donor interaction;
  • Mobilize, foster and strengthen strategic partnerships with UN agencies, and other relevant multilateral and bilateral organizations to advance and support the project;
  • Foster and enhance collaboration with relevant Government bodies by working closely with Government counterparts and national and local partners;
  • Promote the Grand Bargain, Humanitarian-Development nexus considerations and area-based approaches.
  • Seek and identify additional partnership and funding opportunities for scaling up project activities, and oversee the preparation of funding proposals, donor briefing and presentations in support of resource mobilization to advance UNDP’s and the project goals;
4. Oversee Monitoring and Evaluation activities of the project;
  • In collaboration with the Early Recovery Facility manager, ensure close financial and procurement oversight and monitoring of all activities of the project;
  • Set direction for monitoring and evaluation priorities in accordance to UNDP rules and regulations;
  • Guide development of overall monitoring and evaluation systems for the project and put mechanisms in place for proper and timely reporting to the country office and the donor;
  • Oversee relationships with external parties on M&E;
  • Monitor and manage any strategic risks/issues facing the project; submit new risks/issues to the Early Recovery Facility board for consideration and decision on possible actions if required; update the status of these risks/issues by submitting updates to the Early Recovery Facility manager for maintaining the Project Risks/Issues Log;
  • Ensure project’s procedural alignment with UNDP position, rules and regulations and mandate;
  • Evaluate all key project deliverables, as well as final product to ensure traceability of requirements, high quality and client acceptance.
5. Facilitate knowledge management and sharing;
  • Ensure regular assessment of strategic, implementation, action plans identifying areas of emphasis to guide project improvements and future plans;
  • Use sound judgment in all project communication and ensure that project communication meets needs of different audiences (consortium partners, government, the humanitarian community and so forth)
  • Manage stakeholder expectations and participate in communication activities to inform stakeholders of progress and issues;
  • Ensure proper coordination with Regional Hubs and HQ;
  • Communicate progress, risks, expectations, timelines, milestones and other key project metrics to clients, consortium partners, and team members;
  • Represent the project with donors, governments and national and international forums.
Impact of Results:
  1. Humanitarian response stakeholders and decision-makers in Cox’s Bazar are supplied with high-quality contextualized, relevant disaster risk management advice.
  2. Successful implementation and achievement of project objectives and outputs through effective implementation of project activities, effective management, strategic planning and partnerships, production of meaningful knowledge management products, high-quality reports and constant monitoring and evaluation.

Competencies

Advocacy/Advancing Policy-Oriented Agenda
 
Level 2: Analysis and creation of messages and strategies
  • Uses the opportunity to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work
Results-Based Programme Development and Management
 
Level 1.2: Contributes into results through primary research and analysis
  • Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work
  • Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration
  • Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation
Resource Mobilization (Field Duty Stations)
 
Level 2:  Implementing resource mobilization strategies
  • Identifies and compiles lessons learned
  • Promotes and encourages country office action with local missions of donor countries as well as appropriate government authorities for increased contribution to UNDP resources, including cost sharing modalities
Building Strategic Partnerships 
 
Level 2: Identifying and building partnerships
  • Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda 
  • Develops positive ties with civil society to build/strengthen UNDP’s mandate 
  • Identifies needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners
  • Promotes UNDP’s agenda in inter-agency meetings 
Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise 
 
Level 2: In-depth knowledge of the subject-matter
  • Understands more advanced aspects of primary area of specialization as well as the fundamental concepts of related disciplines
  • Serves as internal consultant in the area of expertise and shares knowledge with staff
  • Continues to seeks new and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work of the unit
  • Keeps abreast of new developments in area of professional discipline and job knowledge and seeks to develop him/herself professionally
  • Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments
Conceptual Innovation in the Provision of Technical Expertise
 
Level 2: Developing innovative and creative approaches
  • Develops innovative and creative approaches to meet programme and capacity development objectives
  • Participates in dialogue about conceptual innovation at the country and regional levels
Client Orientation 
 
Level 2: Contributing to positive outcomes for the client
  • Anticipates client needs
  • Works towards creating an enabling environment for a smooth relationship between the clients and service provider
  • Demonstrates understanding of client’s perspective
Innovation and Marketing New Approaches
 
Level 2: Developing new approaches
  • Identifies new approaches and promotes their use in other situations
  • Documents successes and uses them to project a positive image
  • Creates an environment that fosters innovation and innovative thinking
  • Makes the case for innovative ideas from the team with own supervisor
Promoting Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing
 
Level 2: Developing tools and mechanisms
  • Makes the case for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches
  • Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools and mechanisms
Design and Implementation of Management Systems
 
Level 2: Designing and implementing management system
  • Makes recommendations regarding operation of systems within organizational units
  • Identifies and recommends remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation
Core Competencies:
  • Promoting ethics and integrity, creating organizational precedents
  • Building support and political acumen 
  • Building staff competence, creating an environment of creativity and innovation 
  • Building and promoting effective teams
  • Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication
  • Creating an emotionally intelligent organization
  • Leveraging conflict in the interests of UNDP & setting standards 
  • Sharing knowledge across the organization and building a culture of knowledge sharing and learning. Promoting learning and knowledge management/sharing is the responsibility of each staff member.
  • Fair and transparent decision making; calculated risk-taking

Required Skills and Experience

Education:
  • Master’s degree in disaster risk reduction, disaster management, or other social science, natural science or engineering discipline with direct relevance
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in development and/or humanitarian sector;
  • High degree of understanding of multi-hazard disaster risk reduction in South-Asia; 
  • Work experience in and in-depth knowledge of the Rohingya crisis response; 
  • Previous work experience from multi-agency/multi-level processes and projects an advantage; 
  • Previous experience of working with UN agencies or international organizations operating in development would be a strong advantage; and
  • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate and work well with diverse people: race, nationality, age and gender sensitivity.
Language Requirements:
  • Excellent written and verbal command of English. 
  • Knowledge of Bangla would be an advantage.

Disclaimer

This vacancy is now closed.
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