Consultant for assessment of needs and development of training for firefighters

Background

NOTE: Signed Offeror’s Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability - http://www.ba.undp.org/content/dam/bosnia_and_herzegovina/docs/Operations/Jobs/Offerors%20Letter%20to%20UNDP%20Confirming%20Interest%20and%20Availability.docx Letter to UNDP Confirming Interest and Availability.docx - to be sent to e-mail ba.shared.hr@undp.org with Subject: Job ID 89386.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is among the most forest rich states in Europe. Forest and forest land cover about 48,3% of the territory of the country. The forests of BiH are natural forests, very important for the whole of Europe. Forest fires occur in BiH on a yearly basis. During period 1999 to 2012 the country was affected by more than 8,800 forest fires causing direct damages amounting to close to 60 million USD with indirect damages claimed to be even higher than direct. Climate change predictions forecast the acceleration of extreme weather phenomena in the coming years, causing increase effect of floods and droughts directly increasing risk of fires.Some improvements in disaster risk reduction (DRR) are evident, yet, to date the country failed to introduce identified critical changes of the system and stimulate change in citizens’ behavior. This is also very relevant to firefighting structures that are recognized as the foundation for functioning of the civil protection system for local governments that are frontrunners both in terms of disaster prevention and response. Unfortunately, fire fighters’ capacities were not adequately increased to match the list of responsibilities that they have. Fire prevention in the country is struggling with imperfect legal framework, strategic documents and plans, low development of early warning, old firefighting equipment, small number of firemen of which majority is over 40 years old.

In this context, aim of this project is to raise fire risk management capacities of cities and municipalities by addressing most burning shortcomings. Direct beneficiaries of the project will be four municipalities exposed to high fire risk with limited civil protection capacities.Objective of this assignment is to contribute to the implementation of the project through designing of fire risk management needs assessment and development and delivery of the training for fire risk management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UNDP DRR Project Manager, consultant for assessment of needs and development of training for firefighters is expected to develop a methodology for needs assessment of fire risk management in municipalities and training for firefighters. The Consultant is NOT expected to conduct the capacity assessment of beneficiary municipalities, this will be done by local UNDP team. Analysis of the assessment conducted by local UNDP team will serve as the input for Consultant to design a training for firefighters. Designed and approved training will be delivered for four beneficiary municipalities.In detail consultant is expected to:

• Deliver a workplan for the assignment that will include detailed list of relevant domestic and international documents that will be reviewed (regulations, policies, studies, methodologies, etc.) including best practices, list of interviews/meetings to be conducted with relevant domestic and international stakeholders. Final workplan will be approved by UNDP.
• Based on the analysed documents and conducted interviews the consultant is expected to draft detailed methodology for assessing the fire risk management capacities of beneficiary municipalities. Methodology should enable assessment of current fire risk management capacities of beneficiary municipalities and identify needs for their strengthening. It should include in detail described principles, methods, questionnaires and instructions for conducting the capacity assessment. Draft methodology will be shared with relevant stakeholders and based on the received comments potential additional improvement of methodology will be conducted. Final methodology will be approved by relevant local stakeholders and UNDP. The Expert is NOT expected to conduct the capacity assessment of beneficiary municipalities, this will be done by local UNDP team.
• After local UNDP team conducts capacity assessment, analysis of the assessment will be delivered to Consultant. This assessment will serve as an input for Consultant to develop a standardized practical 3-day training for firefighters. Importantly training would integrate successful practices of firefighting operations from Member States of EU such as Czech Republic. The consultant will design an outline of the training curriculum and training plan presenting the purpose, learning objectives, content and methodology to be used, training agenda, and training outcome to be used in training evaluation process. The outline will be submitted for approval to UNDP Project Team, and upon its consent the consultant will design full-fledged programme and materials for the training (up to 3 training days in total). Training materials developed by the consultant will consist of:  agenda, PowerPoint presentation, compilation of relevant readings, list of references, exercises, tools, models of relevant legal documents and a training evaluation form. The UNDP Project Team will provide templates for training materials. The training will be delivered only upon UNDP’s approval of programme and materials.
• The consultant will deliver the designed and approved training programme to selected beneficiaries (one training for all beneficiaries). The training aims at increasing knowledge and skills of up to 16 firefighters from selected municipalities. Following the completion of training delivery, the consultant will provide a report with his/her observations and eventual recommendations for the training improvements. UNDP will provide logistical support for the organization of the training. 

All tasks will be done in close collaboration and support of local stakeholders and disaster risk reduction experts and UNDP. The duration of this task is estimated to be 22 working days including two missions to BiH within 6 months.

Deliverables/Outputs

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 in fire risk management;

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education

• University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in disaster risk management, environment or development or other related fields.

Experience

• At least 7 years of relevant working experience in the area of fire risk management;
• Strong understanding of disaster preparedness and response;
• Experience and strong knowledge of EUCPM;
• Proven knowledge and previous experience in designing and delivering disaster management trainings.

Languages Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English language is required for this assignment.

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 point would be considered for the Financial Evaluation

Long/Shortlisting Criteria (Qualifications)

Evaluation

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology:

Cumulative analysis

When 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%

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

• Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references;
• Motivation letter, Explaining why they are the most suitable for the work
• Provide a sample of previous document/communication material/paper done by the consultant

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

Note:

• For an assignment requiring travel, consultants of 65 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.