Disaster Risk Management Consultant – Bhutan

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media, and other key stakeholders.

Established in 1986 as a technical capacity-building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences to support sustainable solutions for risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas, with over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) effectively. ADPC has six strategic themes supported by seven departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, and Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration, and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC also works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Poverty and Livelihoods, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees.

ADPC Strategy 2020 guides the organization in providing comprehensive risk reduction support to countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change, and regional cooperation. For details, please refer to the ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/.

Department Introduction

The Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC focuses on enhancing the preparedness and response management capacities of governments, response organizations, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and other traditional and non-traditional actors of the Disaster Risk Management Ecosystem. It also strives to strengthen the capacity of institutions and at-risk communities for faster and more efficient disaster recovery. The department works with the above-stated actors to ensure that the regional, national, sub-national, and local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks and implementation plans are in place well before disaster strikes.

Purpose and Objectives

ADPC is currently implementing the Strengthening Sustainable Anticipatory Actions through Preparedness in South Asia (SNAP) in partnership with NDMOs, technical partner agencies, and other key stakeholders to strengthen technical capacity, institutional arrangements, and coordination systems in enhancing preparedness through anticipatory and early actions in South Asia through regional cooperation with particular emphasis on selected high-risk countries, namely Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives. The program supports goals and the priority actions identified in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) and existing national policies, strategies, plans, and programs related to anticipatory and early actions mobilizing the national disaster management stakeholders from disaster management committees, community volunteer groups, response organizations, and other BHA partners to jointly assess, plan and implement priority anticipatory actions and related capacity development programs for early action and emergency response.

The consultancy assignment’s primary objective is to provide technical and operational support implementation of the program outputs under the SNAP program in Bhutan. The activities include strategic and technical inputs, coordination with DLGDM and other stakeholders at the National level for upscaling, and advocacy of the SNAP program. In addition, the consultant will facilitate program implementation, research, partnership building and coordination of the program activities with the government and other partner organizations.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Plan, coordinate, and implement program activities promoting more vital ownership of partners from the government organizations, academic and training institutions, local NGOs, and other stakeholder agencies.
• Provide technical inputs and facilitate the national adaptation of training curricula with the Technical Curriculum Review Groups.
• Advocate and leverage resources to demonstrate co-financing from partners for achieving SNAP institutionalization.
• Promote/showcase programs’ initiatives and achievements of SNAP at the national level and advocacy for replication in other areas.
• Develop and promote partnerships with government institutions, local humanitarian organizations, professional associations, academic and training institutions, and the private sector, among others.
• Coordinate regularly with program lead and other ADPC staff in headquarters in implementing the project activities.
• Conduct program monitoring and evaluation activities, contribute to achieving all expected results, and update M&E reports and tools for SNAP.
• Amplify cross-learning and lessons learned with other programs of PRR.
• Provide strategic vision and inputs on program interventions for other programs in Bhutan.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director, Preparedness for Response and Recovery Department.

Working Principles: In performing the duties and responsibilities indicated above, the Consultant will be supervised by the Program Lead and the Director- Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC. This includes regular coordination with focal person designated by DLGDM to plan, implement and review program implementation in Bhutan. The Consultant will closely work with other Project/Program Managers, Specialists, and Coordinators of the PRR Department.

Qualifications:

• Masters in Disaster Management, Crisis Management, Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Natural Resource Management, or other related fields are essential. A Ph.D. in a related field would be an added advantage;
• At least ten years of proven experience in emergency management, disaster risk management, or related fields;
• A minimum of five years of experience in project management, implementation, coordination, planning, and capacity building;
• Familiarity and at least five years of experience working with the National and Sub-National Governments in the field of disaster preparedness and emergency response operations;
• Knowledge and proven experience in disaster preparedness, emergency response, community-based disaster risk management, end-to-end early warning system development, emergency operation center management, scenario-based contingency planning, incident management system development, simulation exercises, and application of specific technical information and data into training and capacity-building programs.
• Proven ability to develop manuals, guidelines, case studies, and training modules and deliver training using adult teaching methodologies.
• Sound knowledge of the disaster management system and structures in Bhutan, including policies, strategies, guidelines, standing orders, and other emergency preparedness-related programs in the country.
• Previous experience in working with Humanitarian NGOs or international organizations in similar programs would be added advantage.
• Knowledge of the working ethics of national or sub-national government agencies and international organizations would be an added advantage.

Duty Station: Thimphu, Bhutan

Duration: 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 (12 months)

Itinerary: During official missions outside the duty station, the Consultant will be entitled to local/international travel, daily subsistence allowance, accommodation, and other related travel costs as per ADPC financial policy including reimbursement of general and administrative expenses related to implementing program activities.