Regulatory and Policy Specialist (for Disaster Risk Management)

Global Communities seeks the support of a Consultant for Regulatory and Policy Analysis on a potential Disaster Risk Management project, based in either Mexico or Honduras, to support a forthcoming project on disaster risk profiles and policy support in 5 Latin American Cities. The support would be required on a part-time basis for the duration of the 9-month project, which is anticipated to start in August, 2024.

*This position is contingent upon successful approval of funding. If approved, the position would likely start in August or September of 2024.

Global Communities has partnered with Willis Towers Watson (WTW) to apply for a project which will include evaluation of risk assessments and disaster management policies in 5 Latin American Cities. A development project of ICLEI, co-financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW, the project aims to facilitate the acquisition of insurance protection by 10 Latin American and the Caribbean cities against natural hazards to cover critical infrastructure and at least 7.5 million vulnerable people. For these purposes, ICLEI World Secretariat requires the services in the form of urban risk assessments (URAs) to support decision-making and policy-making by 10 local governments in Latin America to better manage urban risks, including a risk management plan indicating how much of these risks can be transferred to local insurers.

Responsibilities

About the Consultancy

The regulatory specialist would contribute within the project team to:

1. Understand the current regulatory framework for climate and disaster risk management financing at the national, subnational, and city public sectors in Mexico and Honduras;
2. Identify existing climate and disaster risk finance and insurance (CDRFI) mechanisms and the regulatory framework within the country for its implementation and further development. Identify the barriers and opportunities for the implementation of new mechanisms.
3. Identify the regulatory framework for protecting selected infrastructure by the cities and propose recommendations for the extension or implementation of the new CDRFI mechanisms.

Scope of Work

1. Revise the DRM regulations and policies at the national, subnational, and city public sector levels and analyze the possibility of implementing CDRFI mechanisms within that framework, highlighting the regulatory barriers and opportunities for implementing those mechanisms, especially regarding the protection of public infrastructure.
2. Revise existing national and local public financial resources, including non-budget public funds, and existing financial mechanisms (e.g. regional pools, national disaster funds, national catastrophe bonds, existing risk transfer mechanisms, etc.) that are potentially accessible and provided after disasters.
3. Propose a legal strategy to overcome the regulatory barriers identified to implementing CDRF mechanisms at national, sub-national, and city levels and estimate the timeline and another factor to consider for its implementation.
4. Review the existing insurance regulations in Mexico and Honduras, as well as relevant research studies, and legislative proposals, to analyze the barriers or opportunities for implementing parametric insurance at the national, subnational, and local levels within that regulatory framework.
5. Revise the regulatory framework for protecting selected public infrastructure against climate and disaster risk, if existing, and describe the barriers and opportunities to integrate CDRFI as part of public infrastructure regulation.
6. Provide continuous advice to the Project from its area of expertise and on the respective dialogue with the municipalities and relevant stakeholders.
7. Participate in progress teleconferences with the project team to discuss emerging concerns, consult, and guide on structuring CDRFI products within the framework of DRM and public infrastructure regulation.
8. At the end of the project, participate in an informative session on the process and challenges encountered in implementing CDRFI within the DRM and public infrastructure regulation framework.

Qualifications

• A legal professional with eight years of experience in insurance, financial and public administrative law.
• Prior experience advising projects focused on disaster risk reduction and management
• Knowledge of public institutions responsible for Disaster Risk Management and the policies that govern them.
• Prior experience facilitating or implementing projects within the public DRM sector would be a plus.
• Previous experience in regulatory analysis would be a plus.
• Candidates based in Mexico or Honduras strongly preferred

Location of Work

Mostly work from home, with some travel to project Cities in Mexico and Honduras for workshops and interviews