SOD2019 Baseline Assessment (Consultant)

About the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center:

The 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.

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) in an effective manner. ADPC has six strategic themes supported by seven departments: the 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 co-implementing and facilitating Phase 2 of the Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership Strengthening (BPP) under the overall leadership and guidance of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Bangladesh. BPP is an innovative partnership instrumental in supporting the Government of Bangladesh in leading and operationalizing its flagship policy of SOD 2019 through a multi-stakeholder partnership model. Phase 2 of the BPP will strengthen the multi-stakeholder partnership platform at the national and sub-national levels, building operational and technical capacities, research applications, and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.

Under the program, one of the critical outputs is to have an in-depth assessment of the current implementation status of the SOD 2019 and National Plan for Disaster Management (NPDM) to establish a baseline for BPP interventions. The consultant is expected to conceptualize and develop baseline assessment tools, approach and methodology in select areas of the SOD 2019 and its implementation in three districts (Bagerhat, Kurigram, and Bandarban) of Bangladesh. The consultant will lead the baseline research and dissemination in coordination and consultation with the technical partner, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, other sectoral partners of BPP, relevant stakeholders, and ADPC. The consultant will lead the development of tools, key indicators, formation of the research team, facilitation of the process, stakeholder consultations, data compilation, data analysis, reporting, and dissemination of the research findings with the technical partner. The baseline will capture critical gaps, bottlenecks, success factors, and recommendations on key aspects of the SOD and NPDM.

The consultant position is open only to Bangladeshi nationals. The position is based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Expected Outputs:

The consultant is expected to deliver district-wise specific outputs in line with the proposed timeline, as mentioned below:

• Name of District: Kurigram, Time Line: 20th June to 30th July 2024
• Name of District: Bagerhat, Time Line: 1st August to 30th August 2024
• Name of District: Bandarban, Time Line: 1st September to 15th October 2024

Working Principles:

In performing the duties and responsibilities indicated above, the consultant will work closely with the Senior Project Manager based in Dhaka, the Project Management Specialist based in Bangkok, and focal points of local partners and stakeholders under the overall guidance of the Director, PRR.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications and Specifications

• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in research, risk assessments, climate change, sociology, disaster management, urban resilience, development studies, or a related field is required; a Ph.D. is desirable;
• Excellent Bangla and English language skills, both oral and written, are required;
• A good understanding of the Disaster Management Ecosystem of Bangladesh and SOD2019 is preferred
• Substantial experience in conducting needs assessments, facilitation, policy analysis, development of Emergency Response Plans/contingency plans, and visualization of data;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with Government departments, development partners, and local humanitarian organizations.
• Knowledge and understanding of current discourse related to disaster risk reduction and humanitarian actions, including the existing disaster risk management systems, policy, and legal framework of Bangladesh;
• Working Experience with multi-stakeholders is preferred
• High level of competence in writing and editing reports and other technical communications;
• Familiarity and experience working with multi-donors-funded programs and international organizations;

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated, proactive, and takes initiative;
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize work and time independently;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, team-oriented work style, and experience of working in a multicultural environment;
• Maintain high quality of work and deliver work outputs on time;
• Excellent communication skills, relation-building, facilitation skills, and ability to coordinate with various stakeholders;
• Guide and mentor team members;

General Requirements:

• Operate within all ADPC Guidelines & Procedures/ Policies
• Operate within specific program needs

Duty Station: Dhaka, Bangladesh, with travel to selected three districts.

Duration: July – November 2024

Itinerary: To be finalized in consultation with the program team