Technical Advisor for Anticipatory Actions [Consultancy]

Background

Serving as the longest humanitarian premium organization, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has been providing its auxiliary services to the state authorities in emergencies and crises since its establishment in 1947. Being an independent, voluntary, and autonomous non-government society under the Republic Act No. 10072, otherwise known as the PRC Act, the PRC offers a variety of services, including blood collection, disaster management (Preparedness, Disaster Risk Reduction, Anticipatory Action, Response, and Recovery), promoting International Humanitarian Law, health, safety, welfare services, etc. to its people.

With the increasing intensity and frequency of hazards natural and human-induced hazards, a humanitarian approach that aims to save lives and livelihoods and reduce losses and suffering, known as Anticipatory Action (AA) (formerly known as Forecast-based Financing (FbF) or Early Warning Early Action (EWEA)), has been one of the best approaches to reshaping the humanitarian system, driving a shift from reacting to hazards to acting ahead of them. The approach enables Response Agencies/Actors to anticipate disasters and prevent or mitigate their impact to save lives and protect livelihoods. To trial this mechanism, the German government pioneered several FbF pilot projects in 2013 under the umbrella of their Action Plan of the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) for humanitarian adaptation to climate change, particularly with the German Red Cross in Bangladesh, Peru and Mozambique.

The Philippine Red Cross implemented the first phase of the FbF Project from August 2017 to July 2020, with the support of the German Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross (FRC), and GFFO, and it was followed by a second phase, implemented from August 2020 to December 2022 with the support of GRC and GFFO, while FRC continued its technical support to the project. The PRC, in collaboration with the German Red Cross and with financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office, has launched a follow-up project called “Advancing DRR and Anticipation to the Most Vulnerable Communities in the Philippines” (AdDRRA) to enhance the efforts of DRR and AA in the Philippines in 2023. One of the key results of the project is to set-up, testing and activation of EAPs/Plans for Anticipatory Action (AA) to consolidate for a proper handing over to PRC. This result will build on the achievements and considerable experiences gained from the previous projects and will focus on revising and developing the Early Action Protocols (EAPs) as well as institutionalizing the AA into the PRC and national government disaster management mechanism in cooperation and collaboration with the national mandated agencies and the Philippines National AA Technical Working Group.

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this consultancy is to fine-tune the existing initiatives of PRC AA further and provide the necessary technical support to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and its Partners in the development and implementation of the Early Action Protocols, specifically the monitoring and use of triggers for Early Actions toward predictable hazards, which would complement the existing Early Warning Systems of the PRC, and more generally would contribute to the improvement of impact forecasting in the Philippines.

Roles and Responsibilities of the Consultant

The roles and responsibilities of the consultant are:

• To assist the PRC and its partners in developing, validating, using, and updating triggers for Typhoon, Flood, and Drought Early Action Protocols (EAPs) and for any new hazard considered a priority by the PRC;
• To actively monitor and analyze the forecasts and warning information from the national mandated agency and the PRC monitoring dashboard and timely inform any possible threats to the PRC AATWG members for possible activation of the EAPs or implement the Anticipatory Actions;
• To regularly assess the performance of the triggers and update and/or refine them when appropriate, in coordination with the PRC AATWG and the PRC’s partners (such as the 510 initiatives of the Netherlands Red Cross, or the Red Cross Climate Center)
• To assist the PRC AATWG in exploring opportunities for expanding the EAPs to additional geographic areas and other hazards
• To build the capacities of PRC and partners, including the LGUs, to deepen their understanding of the concept of AA and operationalize the approach
• To ensure proper coordination and collaboration with the relevant stakeholders (forecasting agencies, LGUs, national and international organizations) which shall be involved in the implementation of early actions, and identify a venue for possible collaboration
• To review relevant studies and keep PRC and partners informed of any new interesting developments in the field of impact-based forecasting and Forecast-based Early Actions;
• To contribute to the sustainability and institutionalization of AA in the PRC and the Philippines system
• To support the customization of the AA Training Curriculum for PRC (especially the trigger chapter) and the LGU context and capacitating the staff and volunteers on AA
• To support the AA team in producing infographics, maps, communication materials, and publications when needed

Expected Deliverables

The consultant is required to submit monthly reports outlining the progress and updates of the above-mentioned roles and responsibilities. The consultant needs to submit the deliverables below before 10 December 2024.

• One analysis report focusing on the Findings and recommendations on how to improve the existing EAPs of the PRC to fulfill their goal and objectives
• Two briefers of the EAPs of the PRC
• One manual on how to monitor the triggers of the EAPs of the PRC
• One observation reports of the capacity building training for AA of the PRC
• One study on the current development and potential opportunities on AA for the PRC

Inputs from PRC and partners

• PRC staff including the project staff under the AdDRRA project will provide the consultants all needed data which may be available at PRC or with partners;
• PRC and more particularly project staff will provide comments and validation on the inception report / final report.

Timeline and Contract Duration

The timeline for this consultancy is from July to December 2024, with possible extensions.

Expected Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in a relevant area, preferably related to hydrometeorology, climatology, or something similar
• Specific experience with the use of forecasts preferred
• Expertise in GIS is required
• Background in programming (R, python) is an advantage
• Strong analysis, writing, and reporting skills
• At least three years of training facilitation experience
• Relevant experience in publication layout and design
• Must be fluent in English. Filipino is an added advantage
• Preferred the experience of working with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Mandaluyong City: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Application Question(s):

• Do you have relevant technical background in hydrometeorology, climatology, or similar?
• Do you have background in programming (R, Python)?
• Do you have experience with the use of forecasts?

Education:

• Bachelor’s (Required)

Experience:

• Training Facilitation: 3 years (Required)