Consultant in seismology

Vacancy number: ISDR/C/13/2010

Background

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multistakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human and economic and social risk and losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations.

The implementation of the ISDR is supported by a secretariat led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The secretariat’s main functions are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction adopted the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and represents the key policy framework for reducing risk and to strengthen community resilience. The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction established by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is the main global policy forum for disaster risk reduction, and is complemented by a system of regional, thematic and national platforms, which bring together all relevant stakeholders.

Within the context of the Global Facility for Disaster Risk Reduction (GFDRR), the World Bank and UN/ISDR in collaboration with international partners has initiated a Central Asia and Caucasus Disaster Risk Management Initiative (CAC DRMI). This initiative is in line with the Hyogo Framework for Action and aims at reducing the vulnerability of the countries of Central Asia and Caucasus to the risks of disasters. The CAC DRMI incorporates three focus areas, with the possibility to include new activities:

-Coordination of disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response.
-Financing of disaster losses, reconstruction and recovery, and disaster risk transfer instruments such as catastrophe insurance and weather derivatives.
-Hydro-meteorological forecasting, data sharing and early warning.
Based on the outcomes of the Disaster Risk Management Desk Review prepared under the CACDRMI,

UNISDR is now looking for a consultant to carry out an in-depth survey of the seismological situation and services in two most vulnerable countries of the CAC region, namely, Armenia and Tajikistan.
The Consultant shall carry out an assessment of the current status of seismology in two CAC countries, namely Armenia and Tajikistan, to:
I. Identify the existing strengths and weaknesses of the existing set-up
II. Provide recommendations for streamlining the organizational structure, modernization of equipment and training of staff of the respective services. Within two months of the assignment, the consultant will visit both countries to meet with all stakeholders, including concerned public agencies responsible for seismological monitoring and research, donor agencies, NGOs and private sector actors, and all other end-users of seismological data in the respective countries. In the course of this fact-finding mission the Consultant shall review and assess the following aspects in each of the target countries:

-Current status of the seismological service (SS) in the country. Institutional setup, condition and utilization of the old analogue seismological network, availability of modern digital stations, availability of budget or other sources of funding.
-Completed and on-going projects and initiatives to rehabilitate and upgrade the service including the extent of the service involvement in regional and international seismic networking initiatives.
-Seismological service needs in terms of reorganization, funding, expansion of the digital network, provision of hardware and software, staffing, staff training.
-Review of stakeholders and end-users interested in obtaining seismological data and prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation between the Seismological Service and such stakeholders (including regional and international cooperation);
-Ways of ensuring sustainable operation of the seismological service in terms of sources of financing, institutional structure, staffing, professional development, etc;

Competencies

Professionalism
-Strong background, knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and approaches to disaster risk reduction; proven project management skills and ability to lead a project to completion.

Client orientation
-Ability to identify and analyze clients’ needs and develop appropriate
services to meet business requirements.

Communications
-Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately

Planning and organizing
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required

Teamwork
-Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Geology, Seismology, Seismic Engineering or a related field. A first- level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience
-A minimum of seven years of extensive experience in designing, operation and management of modern seismological services, based on digital broadband seismic stations. Knowledge of the situation in Central Asia region is an added advantage.

Languages
English is the working language of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in written and spoken English and Russian is required.