Consultant for Disaster Management Capacity Building

Project/Department: Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) and Saudi HEART Project of Public Health in Emergencies Department.

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), established in 1986, is a regional non-profit foundation with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand. It supports the advancement of safer communities and sustainable development through implementing programs that reduce the impact of disasters upon countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific. The primary geographical focus of ADPC’s activities is Asia with South, South East and East Asia being the primary sub-regions.

ADPC has more than 29 years of experience working for a safer Asia in partnership with the national and local governments of its charter member countries as well as the member states of the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) on Disaster Management. ADPC addresses the region’s preparedness needs in development of capacities and promotion of learning; dissemination of information and knowledge management; provision of technical and advisory services; implementation of pioneering regional programs; preparation and follow-up of global and regional mechanisms; establishment of new regional mechanisms; support for inter-agency coherence and coordination; and catalytic facilitation and partnership to sub-regional mechanisms. ADPC works to build preparedness at all levels, from regional to national to sub-national and even to individual communities. Further details on ADPC and its programs can be found at www.adpc.net.

ADPC aims at supporting governments strengthen institutions and build capacity for mainstreaming DRR into socio development processes at all levels. The primary focus of ADPC is to assist national and sub-national Governments in Asia to build capacity to respond to, prepare for and mitigate the natural disaster risk and adaptation to climate change. It includes building Institutional and Legal systems in reducing risk due to natural disasters and adapting to climate change, assessment of Risk; undertaking risk reduction programs and programs for adaptation to climate change, Hazard specific mainstreaming of DRR & CCA into development etc.

ADPC is comprised of several thematically organized operational departments such as Department on Safer Development Planning and Implementation, Department on Climate Change and Climate Change Adaptation, Department on Resilient Cities and Urban Risk Management, Department on Disaster Risk Management Systems, Department of Public Health in Emergencies, Department of Disaster Risk Assessment and Monitoring, Training Services, Information Technology & Communication. With over 100 staff from 19 countries and with professionals with expertise in development planning, engineering, architecture, agriculture, social sciences, health science climate sciences and disaster risk reduction, ADPC has been involved for years in strengthening partnerships between nodal agencies on disaster risk management (DRM) and national agencies of water resource, agriculture, meteorology & hydrology, geology, physical planning, development planning & financing etc. and other sectors for effective integration and institutionalization of DRR in development planning processes.

Statement of Intent

The Consultant will be responsible for updating DM training, capacity building and awareness materials, development of case studies, and documentation of best practices and lessons learned of the capacity building projects of ADPC in Bangladesh and Saudi Arab.

Note: It is not the intent of this Position Description to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibility.

Required Qualifications / Selection Criteria

• Post graduate qualifications in Social Science, Public Health, Disaster Management or related field, knowledge and experience in emergency response activities.
• A minimum of six years’ experience in project portfolio/program management; with at least four years in humanitarian or disaster management disciplines.
• Proven experience in managing and developing a multi-cultural team multi-skills team, in terms of its personnel and work program.
• Proven ability to strategize, plan and organize work, monitor and evaluate activities
• Ability to develop case studies and documentation of best practices.
• Good communications skills, written and spoken, in the English language.

Personal Qualities

• Self-motivated, pro-active and takes initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and organize work and time independently.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, team-oriented work style, and experience in working in a multi-cultural environment.
• Producing results to ensure the effective and efficient use of resources, moving forward in changing environment, building and promoting partnerships.
• Strong desire to learn, undertake new challenges, must a creative problem-solver, must have self confidence, willingness to work hard, good sense of humor but with seriousness about the quality and excellence of work.

General Requirements

Operate within all ADPC Guidelines & Procedures/ Policies;

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for coordinating the training and capacity building activities of response preparedness projects of the center as per the agreed set of strategic objectives and plans.
• Responsible for developing and packaging of training modules and materials of the response preparedness projects
• Develop case studies and success stories.
• Document best practices and lessons Learned
• Write technical reports and presenting technical activities both internally and externally.

Other responsibilities

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director (ADPC) or Department Head.

Reporting Relationship

• Report directly to the Director;
• Work closely with staff members of Strengthening Earthquake Resilience in Bangladesh (SERB) and Saudi HEART Projects.