Extended term consultant

Background

The World Bank’s South Asia Disaster Risk Management program has been actively engaged in risk mitigation and post-disaster reconstruction and recovery. The Bank has been involved in reconstruction following some of the large disasters that have impacted South Asia like the Gujarat earthquake of 2001, the Asian tsunami of 2004, the Pakistan earthquake of 2005, Cyclone Sidr in 2007 amongst others.

The Bank is also supporting risk management projects in the region like the India National Cyclone Risk Mitigation project. In addition, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) actively supports the DRM agenda in South Asia through fostering regional partnerships, as well as financing a range of technical assistance programs for disaster risks and climate change impact assessment, development and implementation of national disaster risk reduction strategies in countries prone to extreme impacts of climate change and variability, and various analytical studies.

Following the Asian tsunami of 2004, the World Bank provided assistance of $ 150 million for the tsunami emergency recovery program to Sri Lanka. The program focused on housing reconstruction, livelihoods support and road and infrastructure rehabilitation.

In Sri Lanka, GFDRR is supporting a DRM program focusing on strengthening Sri Lanka’s response and recovery in the aftermath of a natural disaster. In addition, Sri Lanka has been included as one of 30 disaster priority countries by the GFDRR donor consultative group. A comprehensive DRM country program was developed and approved and the first phase of the program is ready for implementation. The program included flood and landslide risk management as well as developing and operationalizing a disaster management fund.

Duties and accountabilities

The Extended Term Consultant (GFDRR) will be a member of the South Asia Urban, Water and Disaster Risk Management Unit (SASDU), report to the Manager SASDU and work under the guidance of the South Asia regional coordinator for disaster risk management. In addition, there will be an indirect reporting line to the GFDRR Secretariat. The specific duties would include:

- Strengthen in-country partnerships and coordinate with key stakeholders particularly, GFDRR partners at the country level to advance the disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change adaptation (CCA) agenda.
- Assist in coordinating and handling the day-to-day implementation of the GFDRR country DRM program.
- Actively support and engage with Bank sectors and the country management unit to mainstream DRM and CCA into the overall development agenda as well as initiate/participate in analytical and strategic work pertaining to DRM with a focus to better identify strategic priorities for the sector.
- Actively engage in country dialogue on DRM with government and strategic partners and represent the Bank /GFDRR at internal and external meetings.
- Support the tasks teams in the preparation and supervision of Bank’s DRM portfolio in Sri Lanka, as well as in the up-stream business development.
- Be a member of the QRT rapid response team and undertake needs assessment missions as and when required in post disaster / post crisis situations in and outside Sri Lanka. Participate in regional initiatives, programs and projects relating to disaster risk management and emergency response including strategy formulation, project preparation and regular supervision functions as and when required.
- Prepare briefs, reports, presentations and RBMS project progress updates as required by SASSD management, country office and GFDRR Secretariat.

Selection criteria

- Master's degree in a relevant discipline such as engineering, economics, public policy or development studies. A focus on natural hazards, climate change, GIS, and environment is desirable.
- At least five years of relevant experience in the areas related to climate change, natural hazards, disasters, flood management, vulnerability, and disaster risk management.
- Experience managing or supporting implementation of development assistance projects with preference for managing or implementation support of international financial institutional projects and GFDRR programs.
- Experience working in an international environment is desired.
- Familiarity with post disaster situations is desired.
- Highly developed communication and advocacy skills, including the ability to write concisely and clearly.
- Ability to take initiative and identify opportunities for collaboration.
- Proven interpersonal skills with government officials, development partners.
- Fluency in English, strong writing skills.
- Ability to work in a fast track environment, with efficiency, competence and integrity with people of different cultural background.