Deputy Team Leader

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an intergovernmental regional organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific by working with governments, development partners, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, private sector, media and other key stakeholders. In addition to its headquarter in Bangkok, Thailand, ADPC currently has offices/representation in 11 additional countries.

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 scientist to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in an effective manner. ADPC is a competent regional resource center and has seven thematic departments: ADPC Academy, Risk Governance, Climate Resilience, Urban Resilience, Health Risk Management, Preparedness for Response and Recovery, Geospatial Information. These are supported by Finance, Human Resources and Administration and Strategic Planning departments. In addition to the departments, ADPC address 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.

ADPC takes various levels of actions in a close connection with the national, regional and global frameworks including; e.g. ASEAN, SAARC, MRC, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (SFDRR), the Paris Agreement for climate change, the New Urban Agenda, the World Humanitarian Summit, etc. 

Bangladesh is one of the founder charter members of ADPC. ADPC is providing support to the Government of Bangladesh and other agencies for more than 20 years in building resilience to natural disaster and climate change in the country through various programs and projects in collaboration with a diverse range of partners. Additionally, ADPC is supporting the country with the humanitarian, DRR and CCA policy interventions, training and capacity building, system development, sector-based mainstreaming, emergency preparedness, and knowledge sharing.

In 2008, ADPC established a full-fledged country office in Bangladesh which is registered with the NGO Affairs Bureau to support the government and other agencies more closely and to ensure sustainability of resilience building initiatives. Over the years, ADPC has significantly contributed in building resilience to natural disaster and climate change in Bangladesh through national level multi-hazard vulnerability and risk assessment, city-level earthquake risk assessment, formulation of strategies for DRR and CCA, integrating DRR and CCA into development, risk sensitive land use planning, development of contingency plans, hospital preparedness in emergencies, development of various guidelines and training manuals, and etc.

For details please refer to ADPC website.

Urban Resilience Department

The Urban Resilience department of ADPC assists cities and urban communities in Asia and the Pacific in managing and mitigating urban disaster risks. It works towards enabling people, institutions, businesses, and systems in urban areas to have a greater capacity to prepare, respond, adapt, and thrive despite stresses and shocks.

Cities depend on complex and interconnected systems of infrastructure, services, communications, and social interactions, making them more vulnerable to the impacts of hazards and climate change. Asia and the Pacific is home to 60% of the world's population, and the speed of urbanization in this region is overwhelming. Almost half of Asia's 4 billion people live in cities and towns, and it is projected that by 2040, another one billion is likely to be added to the urban population of this region. Thus, ensuring urban resilience is a critical area of disaster preparedness in the region.

ADPC aims to increase compliance with existing safety regulations and risk reduction measures by building capacity and delivering useful information to high-risk sectors including construction, land use planning, and public infrastructure investments. The core activities of the department are:

• Integrating risk information into urban planning, systems, and operations

• Strengthening the capacity of national-level institutions

• Developing receptive, resilient and sustainable urban communities

• Developing data such as spatial distribution of potentially hazardous areas

Key Responsibilities:

1. Analytical review of implementation status of Master Plan for the city of Rajshahi prepared in 1968 and 1984. Conduct in-depth review and analyze the implementation status of RMDP during 2004 to 2018;

2. Analytical review to set Land Use Classifications for RDA area. The updated land use survey for the project should be based on the classifications;

3. Analytical review to set Planning standard applicable for RDA are (including Municipalities and Union Parishads). Ensure that the planning standards are in the light of the current regulations and standard;

4. Analytical review for New towns or urban settlements where development is to be phased over time;

5. Analytical review on the areas likely to be affected by major industrial, communications or other development schemes;

6. Analytical review to Identify areas where the land is presently underutilized and yet is suitable for housing and other uses, to ensure that land is made available to meet effective future demand;

7. Analytical review to Ensure patterns and intensities of development are coordinated and compatible between existing and proposed areas of development and redevelopment to ensure that new development makes most efficient use of an area’s resources/facilities/services (like RDA, NHA initiated residential areas) to avoid potential conflicts; 

8. Analytical review to ensure the balance of agriculture (mango, lychee, rice etc.) compatible development for sustainable economy and environmental harmony;

9. Review existing Urban/Planning regulations for Rajshahi and advise on appropriate amendments for the same, with a particular emphasis on Green and DRR friendly development to build a Safer Rajshahi;

10. Develop a full scale training curriculum for Plan formulation for capacity building of Planners working in RDA, Municipalities and Union Parishad, which will be implemented as part of RMDP update;

11. Conceptualization for a roadmap for the development of a pro-poor development strategy to address urbanization in Rajshahi;

12. Analytical review for setting zoning, sizing and placing for developing detailed urban planning guidelines (including height limitations, open spaces, building usage, etc.);

13. Analytical review for growth trend analysis and projection of future spatial expansion; 

14. Analytical review on Urban settlements that are subject to redevelopment and regeneration due to changing dynamics of economic growth and employment (e.g., the old city near Shahab bazar, shagor para, kazihata etc.);

15. Analytical review to identify suitable locations for urban utility services (dumping grounds, waste water disposal etc.) to minimize the impacts on existing development and safeguard long term development proposals for the area; 

16. Analytical review to Identify sensitive areas where special controls are needed to ensure water quality and quantity, and protection of sites with natural water bodies (also conduct a review on RMDP waterbody conservation) and/or cultural heritage value to make most efficient use of an area’s resources/facilities/services and safeguard for future generations; 

Competencies

Core competencies:

Professionalism: Ability to communicate clearly links between ADPC’s strategy and the Geospatial Information Department’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership in projects by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of the projects. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment; Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Planning & Organizing: Develops clear objectives that are consistent with agreed project goals; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Managerial Competencies:

Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the

Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Qualifications:

Education

• He/she should have a master’s or a PhD' degree in urban & Rural/Regional Planning/Physical Planning 

Work Experience

• A minimum of 15 years of substantive work experience in preparation master plan/ land use plan/urban development plan/ GIS activities, etc.

• Work experience in urban disaster risk management and risk sensitive land use plan development is desirable.

Personal Qualities

• Uses writing skills to develop technical reports and progress reports.

• Follows up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.

• Works cooperatively with others, inside and outside the organization, to accomplish objectives to build and maintain mutually-beneficial partnerships, leverage information, and achieve results.

• Develops new insights into situations and applies different and novel solutions to make improvements.

• Plans and organizes work activities; manages several tasks at once.

Languages

Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of a local language is advantageous. 

Reporting Relationships

The Deputy Team Leader will be under the overall supervision of the Director for Urban Resilience Department in Bangkok, HQ and the direct guidance of the team leader of RMDP project for implementation of “Revision of Functional Master Plan and Detailed Area Plan to make Rajshahi Metropolitan Development Plan (RMDP) Disaster Risk Sensitive” and operation of ADPC Rajshahi Office. She/He will be assisting the Urban Resilience Department in successful implementation of the project.

This position is located in Rajshahi, Bangladesh and reports on a daily basis to the programmatic Team Leader RMDP project, works in collaboration with the Project Manager (URR) in Dhaka and for administrative issue reports to the Country Representative, ADPC Bangladesh Office. Overall supervision is from the Director of the Urban Resilience Department.  

Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods.

Diversity is encouraged in the workplace and support an inclusive work environment. Women are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until the position is filled and interviews will commenced from 07 February, 2020.  Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible 

Contract

Six (06) Months project-based contract with possibility of extension