Program coordinator (consultant)

1. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), established in 1986, is a non-profit, autonomous, regional organization, international in status and non-political in management, staffing, and operations. ADPC has been created for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes to build people's and institutions' resilience to disasters and climate change impacts in Asia and the Pacific region.

ADPC has more than 34 years of working experience in Asia and the national and local Governments of its founding charter member countries and countries of the Regional Consultative Committee (RCC) on Disaster Management. ADPC works to strengthen disaster risk reduction at all levels, from regional to national, sub-national, and even community levels. ADPC aims at supporting governments, strengthen institutions, and build capacity for mainstreaming DRR into development processes. It includes developing institutional systems, assessing disaster risks, undertaking disaster risk reduction programs, adapting to climate change, etc. Further details on ADPC and its programs can be found at www.adpc.net.**

2. Background

ADPC is currently implementing the “Strengthening Institutionalization of the Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response” (PEER -5) in South Asia with technical and financial assistance from the USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. The program has been an essential instrument for enhancing disaster preparedness in the region by forming and strengthening skilled emergency responder groups from communities, disaster response agencies, and hospitals for the past 20 years in Asia. In this current phase of the program, Nepal will continue to work with partner agencies, including training and academic institutions, as a project country. Building upon PEER's success in training emergency responders and developing instructors for more than two decades in Asia, there is a need to further strengthen the institutionalization of the PEER approach as an integral part of existing and future policies, strategies, budgets, and programs of national and sub-national governments and other non-government agencies including the private sector. The current phase of the PEER Program (PEER-5) aims to strengthen national and regional partners' institutional and technical capacity to accelerate the institutionalization and sustainability of the PEER program in the program countries.

The ADPC, with support from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), has been implementing the ‘Asian Preparedness Partnership’ (APP). The unique multi-stakeholder partnership was formed with representation from the Government, Local Humanitarian Networks, and Private Sector Networks from the six countries, namely, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. The APP strives to improve the interface and partnership between Government, Local Humanitarian Organizations, and the Private Sector for enhancing capacities through partnerships, knowledge resources, and south-south exchange, training, and networking opportunities. Further information on the APP can be found at https://app.adpc.net/.

APP activities are being carried out in the backdrop of the global COVID-19 pandemic with preparedness and response actions in APP countries primarily led by the local actors, namely national and sub-national governments, with support from the private sector, local NGOs, and volunteers. ADPC is supporting the COVID-19 response systems in APP countries through a special grant (‘COVID-19: Country Support to Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP)’) that supports local partner organizations in responding to various challenges arising from the pandemic through locally-led priority interventions.

This consultancy assignment's primary objective is to support in delivering program outputs under the Strengthening Institutionalization of the Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response in South Asia, Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP) Phase 2, and APP Program Support to Countries during COVID-19 in Nepal.

3. Statement of Intent

ADPC is looking to recruit a qualified consultant for the position of Program Coordinator to be based in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Consultant will support the implementation of the PEER Program as well as the Asian Preparedness Partnership (APP) Phase 2 and APP Program Support to Countries during COVID-19 in Nepal. The activities include research, coordination, and facilitation of these program activities with the government and other partner organizations in Nepal.

This consultant position is open for Nepali Nationals only based in Kathmandu, Nepal.

4. Qualifications and Experience:

- At least a university graduate (Bachelor’s level) from a recognized university in the field of Disaster Management/ Public Health/ Environmental Science/ Social science or related field. The Master’s level will be preferred.
- A minimum of five years of proven experience in project management, implementation, coordination, planning, and capacity building;
- The familiarity of working with the National and Sub-National Governments in the field of disaster preparedness and emergency response operations;
- Knowledge and proven experience in disaster preparedness, emergency response, and community-based disaster risk management;
- Sound knowledge of the disaster management system and structures in Nepal, including policies, strategies, guidelines, standing orders, and other emergency preparedness related programs in the country;
- Knowledge of national and sub-national government agencies and international organizations' working ethics would be an added advantage.

5. Personal Qualities:

- Self-motivated, pro-active, and takes initiatives;
- Demonstrated ability to plan and organize work & time independently;
- Verbal and written communication skills in English are essential. Knowledge and ability to speak in Nepali would be an added advantage;
- Excellent interpersonal skills, team-oriented work style, and experience in working in a multi-cultural environment;
- Strong networking capacity and understanding of development work at national and sub-national levels;
- Strong desires to learn, undertake new challenges, must be a creative problem-solver, and must have self-confidence,
- Willingness to work hard, good sense of humor but seriousness about the quality and excellence of work.**

6. Purpose of the assignment:

The assignment's primary purpose is to support the implementation of the PEER and APP Programs in Nepal.

7. Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Management and Coordination:

- Draft PEER and APP quarterly and monthly work plans, in consultation with the country program manager;
- Support the country program manager to lead the coordination with consultants, interns, and partners on the timely implementation of program activities according to the agreed work plans with the MOHA as PEER and APP nodal agency in Nepal, national implementing institutes, Local NGO partners, the private sector, and other stakeholder agencies in the country;
- Undertake research for technical reports and documents for APP and PEER (e.g., institutionalization study and accreditation process), concept notes, and consolidate inputs from consultants, program partners, and stakeholders in consultation with the country program managers and the regional team;
- Work with national partner institutes in developing an institutionalization strategy for integrating program interventions into existing institutional frameworks and systems;
- Coordinate with the Technical Curriculum Review Groups (TCRG) in the review, update, and institutional adaptation of training curricula on CADRE, MFR, CSSR, and HOPE;
- Provide support and when needed, take the lead to plan, organize, and implement national program activities such as APP meetings, training and workshops; PEER training (CADRE, MFR, CSSR, HOPE, Instructors Courses), workshops, program reviews, and discussions, including the conduct of follow-up activities and development of After Activity Reports (AAR) and meeting minutes.

Finance and Budget Coordination:

- Provide administrative, finance, and day-to-day support working with Finance, Human Resource and Administration departments according to ADPC institutional policies and guidelines for carrying out activities under the programs;
- Draft project and activity budgets following the overall budgets of the programs;
- Assist in project financial management, including monitoring of project budgets and reporting of monthly financial statements and reconciliation.
- Ensure timely submission of liquidation reports by the partners and the project staff in the country.

Information and Knowledge Management:

- Coordinate the design, production, and dissemination of knowledge products such as process documents, fact sheets, brochures, project overviews, multimedia products (audios and videos), success stories/ impact stories, and other related materials;
- Prepare and produce content for monthly electronic newsletters, including carefully curated articles and preparation and production of briefing materials on the programs as needed/requested;
- Coordinate stakeholder outreach by planning and writing content for media, social media, and events;

Monitoring and Evaluation:

- Under the overall guidance of the M&E Lead, act as the M&E country coordinator for the assigned programs ensuring all information and data/statistics are collected, updated, maintained, and shared through regular progress reports, program performance monitoring sheets, and donor reporting, including the development of data collection tools and templates;
- Assist the program management team in monitoring the performance targets against the agreed M&E plans and work plans and report the progress on time;

Cross-Programs Support and Coordination:

- Amplify cross-learning and lessons learned with other programs of PRR;
- Coordinate with other thematic and operational departments such as the ADPC communication team to enhance and promote program-related learning within and beyond ADPC:
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director, PRR.

8. Key Activities and Deliverables:

Program for Enhancement of Emergency Response (PEER)

- Organize the validation and endorsement meetings/workshops with participation from national partners;
- Collect data to support the development of the National Institutionalization Strategy of PEER Nepal;
- Organize consultation meetings with training institutes and accrediting organizations for PEER accreditation and certification.
- Development of case studies to demonstrate PEER institutionalization processes with the following: - Nepal Red Cross on CADRE - Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, and Nepal Army on MFR and CSSR
- Development of at least 2 case studies for APP Phase 2 and APP Covid-19 Grant
- Organize policy level dialogue together with MOHA and other national partner institutes in Nepal.
- Organize study visits of partner institutes and instructors exchange activities as part of south-south learning and instructors mentoring support

Asian Preparedness Partnership and COVID-19 Support in Nepal

- Supervise and facilitate the capacity building activities, and workshops carried out by the sub-grantee as mentioned below:**
- Provide facilitation support and provide technical inputs for After-Action Reviews (AAR) and workshops with Nepal Preparedness Partnership (NPP) partners and relevant public health agencies for APP Phase 2 and the COVID-19 grant.
- Work with the Health Emergency Operations Center (HEOC), housed in the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) as well as the National EOC, housed in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) for strengthening COVID-19 response
- Facilitate meetings under the Public-Private Partnership for risk communication and Strengthening Local Health System in Nepal for COVID-19 response
Facilitate the NPP- Project Steering Committees’ coordination meetings, prepare meeting minutes and reports
- Assist in development of workplans and budgets required under APP
- Coordinate with the sub-grantee for organization of capacity building events under NPP
- Review and timely submission of events, progress and financial reports by the sub-grantee and assist in communications and outreach, and dissemination of knowledge products Assist in development of case studies for establishment of the Local NGO network and the emergency response plans in the districts
- Coordinate with the ‘Communication Focal Point’ of NPP for regular updating of content for outreach through APP website and social media**

9. Reporting Relationship

In performing the duties and responsibilities indicated above, the Consultant will be supervised by the Program Manager- Nepal, under the overall guidance of the designated Program Managers for PEER, APP, and APP COVID-19 support programs and the Director, Preparedness for Response and Recovery (PRR) Department of ADPC. The Consultant will closely work with other Project/Program Managers and Project Coordinators of the PRR Department.

10. Contract Duration

The Consultant is expected to commence the work on 01 January 2021 till 31 December 2021.