Urban resilience expert (Consultant)

Purpose and Objectives:

Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international 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. 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. For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/.

ADPC is implementing a Regional Program titled “Urban Resilience to Climate Extremes in Southeast Asia” (URCE) in Viet Nam in partnership with the Viet Nam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority (VNDDMA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) provides financial support for the URCE program. The main aim of the program is to strengthen resilience of urban systems and urban communities to the current and future climate extremes. The program is implemented in two cities of Viet Nam, namely, My Tho City (Tien Giang province) and Nam Dinh City (Nam Dinh Province).

The program has five outcomes, namely Improved multi-hazard early warning systems and risk knowledge (Outcome 1), Strengthened urban community readiness and local preparedness (Outcome 2), Improved urban sectoral preparedness and emergency response (Outcome 3), Strengthened urban risk governance systems for dealing with emerging climate extremes and emergencies (Outcome 4) and Improved knowledge and awareness on building urban climate resilience for extremes in Asia and the Pacific (Outcome 5). This five-year program has started its implementation in November 2018 and spans up until December 2023.

ADPC will hire a Consultant based in Hanoi, Viet Nam to provide resource inputs for the implementation of activities under Output 4.1 (Risk sensitive urban governance tools and mechanisms made available and capacity of city government-stakeholders built) and Output 4.4 (Guidance manual on climate-smart urban recovery and redevelopment for climate extremes developed and training provided) of Outcome 4: “Strengthened urban governance systems for dealing with emerging climate extremes and emergencies”.

Expected Outputs:

The Consultant is expected to produce below deliverables:

D1) Report on the present status, gaps and needs associated with the urban governance functions falling under the Disaster Management Cycle (Pre-Disaster, Response, Post-disaster);(In English & Vietnamese)

Tentative Date of submission: 30 April 2023

D2) Report on recommendations for strengthening existing urban governance tools & functions of each of the two target cities in order to better manage climate risks and to be risk sensitive.(In English & Vietnamese)

First Draft of the Report should be presented by the Consultant before the city level and national level stakeholders and their comments/ recommendations and validation on same, should be obtained, discussed and finalized;

The Consultant should prepare the Final Report after obtaining stakeholder validation & incorporating the above finalized comments/ recommendations on the First Draft Report.

Tentative date of submission: 1st Draft: 15 May 2023; Finalized report: 31 May 2023

D3) Report on the present status, gaps and needs associated with climate smart-urban recovery and redevelopment of the target cities. The same report shall include the recommendations on climate smart urban recovery and redevelopment strategies from climate extreme events which will ensure risk sensitive and sustainable development of the target cities. (In English & Vietnamese)

First Draft of the Report should be presented by the Consultant before the city level and national level stakeholders and their comments/ recommendations and validation on same, should be obtained, discussed and finalized;

The Consultant should prepare the Final Report after obtaining stakeholder validation & incorporating the above finalized comments/ recommendations on the First Draft Report.

Tentative date of submission: 1st Draft: 1st July 2023; Finalized Report: 15 July 2023

D4) Report on the resource inputs for the city specific Guidance Documents on climate smart recovery and re-development for the two target cities.

Tentative date of submission: 31 August 2023

D5) Report on the resource inputs to the Training Sessions on climate smart recovery and redevelopment.

Tentative date of submission: 30 September 2023

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Consult relevant stakeholders (National and City level) through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for collecting data, information etc. to understand the current context, gaps and challenges;
• Study & review relevant legislations (laws, acts, etc.) and executive documents (Policies, Strategies etc.)/ data/ information on urban governance, recovery and redevelopment in Viet Nam;
• Analyze the above and identify the present status, gaps and needs associated with the urban governance functions and urban recovery & redevelopment;
• Make recommendations for strengthening existing urban governance tools & functions for each of the two target cities to manage climate risks and to be risk sensitive;
• Make recommendations on urban recovery and redevelopment strategies for the target cities;
• Provide overall guidance in the development of city specific Guidance Documents on recovery and redevelopment;
• Prepare training modules and conduct training sessions for relevant stakeholders (national/ city level);
• Make presentations on findings/ achievements and facilitate same at relevant sessions of workshops/ workgroups under this Program as and when required;
• Perform any other relevant tasks that may be requested by the Director, Urban Resilience Department and the Outcome Lead in order to achieve successful completion of Consultant’s responsibilities and tasks.

Working Principles:

The Consultant will report to the Director, Urban Resilience (URR) Department of ADPC and work under the guidance and supervision of the Outcome Lead/ and other specialists staff involved in the implementation of activities.

Qualifications:

Education

• Master’s or higher degree related to urban planning/ governance/ development, urban resilience, and climate/disaster risk management or similar fields;
• A PhD degree with demonstrated capacity and with minimum of 15-year work experience in climate/disaster risk management and urban resilience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree related to urban resilience.

Practical Experience

• Minimum of 10-year practical experience in the field of urban resilience;
• Experience in working with international organizations;
• Comprehensive knowledge on the following thematic areas are required:
• Urban Resilience;
• Climate and disaster risk management;
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Competencies

• Critical and creative thinking in discovering new/ alternative ideas and options;
• Strategic thinking in arriving at potential remedies to gaps and needs;
• Team spirit;
• Excellent inter-personal, facilitation and communication skills (both oral and written - in Vietnamese as well as English) in order to effectively liaise with the stakeholders;
• Ability to work independently and manage priorities.

Language proficiency

• Proficiency in English language is essential. Proficiency in Vietnamese language is desired.

Duty Station: Hanoi, Viet Nam

Duration: 01 April 2023 to 30 September 2023

Itinerary: The Consultant will follow the ADPC travel policies and receive Daily Subsistence Allowance (per diem and accommodation as applicable) per ADPC rates during official missions. Travel itinerary will be approved by the Director of URR Department of ADPC.

Conditions of Payment:

Payment will be made as per the payment schedule agreed by the ADPC and the Consultant.

All payments will be credited to the bank account given by the Consultant.

How to apply

This position will be open only for persons who are residing in Viet Nam.

Interested Candidates are requested to submit their duly completed ADPC Application Form (downloadable from www.adpc.net), Resume, and copies of degrees/ certificates together with a cover letter to: adpcjobs@adpc.net.

Female Candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

Any submissions that are found to be incomplete, will be rejected.