Advisor disaster management
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Purpose
This position provides SOPAC member countries with a high level of professional disaster management capacity building expertise and support to enhance the ability of countries to improve their capacity to manage the preparations for and response to the impact of both natural and human-induced disasters.
Nature and scope
1. Reporting Relationships
The Adviser is one of a total complement of 17 staff of the CRP that report to the Manager. No staff report to this position.
2. Role of the CRP
The overall goal of the Community Risk Programme is to strengthen Disaster Risk Management (DRM) practices within countries in the region by providing effective and coordinated support by SOPAC and other partners.
This goal is drawn from the SOPAC Strategic Plan 2005 – 2009 and is closely aligned to various regional and international instruments endorsed by Pacific island countries in the area of disaster risk management. Of specific relevance to the CRP are the Pacific Plan and Pacific Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Management Framework for Action 2005-2015 which support and advocate for the building of safer and more resilient communities to disasters.
The Pacific Plan specifically calls for the development and implementation of policies and plans for the mitigation and management of natural disasters and similar to the Regional Framework for Action, which was endorsed by Pacific leaders in 2005, provides a basis for the implementation of various initiatives by the region and each individual country in terms of DRM, or more specifically disaster risk reduction and disaster management.
In respect to disaster management the CRP provides assistance to the region by collaborating with relevant partners in terms of the provision of technical advice and support for the preparedness, response and recovery measures of each country.
In terms of disaster risk reduction, the CRP also provides technical advice and support to help countries manage risks by identifying and analysing the sources of risk and to develop mechanisms to prevent or mitigate against such risks through the application of a combination of technological, policy, legislative and administrative solutions.
The CRP Work Programme is aligned to and modeled in accordance with the SOPAC Strategic Plan. It has 3 programme components as follows:
Component 1 – Strengthening Resilience to Disasters
Component 2 – Mitigating the Effects of Hazards
Component 3 – Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management
Each of the specific work projects or priorities under taken by CRP staff is categorized under the 3 Components.
3. Role of the Disaster Management Unit
The Disaster Management Unit of the CRP provides SOPAC member countries with capacity building advice and support to strengthen the national disaster management coordination and response capability. The DMU provides expertise and advice national and local level disaster management policies, emergency operational plans and exercises, emergency communications, disaster management guidelines, strategic and business planning, organizational structures and systems design, human resources management practices and individual skills development.
4. Role of the Position
The incumbent is responsible to the Manager CRP in relation to the disaster management capacity building of SOPAC member countries. The incumbent will typically provide assistance to NDMOs on core disaster management issues such as on disaster/emergency plans, operational guides and manuals, emergency communications and disaster management training and capacity building.
In terms of disaster management training and capacity building the Adviser will work closely with the Manager CRP and the Programme Director of The Asia Foundation/Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (TAF/OFDA) Training Programme to develop a core capacity within the CRP for the delivery of disaster/emergency management training to the Pacific. The TAF/OFDA programme currently provides this service to SOPAC member countries as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding between SOPAC and the TAF/OFDA. CRP currently is unable to provide this service to countries directly and must develop such a capacity. The TAF/OFDA programme will cease in December 2009.
In connection with the training and disaster management capacity building role the incumbent will serve as a member and Secretary for the Pacific Emergency Management Training Advisory Group (PEMTAG). PEMTAG is an association of four organisations that coordinate and facilitate disaster/emergency management training in the Pacific and comprise of SOPAC, TAF/OFDA, and the Suva-based representatives of the UN-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
The incumbent will also develop and implement capacity building strategies for NDMOs such as the review and/or development of strategic and business plans, the alignment of corporate targets to a individual staff goals through a comprehensive performance management system, the development of terms of reference for specific and more technical assistance, and other general “housekeeping” initiatives. In providing this support to NDMOs the Adviser may also on occasion be required to extend services to other linked emergency management organisations and this is intended to bring about a greater cohesiveness of effort at national as well as at local and community level in terms of improved disaster response.
The Adviser is a key link between the NDMOs and the CRP and will assist countries to identify disaster management priorities through the DRM National Action Plan process which is coordinated within CRP by the Senior Adviser NAPU.
5. Role of Subordinates
Not applicable.
6. Interpersonal Relationships
Internal
The incumbent liaises regularly with the Manager CRP in terms of reporting against the progress of work and discussing various risks and challenges to the implementation of the outputs of the DMU. The incumbent also meets regularly with the Programme Assistant in relation to travel arrangements and other administrative requirements.
There are also regular meetings which the incumbent must hold with members of other SOPAC programmes particularly in areas where work priorities between the programmes intersect and require a unified effort in addressing a particular issue in a given regional country.
The key internal contacts are:
- Manager CRP
- CRP Programme Assistant and CRP technical staff
- Technical personnel of other SOPAC Programmes
External
The external contacts primarily the heads of NDMOs and of other organisations in each of the countries that deal with any aspect of emergency or disaster management.
Key external contacts are:
- Heads of NDMOs
- Donor country emergency/disaster management organisations such as the Red Cross, fire authorities, ambulance services etc.
- Members of the Pacific DRM Partnership Network.
7. Challenges and Developments
The major challenge of this position is to work with NDMOs to develop and implement relevant institutional strengthening and capacity building initiatives that will strengthen country abilities to manage disasters. This must be done within the context defined by each Government. The incumbent is also challenged to ensure that the specific initiatives implemented with regard to institutional strengthening and capacity building for countries is derived as a result of wide multi-sectoral consultations and consistent with the initiatives to develop and implement DRM National Action Plans.
Other specific challenges which face the Adviser are:
Understanding the cultures within the Pacific region: It is important that the incumbent maintain a good understanding of the cultures and their respective traits as ignorance of these may hamper CRP work efforts.
Working as a team: There are many demanding requirements of work within CRP and this requires a dedicated team effort.
CRP staff shortages: This may affect the ability of incumbent to pursue work priorities.
Regular Travel & Health Issues: The Adviser will be required to travel regularly and extensively and will thus be demanding on the individual in a physical sense. The travel may also subject the incumbent to the possibility of many health hazards such as malaria and dengue fever, non-potable water supplies and poor sanitary facilities.
8. Authority Level
The position does not hold any specified expenditure authority level.
9. Reporting Requirements
The incumbent is required to report regularly to the CRP Manager against the progress of assigned work under the CRP Work Programme. Such reports are also linked directly to the SOPAC Performance Management System.
In addition to project reporting the incumbent may also on occasion be required to submit either individually or collectively with work colleagues, technical reports on in-country missions and other activities.
10. Principal Accountabilities
The principal accountabilities for the position are as follows:
1. Disaster Management Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building Support
2. Provide sound capacity building advice and support to the NDMOs on matters relating to disaster management to help ensure their efficient management of disasters.
3. Skills Development
Facilitate the strengthening of individual skills of NDMO staff through the application of various training and personal development initiatives such as formal and informal training, guidance and mentoring.
4. PEMTAG Secretariat Support
Provide secretariat support to facilitate the efficient and effective operations of PEMTAG and as a result thereof the improved coordination and facilitation of emergency management training in the Pacific.
5. Reporting
Adhere to all reporting requirements in an accurate and timely manner to facilitate individual accountability within CRP and to contribute to CRP’s greater accountability within SOPAC.
6. SOPAC Policies & Regulations Compliance
Ensure compliance with all relevant policies, regulations and administrative directions to contribute to the good governance of the CRP and SOPAC.
11. Knowledge/Skills/Experience
- A post graduate qualification in a disaster risk management-related discipline and extensive practical experience at national-level disaster and emergency management in the Pacific region
- Strong policy development experience at national level
- Experience in the development and testing of national and local level disaster/emergency plans and standard operating procedures for disaster coordination centers.
- Familiarity with appropriate communications platforms and protocols to enhance the disaster coordination capacity of Pacific countries
- Experience in the design, organisation, delivery, monitoring and review of disaster management training and capacity building programmes.
- Experience in basic human resources development/management practices and in particular the ability to coach and mentor Pacific country counterparts towards the achievement of strategic and operational goals
- An in-depth understanding of the prevailing international and regional disaster risk management issues and concerns
- Knowledge of key regional/international policies and mechanisms for disaster risk management.
- Good understanding of the cultures and the working environments of member countries and the ability to be proactive in developing new ideas to serve and to address the needs of member countries
- Fluency in written and spoken English is essential to communicate with Pacific country governments and other regional and international organisations. Knowledge of other languages and demonstrated work in multicultural environments is an asset.
- Strong PC based computer skills, Microsoft applications (in particular, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Selection Criteria
In addition to having the above knowledge, skills and experience, applicants will be assessed based on interview performance and work sample and the following other requirements:
- Aptitude for the provision of high quality service
- Clarity, confidence and articulateness in both oral and written communication
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to master new material quickly
- Ability to supervise others effectively
- Ability to set priorities successfully in order to meet tight deadlines
- Ability to be proactive in seeking to develop new areas of work within identified objectives and strategies
- Ability to work effectively in a cross cultural environment
- Willingness to undertake frequent travel both within and outside the region