Climate Resilience National Training Officer (Pakistan)

A. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC):

ADPC is an autonomous international organization with a vision to reducing disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific region 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. ADPC has over 100 staff from 19 different nationalities and a wide range of professional expertise - from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) 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 works on 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.

With financial support from the World Bank Group, ADPC is implementing a five-year (2020-2025) project, titled “Climate Adaptation and Resilience Project (CARE) for South Asia”. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to create an enabling environment for climate resilience policies and investments in selected sectors (Agriculture, Policy, Planning and Finance, Transport and Water) across South Asia. This objective will be achieved through enhanced regional cooperation and knowledge exchange for climate resilience and adaptation and mainstreaming of resilience and adaptation in national policies, plans, and investments.

For details, please refer to ADPC website.

B. Background

Disasters take a huge toll on the development agenda of South Asian countries. Between 2000 and 2017, disasters in South Asia incurred estimated damages of US$ 149.27 billion. Public expenditure is under stress by the repeated need to reallocate capital budgets away from long term development planning and towards reconstruction activities in post-disaster environments. For example, since 2005, Pakistan has suffered losses on the order of US$ 16 billion due to natural disasters.

Pakistan is facing a diverse array of climate-related effects that have serious consequences across multiple sectors. These impacts include accelerated glacial melt, increased temperatures, desertification, and sea-level rise. These phenomena lead to increased food insecurity and water scarcity. It is crucial to take immediate action to build resilience and adapt to these shifting climate patterns in order to protect the well-being of the population and promote sustainable development.

To increase resilience and achieve climate commitments, there is a need for a transformational shift toward policies and institutions that enable climate-resilient investments. Investing in more resilient infrastructure is both profitable and urgent as disruptions are extremely costly for governments, households and the private sector and large ongoing investments in infrastructure assets will have long-lasting repercussions as poor maintenance and natural disasters result in a vulnerable stock.

The Climate Resilience Training Officer will be hired with the objective to support the country project team to smoothly implement the capacity-building activities and thus assist in contributing to an enabling environment for climate-resilient policies and investments in select sectors through the project activities identified by the Sector Focal Points in Pakistan.

The needs of the Sector Focal Points were verified through a scientific approach where ADPC conducted detailed Capacity Needs Assessments in each of the countries with respect to the focus sectors. Based on this assessment the trainings are designed and will be carried out under the project.

CARE already conducted 3 trainings for 219 officials up to date. The project aims to further conduct 16 trainings for another 700 trainees in Pakistan.

In this setting, the services of a qualified and motivated individual is required to assist ADPC in supporting the country team for in-country trainings under Component-2 activities of the project.

C. Statement of Intent

The Climate Resilience National Training Officer will provide support for organizing and monitor trainings to increase understanding of climate-resilience adaptive policy-making, design, and solutions in priority sectors, and offers support for capacity development for the implementation of the project in Pakistan

Note:

It is not the intent of this Terms of Reference to cover every aspect of the position requirements, rather to highlight the most important areas of personal and joint responsibilities.

D. Duties and Responsibilities

The Climate Resilience National Training Officer shall provide the following inputs:

• Be responsible for the country training calendar and initiate the technical and operational requirements for training activities in the country;
• Work closely with project partners, including national agencies on climate change and focus sectors of the project in the country, to ensure that training programs are aligned with their needs and priorities;
• Support in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and satisfaction of training programs and making recommendations for improvements;
• Support the country team to identify and develop partnerships with other organizations and agencies to leverage project resources and expertise in training and capacity development for sustainability after the project conclusion;
• Support in preparing training reports and maintaining documentation of training programs and materials;
• Perform other relevant tasks as assigned by the Project Director.

E. Expected Output/s

• Country training calendar
• Technical and operational action plan for training activities in the country
• In-country implementation of the training programs under the project
• Documentation of the pre and post-training evaluations by the trainees
• Drafting training reports for each training in the country
• Partnerships with in-country training institutes for possible uptake of the module prepared under the project

F. Qualifications

The Climate Resilience National Training Officer must have experience in supporting the capacity building activities on disaster risk management and/or climate change adaptation work. The detailed qualifications are:

• A master's degree or equivalent in environmental studies, disaster management, development studies, international relations, social sciences, or a related field;
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in training and capacity development, preferably in development, environment, climate change or related fields;
• Strong technical knowledge and experience in climate change, climate adaptation and resilience. Experience in designing and implementing training programs, conducting assessments, and developing training materials;
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is essential and fluency Urdu and other regional languages is preferred;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, Community Based Organizations, NGO partners, and local communities.
• Cross-cultural awareness and ability to work amongst a diverse group of staff, and partners;
• Required computer proficiencies: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams.
• Work experience in South Asia, particularly in Pakistan is not required but preferred

G. Reporting Relationship

The Climate Resilience National Training Officer will report to the Project Director and work in close coordination with the Project Implementation Unit and Climate Resilience Training and Capacity Development Officer at the regional level.

H. Contract Duration

The contract duration will be for 12 months with a possibility of extension.

I. Selection Method

The consultant will be selected in accordance with ADPC’s recruitment process and in compliance with the World Bank Procurement Regulations.

How to apply

Interested Candidates can submit the completed ADPC application form, (downloadable from ‘Join us’ in www.adpc.net), resume, copy of degrees/certificate(s) together with a cover letter, to: procurement.care@adpc.net

For inquiries, please contact to procurement.care@adpc.net

Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

ADPC encourage diversity in its workplace and support an inclusive work environment.