Disaster risk management consultant

Working with IGAD and based at their HQ in Djibouti the selected candidate will join the Regional Food Strategy and Risk Management (REFORM) Programme.

The overall objective of the REFORM programme is:

• The sustainable reduction of vulnerability to food insecurity and poverty in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The purpose of REFORM is:

• To improve regional and national social protection, disaster risk management and cross-border trade strategies and policies. The ultimate measure of programme success will be the improved ability of states, households and individuals to manage threats to food security.

The DRM analyst will oversee and co-ordinate preparation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the DRM component under the REFORM programme. Day to day activities of the DRM analyst will be aligned and coordinated with the activities of the Peace and Security Division (PSD) of IGAD under which the disaster risk management falls.

Expected results of the mission

The DRM analyst assists the IGAD secretariat to achieve the objectives and expected results of the REFORM Programme.

The results to be delivered by the DRM analyst will, therefore, include:

• Adopting DRM approaches into national strategies, policies, legislation and plans;
• Enhancing the capacities of Disaster Management Agencies (DMAs) and other stakeholders to implement DRM oriented policies;
• Providing DRM training and networking of disaster management professionals and policy makers to share best practices;
• Accelerate adoption of the DRM approach in a common regional framework.

Tasks of the DRM analyst

Generic tasks

• Supporting the imprest administrator and imprest accounting officer in the preparation, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the DRM component in the successive Programme Estimates;
• Support the programme coordinator (team leader) and PSD in the preparation of terms of references and follow up on the short term expertises mobilised to assist the implementation of the DRM component;
• Prepare, organise and follow up on workshops, meetings, training (based on a training needs assessment) and field missions related to the specific activities of DRM component
• Support IGAD and the programme coordinator in preparing, conducting and follow up on the REFROM Programme Steering Committee meetings.
• Ensure full incorporation of national contact points in programme implementation
• Assist in co-ordinating the various other activities relating to DRM and undertaken by the IGAD.
• Supporting the IGAD webmaster in ensuring up-to-date information related to DRM on the IGAD website

Specific tasks

The DRM analyst will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Provide technical guidance and administrative support for the activities and decisions of the DRM Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
• Support IGAD in strengthening national and regional capacities to prepare and/or revise national disaster risk management strategies, policies, legislation and plans
• Assist IGAD in undertaking reviews of DRM in national and regional strategies, policies and plans (with emphasis on institutional responsibilities and linkages). The DRM analyst will guide the overall process and the individual reviews. He will ensure that the process is result-oriented, operational and conducted in an efficient manner. The pool of short-term experts will be mobilised to assist the DRM analyst to undertake the reviews.
• Summarise the national reviews into a regional synthesis examining the treatment of DRM in the food security context (including policy gaps and proposal for a regional policy platform)
• Provide support for national implementation of regionally agreed actions in the area of disaster risk management (such as sensitization activities, setting up of a monitoring framework, monitoring activities)
• Establish, implement and monitor a grant fund for research on DRM aimed at strengthening national and regional capacities to design, implement and monitor DRM programmes
• Support enhancement of capacities of national Disaster Management Institutions of IGAD member states and other stakeholders to implement DRM policies and plans
• Support the networking of DRM professionals and policy makers to share best practices and accelerate the adoption of the DRM approach in a common regional framework
• Support IGAD with creation and maintenance of a high profile regional network and information system on DRM;
• Support IGAD in search for and dissemination of best practices with regard to DRM. This includes elaboration of information support material.
• Manage and backstop short term experts in her/his field of specialisation. S/he should assist the selection process for STE as well as monitor and follow up on STE assignments; S/he has to review the draft reports of STEs.