Disaster risk management specialist and liaison (seconded) to Asian Development Bank

Purpose of position

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have a mutual interest in achieving effective and relevant policies and programming in international development. ADB, a major development institution in the Asia and Pacific region seeks to foster economic growth, good governance, human resource development, and the reduction of poverty for the benefit of its developing member countries.

The IFRC is the world's largest international humanitarian organization committed to a global agenda focused on disaster risk reduction, effective disaster management, health and community care, and the dissemination of humanitarian principles and values. This is undertaken through international and local capacity built in and from national Red Cross and Red Crescent Society members in almost every country.

Representatives of ADB and the IFRC have held discussions, for several years, with a view to enhancing opportunities for collaboration. They have agreed that collaboration will strengthen institutional capacities in both organizations at regional and national levels, and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of their respective resources.

ADB has committed itself in its Strategy 2020 to focus on five drivers of change, one of which is partnership. ADB hopes that this further enhanced cooperation with the IFRC, but also with civil society organizations, will comprise an increased number of ADB's partners. Furthermore, ADB is dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation and increasing knowledge sharing. A Letter of Understanding that the IFRC and the ADB signed in March 2008 is a valuable tool for ensuring that both organizations operate more effectively in reaching their goals.

In order to achieve this aim, ADB and the IFRC have agreed to place an experienced IFRC focal person at ADB headquarters in Manila (within the Regional and Sustainable Development Department - RSDD) to primarily share knowledge and to assist in consolidating ADB's programs in the disaster risk management (DRM) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) areas. And secondly, to develop and further enhance collaboration between ADB and IFRC with the view to also assess other potential areas of collaboration i.e. areas such as; IDRL, health incl.hiv/aids, pandemics control, water and sanitation, climate change etc.

Description of duties

Objective 1:
To help strengthen ADB's internal DRM arrangements and to support the development of ADB's external DRM network:
Help strengthen ADB internal DRM arrangements by providing technical support and advice in DRM by:
-Working with designated ADB sector specialists, and DRM Focal Persons in regional departments and in resident missions (RM) responsible for high-risk Developing Member Countries (DMCs) through the following activities:
1.Advise on strategies for engagement with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and civil societies in Asia-Pacific (with ADB's Non-Government Organization Centre - NGOC)
2.With NGOC, support program development in Community-Based DRM
3.Support progress on ADB's DRM-CCA interface
4.Undertake a capacity assessment of designated RM and ADB headquarters DRM Focal Persons
5.Carry out peer mentoring and small group capacity building initiatives, both in ADB HQ and through video-com with RM
6.Help strengthen DRM networks within the ADB (among HQ, RM) and with development partners
7.Facilitate lessons sharing among DRM Focal Persons.

-Assisting in the preparation and development of future DRM learning programs, such as the DRM Introductory and Advanced courses, and specific courses on: climate change adaptation, health, and DRM management (in conjunction with the Environmental Safeguards Divisions-RSES, and the Poverty Reduction, Gender and Social Development Division -RSGS), and community-based DRM (in consultation with the NGOC); where feasible, DRM materials should be consistent with those used and developed with other multilateral development banks (MDBs).
-Participating in the development of DMC hazard profiles.
-Providing input into damage, loss and needs assessments (DALA), particularly helping to ensure that wherever feasible DRM aspects are considered in the recovery processes across all ADB sectors of involvement and that relevant guidance on DRR and "building back better" is provided.
-Supporting the informal DRM expert panel within ADB.

Support the development of ADB's external DRM networks by:
-Liaising with appropriate counterparts in the International Federation, The World Bank, major international non-government organizations, and the United Nations systems agencies (principally UNDP, UNICEF, UNOCHA) on matters pertaining to DRM of relevance to the ADB vision, mission and Strategy 2020.
-Helping to make contact with other active DRM groups and DRM experts in ADB DMCs.

Objective 2:
Further strengthening the partnership between IFRC and ADB by acting as initial entry point for other potential areas of collaboration, and help identify concrete areas of cooperation on country and regional levels between the two institutions, such as:
-Identifying projects/programs between ADB and the IFRC in mutually advantageous areas at national and regional levels within particularly the area of DRM and DRR.
-Act as the focal point for ADB and IFRC and regularly exchange information between the two institutions. Maintain access to publications and reports prepared by either organisation and share information actively.
-Prepare and help organise the periodic review meetings held as mutually agreed between IFRC and ADB, but not less frequently than annually, to assess progress on implementation specifically within the area of DRM and DRR.
-Act as initial entry point for both ADB and IFRC when it comes to facilitate contact between both organizations within other areas of potential collaboration i.e. such as; pandemics, HIV/Aids, water and sanitation, IDRL, climate change and evaluation of projects/programmes involving joint collaboration etc.

Lateral relationship

-Establish and ensure effective working relations with ADB staff and especially the line managers within ADB/RSSD/DRM.
-Ensure effective reporting relations within ADB towards all ADB assigned reporting line managers, including keeping IFRC External -Relations Unit in Kuala Lumpur well informed on all developments.
-Establish and maintain effective liaison relations with IFRC in Kuala Lumpur and other relevant organizations

Duties applicable to all staff

-Actively work towards the achievement of the Secretariat's goals.
-Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross Red Crescent principles.
-Perform any other work related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

Required qualifications

Education:
-Relevant academic or equivalent educational background
-BTC or IMPACT is preferred

Experience:
-Proven experience in Disaster Risk Management (DRM) with a focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR)
-Proven experience in serving as the function of a Liaison
-RC/RC experience is essential
-Proven experience in turning strategies into workable action plans
-Proven experience in networking effectively at a high level

Skills:
-Good interpersonal skills
-Skills to analyse situations and draw conclusions
-Planning, training and analytical skills
-Liaison and negotiation skills
-RC field experience is preferable
-Fluent spoken and written English
-Self-supporting in computers (Windows, spreadsheets, word-processing)
-Ability to manage and mentor small groups
-A proven track record and competency to lead research and to create high-quality content (including reports)

Languages:
-High Level of English

Competencies:
-Red Cross Red Crescent National society relations
-Teamwork
-Results focus and accountability
-Communication
-Professional standards
-Managerial effectiveness
-Commitment to the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement
-High level of integrity & personal conduct
-Sensitivity to diversity
-Solution focused
-Strong intercultural negotiating skills
-Accountability
-Teamwork
-Resilience