Disaster risk management specialist (Barbados)

Background:

Natural disasters present a serious obstacle to achieving sustainable social and economic development in the Caribbean region. Disasters affect the poor most severely; and there is an increasing consensus that measures to manage hazards and reduce their impact provide an effective vehicle to make substantial and sustainable advances in the fight against poverty.

Established in 2006, the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) is a partnership of 21 countries and 4 international organizations committed to helping developing countries reduce their vulnerability to natural hazards and adapt to climate change. More information can be found at www.gfdrr.org.

The World Bank’s Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Team for Latin America and the Caribbean provides technical, analytical and financial support to regional clients in the fields of (i) risk identification; (ii) vulnerability reduction; (iii) risk financing; and (iv) disaster recovery and reconstruction. Examples of activities supported by the DRM Team in Latin America include risk identification programs such as the Haiti Multi-Hazard Assessment initiative; vulnerability reduction projects in Haiti, Jamaica, the OECS and Guyana; risk financing initiative such as the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility; and disaster recovery and reconstruction support in Haiti, Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

The World Bank’s Disaster Risk Management program in the Caribbean region is growing rapidly. In order to ensure quality support to Caribbean countries, the team is expanding through the hiring of an Extended Term Consultant to be based in Barbados.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The incumbent will be a full member of the World Bank DRM Regional team. Under the supervision of the Regional Coordinator, S/he will report directly to the Task Manager in charge of the Caribbean Program on the following duties and accountabilities:

• Support the Bank team in the identification and preparation of DRM projects for Board Approval, specifically as it pertains to the (i) preparation of project concept notes; (ii) preparation of project identification documents; (iii) preparation of project appraisal documents and Board packages; (iv) preparation of operation manuals, procurements plans, disbursement schedules and project activity matrices;
• Support client in the execution of projects, specifically as it pertains to (i) ensuring that all project covenants are and remain satisfied; (ii) review terms of reference and bidding documents: (iii) liaise with Bank fiduciary, safeguard and financial management colleagues;
• Draft mission preparation and monitoring documents, including (i) mission statement, (ii) Aide-memoires; (iii) Back-to-Office Report; and (iv) Implementation Status and Completion Reports;
• Support project team’s efforts to monitor project activities and ensure proper documentation vis-à-vis (i) drafting and filing of correspondence; (ii) organizing, leading and keeping records of meeting with clients and/or World Bank partner organizations; (iii) keeping and updating information in IRIS and SAP;
• Support the DRM team’s contribution to GFDRR knowledge products through (i) preparation of toolkit informing users on the best practices for the integration of DRM principles into national and sectoral development strategies and programs; and (ii) preparation of a paper exploring DRM in a post-conflict/fragile state environment; Provide peer review of WB DRM products as requested.
• Perform any other business assigned by the Regional Coordinator, including in case of disaster recovery operations following major disaster in the region.

Specific responsibilities:
The Disaster Risk Management Specialist is expected to spend the majority of his time to support specific activities related to the DRM and GFDRR portfolio of activities in the Caribbean region. This will include:

• Support the team’s country dialogue with Caribbean countries, including contribution to Policy Notes, Country Notes, Country Partner Strategies, and other policy documents.
• Support, and in many cases, lead the preparation, appraisal, negotiation, supervision and completion reporting of GFDRR funded activities. Report to management and, as necessary to donors, on Grant implementation;
• Coordinate operational activities with the various DRM teams in the Caribbean region, including during project planning and implementation, and assisting in the coordination with, among others, GFDRR, Legal, Loan Disbursement Office, Financial Management, Procurement Trust Fund Accounting, Operations Policy and Country Services, SMUs, CMUs, and Vice President’s Front Office.

Selection criteria:

• Advanced university degree in the social sciences or engineering and a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of disaster risk management; including a good understanding of the inter-relationships between disaster risk management and climate change adaptation and experience integrating this expertise in multi-sectoral projects/programs and/or programmatic operations.
• Experience working in an organization dealing with disaster risk management either at donor or country level, with demonstrated track record of results on the ground. Experience in more than one region is a plus.
• Demonstrated professional/technical skills, trouble shooting and problem solving capabilities with respect to clients, superiors and peers.
• Excellent analytical skills. Publications in professional or scientific journal are a plus.
• Proven track record of working independently, requiring only general guidance even on complex issues.
• Demonstrated effective communication skills, speaking and writing. Outstanding interpersonal skills, effective team member.
• Capacity to work in a multi-cultural and matrix environments and demonstrated ability to mentor staff and design skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge and skills.
• Highly developed spoken and written English communications skills including the ability to research and write under pressure and to a professional standard. Knowledge of French and Spanish are also a plus