Project Manager

About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific.

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. With 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.

For details please refer to ADPC website.

About CARE for South Asia

ADPC is implementing a five-year project, titled “Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CARE) Project for South Asia” with financial support from the World Bank Group. The project aims to create an enabling environment for climate resilience policies and investments 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.

Until Q3 2023, a considerable amount of effort has been taken through the provision of advisory services for policy and investment interventions, promotion of Climate Resilient Design and Standards for the South Asia Region, and Implementation Support to Climate-Risk Management Solutions for Participating Countries in the focus sectors of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Integrated Water Resources Management, Resilient Transport Infrastructure, and Climate Policy, planning and finance sectors in the three project countries of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. This initiative was successful because of close engagement and collaboration with over 35 government stakeholders across the three project countries.

Background

Disasters take a huge toll on the development agenda of SAR 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. In Bangladesh, 2007 Cyclone Sidr resulted in damages and losses of US$1.7 billion, or 2.6 percent of GDP.

To increase resilience and achieve climate commitments, there is a need for a transformational shift towards 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 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. In this setting the CARE for South Asia project is being implemented with an overall objective to contribute to an enabling environment for climate resilience policies and investments in select sectors and countries in South Asia through Enhancing Policies, Standards and Capacities for Climate Resilient Development under the component-2 of the project.

The project would require the services of an experienced Project Manager to support the Project Director in coordinating with the teams in Bangkok and in the three countries as well as to provide technical backstopping required to ensure the implementation of the work plan and achievement of the project development objectives.

The overall objectives of this consultancy service are to:

• Support the Project Director (PD) in strengthening the management capacity of ADPC in the implementation of the CARE for South Asia project;
• Provide technical and coordination support to the team of experts at Bangkok as well as act as the interface with various teams responsible for the implementation of activities
• Support the teams based in Bangladesh Nepal, and Pakistan ensure progress towards achievement of the project development objectives.
• Ensuring efficient integration of inclusive practices in all aspects of the project.

Statement of intent

The Project Manager will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing the operational, administrative, and financial activities of the Project.

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.

Duties and responsibilities

The Project Manager shall be responsible for the following:

• Assist the PD in the implementation of the project as per the Operations Manual and work plan.
• Support the Project Technical Coordinator in the technical review of documents and design of various events and platforms under the project.
• Support in coordination and communication with project partners and country teams in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
• Support in implementing operational policies, funds, and resources for smooth day-to-day operations.
• Support the PD and Monitoring and Reporting Specialist in implementing the M&E system, monitoring, reporting, and verification of project achievements. Develop quarterly bi-annual progress updates.
• Support the PD and Financial Management Officer in budget controlling, monitoring, and financial and administrative management of the Project.
• Support the PD and Procurement and Contracts Management Specialist in ensuring compliance with procurement procedures and regulations, the procurement plan, and contract management.
• Ensure the effective integration of inclusive practices in all aspects of the Project.
• Any other tasks delegated by the Project Director.

Deliverables

The Project Manager will have recurring deliverables such as:

• Compile monthly progress updates in PowerPoint and Word format for the project team and WB meetings
• Review and update technical documents such as event concept notes, briefs, etc for project implementation
• Produce monthly budget tracking report and review of individual consultant and firm progress
• Review the progress on milestones
• Prepare monthly event and training calendars
• Facilitate the process of events and training under the project
• Facilitate Coordination Working Group meetings, and meetings with Co-TTLs on a monthly basis and prepare meeting minutes and follow up on agreed actions.
• Coordinate and prepare for ISR missions twice a year in coordination with WB Task Team

Qualifications

The candidate should at least have:

• An advanced degree in disaster management, or a relevant discipline of management and coordination in the area of climate change and disaster risk reduction.
• At least eight years of experience in managing projects related to Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in South Asia and activity implementation. An experience of more than 10 years is preferred.
• At least five years of experience preparing and managing project budgets and work plans
• Experience in overseeing the implementation of a complex not-for-profit project would be an advantage.
• An excellent understanding of the current regional (Asia-Pacific) and global discourse related to Climate Adaptation and Resilience is required.
• Experience with Multilateral Development Banks would be preferred.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills including MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams) and other relevant software and applications currently being used.

Reporting relationships

The Project Manager will report to the Project Director. The Manager will maintain close coordination with the project offices in the pilot countries. The Manager will also coordinate with the other CARE for South Asia project specialists at the regional and national levels to carry out different activities under the project.

Contract duration

The contract duration will be 12 months.

Start Date: TBD

End Date: TBD

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 www.adpc.net), resume, copy of degrees/certificate(s) together with a cover letter, to: procurement.care@adpc.net

Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.

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