Climate Adaptation and Resilience Programming Specialist At Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

A. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an intergovernmental regional organization with a vision to reduce disaster and climate risk impacts on communities and countries in Asia and the Pacific 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. 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 at http://www.adpc.net/

B. 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 per cent 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.

With the financial support from the World Bank Group, ADPC will be implementing a five years’ project, titled “Climate Adaptation and Resilience Project for South Asia” (CARE). 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.

Scaling up the climate-resilient policy, planning, and financing is vital to satisfactorily implement all the required components of the project. It would involve review of national policies to support the development of climate-resilient frameworks in planning and financing.

Accordingly, a qualified and motivated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Programming Specialist will be required to support the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives (MoPDSI) on overall coordination and monitoring of various activities under the CARE for South Asia project in Pakistan.

C. Statement of Intent

The Climate Adaptation and Resilience Programming Specialist is expected to provide overall coordination and technical support with regards to CARE for South Asia project in Pakistan. The consultant will support in monitoring the project and liaisoning with ADPC’s CARE for South Asia team for the smooth functioning of the project under the guidance of MoPDSI

The position will be based in the Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Note:

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

D. Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant shall be responsible to perform the following tasks:

· Assist the Climate Change section of MoPDSI in all activities related to the climate change portfolio and specifically the activities under the CARE for South Asia project in Pakistan.

· Assist in the coordination, supervision and follow up of all CARE for South Asia related activities in MoPDSI including liaison with other ministries and departments (Ministry of Climate Change, Sindh Agriculture Department, Punjab Agriculture Department)

· Support the Member, Planning Commission, Food Security & Climate Change in developing & reviewing TORs, research, concept papers, policy papers, presentations, proposals etc.

· Undertake research and provide data based analysis to MoPDSI on matters related to climate resilience and adaptation.

· Perform other relevant tasks as assigned by the focal point at MoPDSI

E. Qualifications

· Master’s or degree having 16 years of educationin the field of Economics or Business administration with a specialization in Public Financing or Public Accounting in Climate Change, International Development or a relevant social science degree

· Minimum 10 years of experience in:

o planning sector in Pakistan with specialization in the management of public and donor-funded projects

o public & private sector stakeholder coordination and relationship management

o research & analysis with regards to climate change

o development of case studies and policy papers/ studies

· A professional relationship with the MoPDSI is an advantage.

· Experience in working with international donors and in the agriculture sector with an understanding of national laws and government policies in Pakistan is preferred.

· Experience in analytical work related to project management and public sector management.

· Cross-cultural awareness and ability to work amongst a diverse group of staff, and partners.

· Experience in training, capacity building and facilitating high-level discussions.

· Required computer proficiencies: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills and capacity to work under pressure and short deadlines.

· Excellent English proficiency in oral and written communication, including a demonstrated track record in technical report writing and the ability to communicate technical matters effectively to a general audience.

F. Reporting Relationships

The Consultant will report to the focal point of MoPDSI.

G. Contract Duration

The contract duration will be for one (1) year.

H. Selection Method

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