Junior Research Associate At Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

A. About Asian Disaster Preparedness Center

ADPC is an autonomous international 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

South Asia has experienced a long period of robust economic growth, which has translated into declining poverty and impressive improvements in human development. However, these long-term development gains are increasingly threatened by the staggering social and economic impacts of climate-related hazards. A recent World Bank study1 concluded that 800 million (or 44 percent) people in South Asia today live in locations that would become moderate or severe climate hotspots by 2050 without climate action. Therefore, countries in the region need to preserve and enhance their social and economic growth by investing in climate-resilient development.

With the financial support from the World Bank Group, ADPC and the Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (RIMES) are jointly implementing a five-year (2020-2025) project, titled “Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CARE) for South Asia”. The project aims to create an enabling environment for climate resilience policies and investments in Climate Resilient Agriculture, Integrated Water Resources Management, Resilient Transport Infrastructure, and Policy, Planning and Finance sectors. Through its regional portfolio, ADPC will also facilitate high-level dialogues for institutional cooperation and knowledge exchange, develop climate-resilient guidelines, and promote innovation and adoption of disruptive technology at national and regional levels. The national-level activities will initially be implemented in Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan.

CARE for South Asia project’s proposed activities are aligned with the priority sectors identified by the Government of Bangladesh covering agriculture, and infrastructure sectors for mainstreaming adaptation. Furthermore, the project will support in developing sector-specific climate- resilience strategies and guidelines to enhance gender-informed resilience in priority sectors when the gender-disaggregated data analytics becomes available.

Accordingly, a qualified and motivated Junior Research Associate will be required to support in reviewing relevant literature and frameworks, coordinate for the implementation of tasks under component 2 and maintaining a close coordination among the CARE project country team. S/he will be selected on a competitive basis following the World Bank Procurement Regulations.

C. Statement of Intent

The Junior Research Associate will play a supporting role in the program’s presence in Bangladesh to ensure research, and coordination support ADPC Bangladesh team and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

The position will be based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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.

D. Duties and Responsibilities

The Junior Research Associate shall provide the following inputs:

• Assist PIU in coordinating the implementation of CARE Project in Bangladesh;
• Assist in data and information gathering as part of field research for CARE Project;
• Assist in compiling relevant documents and information as required by the Project Director and/or Project Manager
• Assist in undertaking research and desk review of policies, programs and plans of sectors relevant to the CARE for South Asia project activities in Bangladesh
• Support in developing essential content including drafting meeting minutes and reports of national workshops and seminars, etc.
• Assist in technical assignments including concept notes and consolidating inputs from consultants, program partners, and stakeholders into quality deliverables;
• Help prepare project updates, progress reports and provide administrative support in carrying out national level activities under CARE Project;
• Assist in organizing seminars, training programs, capacity building initiatives, workshops, and other project activities;
• Coordinate and support in cross-sectoral collaboration for project implementation in Bangladesh; Perform other relevant tasks as assigned by the Project Director, and Project Manager.
• Perform other relevant tasks assigned by the Project Director, Project Manager and PIU.

E. Qualifications

• A Masters degree in Science, Social Sciences, environmental sciences or other relevant discipline
• Experience (minimum 2 years) in research and coordination required
• Knowledge of global and national climate change policies, initiatives and frameworks would be an advantage.
• Proven strong record of research and analytical skills are required
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Cross cultural awareness and ability to work amongst a diverse group of staff, and partners
• Required computer proficiencies: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Microsoft Teams

F. Reporting Relationships

The Junior Research Associate will report to the Project Director and work in close coordination with the Project Manager and Sector Specialists in Bangladesh

G. Contract Duration

The contract duration will be for 1 year with possibility of extension depending on project needs and the performance of the consultant.

H. Selection Method

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