DirecciónOrganizational Context
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) faces recurring challenges from natural and human-induced hazards, with droughts, floods, and storms claiming lives as well as severely impacting economies and infrastructure. The region has experienced unprecedented events, including a historic El Niño-induced drought in 2016 and Tropical Cyclones; Idai and Kenneth in 2019, further exacerbating the situation and causing widespread destruction, impoverishing multiple SADC Member States. Most recently, in February and March 2023, Tropical Cyclone Freddy, the third-deadliest tropical cyclone recorded in the Southern Hemisphere—following 2019's Cyclone Idai and the 1973 Flores cyclone—affected an estimated 2.7 million people, resulting in 876 deaths and displacing 916,000 people. In this regard, the region urgently, needs to build resilience to protect lives and development gains for sustainable development.
The Disaster Risk Management Strengthening in the Southern Africa Development Community (DRMSS) project, funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP) Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Programme (NDRRP), aims to enhance disaster (risk) management and preparedness capacity in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). A crucial part of this project is to establish the Southern African Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) for effective regional disaster response coordination due to the increasing magnitude, frequency and transboundary nature of extreme weather events that are occurring. A Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre for the SADC (SHOC) will play a crucial role in effective disaster management and response for the region. These include but not limited to serving as a coordination hub, managing disaster Information, receiving and disseminating early warnings about potential disasters, coordinating the allocation of resources, fostering collaboration among various agencies involved in disaster response, monitoring situation during emergencies, manage logistics and supply chain activities, facilitate communication with relevant stakeholders, provide decision-makers with comprehensive information and analysis, contribute to capacity building and training initiatives, facilitate collaboration with international partners among many others.
This four-year project (Till 2027) is being implemented through a Multi-Partner Contribution Agreement with The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Alignment to IFRC’s and Partners objectives as well as strategies
The project and specifically this consultancy is aligned to IFRC’s Strategy 2030, the SADC Disaster Preparedness and Response Strategy as well as Fund for 2016-2030, the SADC Disaster Risk Management Strategy and Action Plan for 2023-2030 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development plan (RISDP) (2020-2030) of the SADC Secretariat. These strategies provide guidance for safeguarding development gains through enhancing disaster preparedness and response capabilities considering 21st-century challenges. These include but are not limited to climate and environmental crisis, evolving crisis and disasters. These strategies embrace “multi-stakeholdership’ amongst governments, private and public institutions to ensure no one is left behind in achieving sustainable development. Essentially, the strategies strive to significantly reduce disaster loss and damage by strengthening capacities to better anticipate, respond to, and quickly recover from crisis.
Job Purpose
The primary objectives of this consultancy are to:
1. Conduct a comprehensive regional scientific disaster risk assessment (risk profiling, risk identification, hazard characterization, vulnerability) and exposure (social, environmental, health, livelihoods, economic, ecosystems and other dimensions) of SADC member states to disasters.2. Using the comprehensive scientific disaster risk assessment from above and considering existing regional early warning systems and/or sources of early warning information draft a detailed Regional Multi-hazard monitoring Framework and Early Warning support mechanism as well as related agreements for the SADC region.
Desired outcomes
The desired outcomes of this consultancy are expected include but not be limited to:
1. Enhanced Risk Understanding:
- A deeper understanding of the various natural and human-induced hazards specific to the region, including their frequency, magnitude, and potential impacts.
2. Improved Early Warning Systems:
- Strengthened Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) that leverage the assessment findings to be guided in providing timely and accurate alerts, enabling authorities to take proactive/anticipatory measures.
3. Informed Decision-Making:
- Comprehensive data and analysis that support informed decision-making by governments, regional organizations, and humanitarian agencies involved in disaster management.
4. Resource Allocation Optimization:
- Optimization of resource allocation for disaster preparedness and response, ensuring that resources are directed to areas with the highest risk and greatest need.
5. Capacity Building:
- Identification of gaps in regional capacity for disaster response, leading to targeted capacity-building initiatives for emergency services and government agencies
6. Cross-Border Collaboration and Enhanced International Cooperation:
- Facilitation of cross-border collaboration and information-sharing, enabling neighboring countries to work together on regional disaster preparedness and response efforts. This is expected to lead to strengthened cooperation with international partners and organizations, fostering a more coordinated and harmonized approach to disaster response and recovery.
7. Policy and Regulatory Improvements:
- Identification of gaps in existing policies and regulations related to disaster management, leading to improvements and the development of more effective and adaptive policies.
8. Comprehensive Risk Reduction Strategies:
- Development of comprehensive disaster risk reduction strategies that encompass the entire disaster management cycle, from preparedness and mitigation to response, recovery, and reconstruction.
9. Data for Risk Financing:
- Availability of robust data for risk financing and insurance initiatives, enabling more accurate risk assessment and financial planning for post-disaster recovery.
Essentially these desired outcomes are expected to collectively contribute to building a more resilient and prepared region capable of effectively responding to and recovering from the diverse range of hazards prevalent in the SADC region.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
Consultancy Outputs
The Consultant(s)/Team/Firm is expected to deliver the following:
•A detailed report presenting a comprehensive regional scientific assessment, including risk profiling, hazard characterization, vulnerability, and exposure analysis for SADC member states in various dimensions such as social, environmental, health, livelihoods, economic, and ecosystems, contributing to informed MHEWS strategies.
•A detailed framework proposed for the technology infrastructure, communication protocols, functions, and operational procedures of SHOC for effective regional Multi-Hazard Monitoring
•An institutional and legal framework that proposes an architecture for SHOC linkage to SADC Member States (MS), other Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Continental Level.
•Recommendations for capacity development and infrastructure enhancement to strengthen regional disaster response.
•Draft agreements for collaboration and information-sharing between SHOC and SADC Member States, as well as relevant stakeholders.
•Provide support to the validation of the above deliverables/reports.
Schedule for payment of fees
Deliverable #1:
Description: Submission of Inception Report and kick-off activities
- Payment: 25% of total fees
- Deadline: 30th March 2024
- Days : 15 Days
Deliverable #2:
Description: Submission and approval of:
a. Comprehensive progress report of the consultancy
b. A detailed report presenting a comprehensive regional scientific assessment, including risk profiling, hazard characterization, vulnerability, and exposure analysis for SADC member states in various dimensions such as social, environmental, health, livelihoods, economic, and ecosystems, contributing to informed MHEWS strategies.
c. A detailed framework proposal for the technology infrastructure, communication protocols, functions, and operational procedures of SHOC for effective regional Multi-Hazard Monitoring.
- Payment: 25% of total fees
- Deadline: 31st August 2024
- Days : 40 Days
Deliverable #3:
Description: Submission and approval of:
a.
An institutional and legal framework that proposes an architecture for SHOC linkage to SADC MS, other RECs and Continental Level.
b.
A recommendations report for capacity development and infrastructure enhancement to strengthen regional disaster response.
c.
Draft agreements for collaboration and information-sharing between SHOC and SADC Member States, as well as relevant stakeholders.
- Payment: 30% of total fees
- Deadline: 31st October
- Days : 40 Days
Deliverable #4:
Description: Provide support to the validation of the above deliverables/reports.
- Payment: 10% of total fees
- Deadline: 30th November 2024
- Days : 10 Days
Deliverable #5(Final):
Description:
a. Submission of final consultancy report and associated six (6) deliverables.
b. Organise a meeting to review DRMSS project partners satisfaction and address any outstanding issues.
c. Finalization of all project deliverables, including lessons learned.
- Payment: 10% of total fees
- Deadline: 30th March 2025
- Days : 15 Days
Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)
**Payment Terms and Conditions**
- All payments are subject to approval of deliverables by the IFRC in consultation with DRM project partners.
- Invoices must be submitted within 5 working days of reaching each milestone.
- Late submissions may result in delayed payment.
- Invoices should be addressed to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
C/o Cruz Vermelha de Moçambique | Av. 24 de Julho Nr. 641| Maputo, Moçambique
- Payment will be made via Bank Transfer
This proposed schedule is flexible and subject to adjustments based on mutual agreement between the Consultant(s)/Team/Firm and IFRC. Any changes to the schedule will/should be communicated and documented in writing.
Time Allocation, for budget purposes
The consultancy is expected to commence on 20th February 2024 and conclude by 30th March 2025 according to schedule for payment of fees.
Education
A relevant masters/PhD degree in fields such as disaster management, environmental science, multi-hazard early warning systems, information management, or a related field
Experience
- At least 5 years of experience in disaster risk assessment and regional MHEWS monitoring frameworks
- Familiarity with SADC member states geographical, legal, institutional, social, and environmental context
- Experience in conducting and facilitating workshop
Knowledge, Skills and Languages
- Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation.
- Familiarity with hazard mapping, vulnerability assessment, and risk modelling techniques.
- Understanding of policy development and the ability to contribute to the creation of regional disaster risk reduction frameworks.
- Knowledge of international, regional, and national multi hazard early warning and early action programmes, policies and frameworks are essential. Including but not limited to the Africa Multi-Hazard and Early Warning and Early Action Systems (AMHEWAS) programme, the Emergency Operations room of the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre).
- An understanding of policy development and the ability to contribute to the creation of regional disaster risk reduction frameworks.
- Experience in collaborating with governmental and non-governmental entities in disaster-prone regions.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills to prepare comprehensive reports and presentations for diverse audiences.
- Fluent spoken and written English.
- Good command of official languages within the SADC region and/or another IFRC official language (French, Spanish or Arabic.
Competencies, Values and Comments
Values: Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability.
Core competencies: Communication; Collaboration and teamwork; Judgement and decision making; National society and customer relations; Creativity and innovation; Building trust.
Submission Requirements:
Interested Consultant(s)/Team/Firm are invited to submit:
•A detailed proposal outlining the approach to achieving the objectives.
•Financial proposal, including a breakdown of costs.
•Curriculum Vitae (CVs)s of the Consultant(s)/Team/Firm
•Examples of previous relevant work.
Submission Deadline: All proposals must be submitted by 8th February 2024 to IFRC career (Official site)
Evaluation:
The proposals will be evaluated based on technical competence, relevant experience, and financial considerations.
Management of consultancy
The IFRC will lead the management of the selected Consultant(s)/Team/Firm with the support of the DRMSS Technical Working Group (TWG) through:
1. Clear Communication:
- Establish open and transparent communication channels from the outset, clearly outlining project expectations, goals, and deliverables. Maintain regular check-ins to discuss progress, address concerns, and ensure alignment with consultancy objectives.
2. Planning and Setting Milestones:
- Develop a detailed consultancy plan with clear milestones and deadlines. Regularly review progress against these milestones to track the Consultant(s)/Team/Firm's work and identify any potential issues early on.
3. Stakeholder Engagement:
- Facilitate effective engagement with key stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and regional organizations.
4. Resource Support:
- Provide the necessary resources, including access to data, technical tools, subject matter experts, logistics for travel to enable the Consultant(s)/Team/Firm to perform their tasks effectively. Address any resource constraints promptly to avoid delays.
5. Quality Assurance and Review:
- Implement a robust quality assurance process by regularly reviewing the Consultant(s)/Team/Firm 's work, methodologies, and deliverables. Provide constructive feedback to support continuous improvement.
Conclusion:
The selected Consultant(s)/Team/Firm is expected to provide high-quality deliverables that will significantly contribute to the successful establishment of SHOC within the framework of the DRMSS project.
Notes
•The Consultant(s)/Team/Firm will be contracted by the IFRC, and the standard contractual terms will apply.
•The consultancy is expected to take 120 Working days to be completed.
•The Consultant(s)/Team/Firm will also be expected to travel.
•Agreed expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with IFRC’s relevant regulations.
The full job description can be accessed here.
