Disaster Risk Management Specialist

• Job #123076
• Job TitleDisaster Risk Management Specialist
• Job FamilyUrban Development
• Job TypeProfessional & Technical
• GradeGF
• LocationWashington, DC
• Recruitment TypeInternational Hire
• Language RequirementEnglish [Essential]
• Closing Date13-Jan-2013

Background / General description:
Note:  This is a 2-year coterminous term position. If an open-ended/regular staff is selected, (s)he will keep her/his status provided a re-entry guarantee is obtained from the releasing unit.  It is expected that the selected candidate will initially spend up to one year at HQ to get familiar with the World Bank operations before relocating to a field office in Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). Regional Context The Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region comprises of 30 extremely diverse clients, with a population of nearly 500 million people. Four of our clients are IDA only and another 5 are IDA blend countries. The remaining 21 are IBRD eligible. Although 10 of our clients have joined the EU and 7 of these have graduated, most continue to remain active recipients of knowledge and/or lending services. CASs/CPSs reflect this strong diversity with substantial variation in lending prospects, but strong demand for Bank technical services is present across the board. For the most part, countries in the ECA region have recovered to the GDP levels prevailing prior to the 2008/09 crisis, yet growth is slower than before the crisis. In 2011, the region had a real growth rate of 5.3 percent, and is projected to grow at 3 percent in 2012. The crisis left ECA countries with historically high levels of unemployment, which are still worsening, particularly in the Balkans. Furthermore, the rapidly unfolding sovereign debt problems in Western Europe are posing challenges to the sustainability of the relatively tepid recovery. The ECA region is implementing a regional strategy that is focused on addressing three critical challenges to growth and development---improving competitiveness, reforming the social sectors to achieve inclusive growth, and making growth more sustainable through climate action. Governance and gender issues cut across these three strategic pillars. The financial and economic crisis led to a substantial increase in Bank lending and knowledge activities in all ECA countries, including in several EU members states (e.g., Latvia, Romania, and Poland). The crisis helped serve as a powerful reminder of the relevance of the Bank both as an attractive source of funding and a reliable provider of timely and quality advice. Sector Context The mission of ECA’s Sustainable Development Department (ECSSD) is to support the Bank’s clients in the region achieve equitable, environmentally and socially sustainable growth and prosperity. ECSSD is responsible for: (i) advising ECA Management on long-term development issues in the sectors of ECSSD expertise, and delivering a broad range of high-quality operational and analytical products, in response to demand from country clients and Country Management Units (CMUs); (ii) overseeing professional development of the ECA staff assigned to the Sustainable Development (SD) Network, including those based in field offices; and (iii) ensuring a proper link with the SD Network in developing a long-term vision and strategy for SD activities Bank wide and in ECA. The Europe and Central Asia Region Urban, Water and Disaster Risk Management Unit (ECSUW) within ECSSD operates in the context of the overall Regional mission to improve the quality of people's lives. With over 70 percent of the population living in urban areas, ECA is the second most urbanized region in the developing world. The Europe and Central Asia Region is prone to a wide range of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, droughts, strong winds, and storms. Vulnerability to disasters increased as the urbanization and the development led to the occupation of areas exposed to natural hazards, and is further exacerbated by climate change. The countries of Central Asia have a history of devastating disasters that have caused economic and human losses across the region. Many types of natural hazards are present, including earthquakes, floods, landslides, mudslides, debris flows, avalanches, droughts and extreme temperatures. Earthquakes are particularly high-impact hazard, causing destruction to human life, buildings and infrastructure alike, while also triggering secondary events such as landslides, mudslides and avalanches. Climate change is expected to exacerbate disasters associated with hydro-meteorological hazards. The ECA region has been promoting a proactive and strategic approach to managing natural disaster risk. The underlying thrust has been that both loss of life and the economic impact of disasters can be reduced by advanced planning and investments. In order to pursue this goal, the ECSUW has been engaged and supported clients in key areas of the DRM framework, concentrating on the following elements: (i) Disaster risk assessments at the regional and country level by analyzing the vulnerability and potential effects and impact of disasters. (ii) Monitoring and forecasting of natural hazards via support to the modernization of the hydro-meteorological services and creating the operational and effective links with emergency management authorities. (iii) Mitigating risk through support to investments in flood risk protection, seismic risk retrofitting or reconstruction, improvements in building codes and land-use planning incorporating the knowledge of disaster-prone zones; etc. (iv) Catastrophe risk financing through introduction of innovative risk transfer tools, such catastrophe risk insurance; (v) Disaster preparedness through support to emergency response functions, emergency management coordination, enhancing emergency communication and information systems, and raising public awareness. ECSUW assists our clients through lending (including sector investment loans), implementation support (supervision), and advisory, knowledge, technical assistance, and fee based services. ECSUW works seamlessly across all three areas of the unit’s services, including urban, water supply and sanitation and disaster risk management. It also collaborates with other sector units within the Sustainable Development Department, in addition to working across the Bank networks and with other institutions. At present, ECSUW has 40 ongoing projects in its portfolio, with a loan/credit value of US$3.4 billion. The unit is working on a diverse pipeline with strong innovation and client responsiveness. ECSUW is comprised of about 30 team members, including extended term consultants. The DRM portfolio in Central Asia is currently concentrated in Kyrgyz and Tajikistan and addresses mostly needs for hydro-meteorological monitoring and early warning systems, as well as emergency preparedness and capacity building in post-disaster risk assessments. The existing program is supported through financing from International Development Agency (IDA), Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and Pilot Program on Climate Resilience under Strategic Climate Fund (PPCR).
Duties and Accountabilities:
To support the growing demand from our clients and potential for further expansion of the DRM program in Central Asia, the unit is seeking a highly qualified and motivated DRM Specialist who will coordinate and participate in operational and analytical services in the Central Asia (ECCU8) sub-region. The Central Asia Country Unit consists of five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and it is expected that the selected candidate will support operations and policy dialogue in the area of disaster vulnerability reduction, with particular emphasis on the hydro-meteorological and seismic risk mitigation, hazards monitoring and early warning, and risk assessment. This position is also expected to liaise closely with multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors and international organizations active in DRM agenda in Central Asia. In the course of the assignment, s/he will work closely with the Country Unit, and support the DRM portfolio development and resources mobilization for countries in Central Asia. • Support and provide technical inputs to task teams working on investment and development policy lending operations, undertake analytical and advisory activities as well as monitoring and evaluation activities related to DRM in Central Asia. • Provide project supervision support on investment lending activities such as the Central Asia Hydromet Modernization Project and liaise with project government counterparts as directed by the TTL(s). • Assist in development of new business opportunities in the DRM sector in Central Asia, in line with unit’s strategic directions and the Bank comparative advantage. • Liaise closely and coordinate DRM activities with the Central Asia Country Unit, as well as with bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors and international institutions to strengthen partnerships. • Support and/or contribute to policy dialogue and just-in-time advisory work in the area of disaster risk management. • Assist Central Asia country teams in the inclusion of DRM agenda in Country Partnership Strategies, provide critical input to the design and execution of policy and research initiatives and sector strategies as relevant to the DRM. • Participate in professional development and knowledge sharing activities in the DRM sector and contribute specific knowledge both within the assigned countries and in the World Bank. • Advise and provide support to the teams, as needed, in an event of natural disasters affecting Central Asia countries, including providing advice to the unit and country management on a potential Bank assistance in the aftermath of natural catastrophes. • Liaise and guide teams to promote mainstreaming of DRM in sectoral operations in order to ensure their sustainability and resilience of supported measures. • Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the SD Sector Manager and the TTL for Central Asia DRM.
Selection Criteria:
COMPETENCIES • Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Understands policy making process; distills operationally relevant recommendations/lessons for clients. • Policy Dialogue Skills - Identifies and assesses policy issues and plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders. • Integrative Skills - Working to develop an integrated view across all facets of current sector. • Client Orientation - Takes personal responsibility and accountability for timely response to client queries, requests or needs, working to remove obstacles that may impede execution or overall success. • Drive for Results - Takes personal ownership and accountability to meet deadlines and achieve agreed-upon results, and has the personal organization to do so. • Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion - Collaborates with other team members and contributes productively to the team's work and output, demonstrating respect for different points of view. • Knowledge, Learning and Communication - Actively seeks knowledge needed to complete assignments and shares knowledge with others, communicating and presenting information in a clear and organized manner. • Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Analyzes facts and data to support sound, logical decisions regarding own and others' work. Knowledge and experience in at least two of the following areas: • DRM Policy, Strategy, and Institutions - Foundational familiarity with disaster risk management institutions and governance concepts, and can apply knowledge to assignments. • DRM Infrastructure - Direct experience with disaster risk management infrastructure. • Emergency Preparedness and Early Recovery - Foundational knowledge of emergency preparedness and recovery strategies, with ability to support operations and analytical work. • Disaster Risk Financing - Foundational knowledge of a range of disaster risk financing alternatives; can conduct a range of financial analyses. • Disaster Analysis / Economics - Foundational understanding of many of the economic and analytical concepts relevant to disasters. OTHER SELECTION CRITERIA • At least a Master’s degree in urban planning, GIS, climate science, hydro-meteorology science, civil or structural engineering or other relevant disciplines with a focus on natural hazards and disaster risk management. • At least five years of relevant experience in the areas related to climate change, natural hazards, humanitarian affairs, vulnerability, and disaster risk management. • Experience working in an international environment, especially in developing countries or countries in transition, is desirable. Field experience in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction assignments is an advantage. • Knowledge of World Bank and GFDRR operational policies and practices, including institutional, operational and technical issues related to the Bank’s project cycle would be a plus, but not compulsory. • Demonstrate excellent and effective command of English both in verbal and written forms. Ability to communicate in Russian language would be a plus. The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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