United States of America: DRR, Climate Adaptation and Resilience Capacity Building Consultant, USA (219150-927)

Background:

Disasters of all kinds are not only human tragedies for millions of people every year, they are also substantial impediments to the attainment of development objectives overtime. The World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Hyogo, Japan in 2005 by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) produced a ten-year plan for global disaster risk reduction: the “Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters” (HFA).

During the decade since the Hyogo accord, both climate change adaptation (CCA) and resilience disciplines have matured offering new approaches, methodologies, and tools which DRR practitioners have begun to utilize. Resilience in particular has influenced key donors (USAID, DfID) and practitioners alike as development efforts have been continually lost due to reoccurring crises. As these fields have grown, along with DRR, Mercy Corps has developed a wealth of knowledge and experience in understanding the design, implementation and evaluation of these programs. However, this knowledge is not always unlocked and shared among country programs or peer organizations which are striving to understand, and link, these sectors to find effective ways to integrate the thinking into their relief, recovery and development objectives.

This work seeks to update existing, and where required develop new, capacity building materials related to DRR, CCA and resilience. These materials will then lead into the delivery of a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop to disseminate the core concepts and tools to practitioners from Mercy Corps global programs and colleague NGOs from Japan.

Objective:

Relief and development practitioners will have a clear understanding the core concepts of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and resilience thinking, and will have practical tools with which to develop and guide related programs through the project cycle - from assessment and design, through implementation and evaluation.

Activities:

Compile and review of existing DRR, CCA, Resilience guidance and case studies including work produced by Mercy Corps and other institutionsInterviews with relevant DRR and CCA field practitionersCultivate case studies and examples to illustrate broader principles in written guidance and training materials.Modify and develop new power points, activities, case studies, and other workshop materials.Deliver workshopsCoordinate closely with a steering committee

Timeline:

The activities and products outlined are expected to be produced over the period of June-December of 2014. Exact dates of deliverables, events, and activities will be decided upon at the outset of the program.

Outputs:

1) Guidance materials aimed for use by field practitioners will be adapted or developed and produced for distribution through the workshop and other channels. A field handbook will be simple, concise and easily translatable.

2) Core training will be developed including presentations, exercise materials and trainers’ guidance for a one-day workshop. Training materials will include a dissemination mini-module, which condenses and simplifies the longer modules, which workshop participants can use to share what they have learned with their colleagues upon returning to post.

3) Draft Test Workshop with relevant technical Mercy Corps staff.

4) Two, one-day workshop (one in China, one in Japan) using the finalized materials. Attendees will include Japanese, Chinese, and American NGO practitioners.

Reporting

The consultant will report the Senior Technical Advisor- Environment, Energy, and Climate Change Technical Support Unit.

The consultant will work closely with a steer committee designed to highlight different sectoral and institutional perspectives.

Profile/Qualifications

Significant field and academic experience working on issues related to Disaster Risk Reduction and/or Climate Change Adaptation, with particular focus on field level DRR program design and implementation.Master’s degree in relevant area of studyDemonstrated experience in capacity building and training including the development and delivery of materials aimed at DRR and/or CCA practitioners.Strong writing and communication skillsInternational NGO experienceProven ability to work independentlyWillingness to travel

Mercy Corps is an AA/EOE.

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