Purpose and Objectives:
Background
The program “Strengthening ECCAS Capacities in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change,” implemented by the World Bank and funded through the European Union’s ACP-EU Disaster Risk Management Program, managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), represents a strategic effort to enhance the institutional capacities of Economic Commission of Central Africa (ECCAS) and its Member States in advancing Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) within the region.
The foundation of this program rests on the achievements of the first phase under the EU-funded ACP Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program, which operated from 2014 to 2021. During this period, substantial progress was made in fostering regional collaboration, enhancing coordination, and improving communication and information-sharing mechanisms within ECCAS Commission. Key accomplishments included the development of the state of play and regional framework for the improvement of the hydrological and meteorological services and early warning systems of Central Africa, the organization of two HYDROMET regional Forum, the development of a regional gender-sensitive DRM Plan of Action and a regional hazards/vulnerability and risks assessment database with transboundary and urban hazards developed.
Building on these successes, ECCAS is ready to further its commitment by embarking on the second phase of the program, supported by new funding from the ACP-EU initiative. A significant aspect of this program is its alignment with the Sendai framework and Paris Agreement, ensuring that the activities contribute toward increasing the capacity of ECCAS and its Member States to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and promote climate resilience.
This phase will focus on expanding tools and knowledge in flood management, disaster prevention, including development of a regional assessment of building codes and recommendations to improve urban resilience, supporting the development of operation procedures for the Regional Center for Research and Training on DRM/CCA and disaster preparedness and response. Such enhancements are in line with the global shift from a response-oriented approach to disaster management towards a more proactive disaster risk management model, which aims at reducing risk and losses more effectively.
Through these initiatives, ECCAS aims to move from a project-based approach to a holistic programmatic approach to sustain funding and ensure better coordination on given priority themes which requires technical assistance. Regional disaster risk management mechanisms need to be strengthened and climate-resilient development supported in ECCAS Member States to ensure a sustainable future by reinforcing regional integration.
Objective
The purpose of this ToR is to request from the consultant to work with Asian Disaster Preparedness Center to assist the strengthening capacities of ECCAS and its Member States officials in disaster risk reduction, urban resilience and flood management. The Consultant will carry out activities concurrently, where possible.
Expected Outputs:
Deliverables for Activity 3: Development of a regional assessment and recommendations for improving building codes to enhance urban resilience in ECCAS region
- Inception and methodology document
- Initial draft regional assessment and national recommendations for integrating building codes to enhance urban resilience
- Pre-workshop report (reflecting comments received before the workshop) and comment summary
- Recommendations for the regional workshop for consultation and validation, and agenda, minutes and presentations of the workshop
- Final regional assessment and national recommendations report for integrating building codes to enhance urban resilience in ECCAS region (professionally edited and designed for publishing online)
Responsibilities and Tasks:
The purpose of this ToR is to request from the consultant, assistance with the strengthening capacities of ECCAS and its Member States officials in disaster risk reduction, urban resilience and flood management. The Consultant will carry out activities concurrently, where possible.
The Consultant will accomplish the above-mentioned objective through the following tasks:
Activity 3: Development of a regional assessment and recommendations for improving building codes to enhance urban resilience in ECCAS region.
Task 1 – Inception and Methodology Development
Within two weeks of contract, develop an inception report that outlines the approach to develop a regional assessment and recommendations for improving building codes to enhance urban resilience. The Consultant is expected to develop the assessment approach based on findings of the World Bank/GFDRR assessment “Building regulations in sub-Saharan Africa: a status review of the building regulatory environment”2 (2023).
Task 2 – Development of initial draft regional assessment and national recommendations for integrating building codes to improve urban resilience
Based on the World Bank/GFDRR assessment “Building regulations in sub-Saharan Africa: a status review of the building regulatory environment” (2023), the Consultant will initiate verifications of findings presented in country annex and mapping of each country among five categories presented in the report, complete the inventory of existing laws and regulations in ECCAS Member States, undertake building code review for each country (where design codes exist) using building code checklists developed by the World Bank/GFDRR (structural resilience, fire safety, green buildings, universal accessibility3) to identify opportunities for improvements and summarize technical recommendations per country, and propose a sub-regional classification4 of the eleven countries, identifying similarities and proposing targeted recommendations for each of these new categories. The report should also integrate any case studies highlighting good practices that can be useful for ECCAS Member States to conduct regulatory reforms. The aim is to promote regional synergies and harmonization and to provide Member States with relevant building regulatory reform recommendations to facilitate the development or updating of their regulatory frameworks, enhance their enforcement mechanism and capacity, leading towards resilient, green and inclusive built environment in the future.
Task 3 – Support a virtual consultation/ validation workshop
The Consultant will support to a virtual consultation/ validation workshop and attend the workshop as per requirement of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center.
Task 4 – Finalization of the regional assessment and recommendations report for improving building codes to enhance urban resilience
Based on the validation comments and recommendations collected during the regional
workshop and review comments received by the WB, finalize the report and make it publishable (including professional editing and design of the report).
Working Principles:
The Consultant will report and work in close coordination with Project Lead of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center, Bangkok, Thailand.
Qualifications:
- Advanced university degree (Master or PhD) in a field relevant to urban development such as urban planning, public policy, economics, civil engineering, hydrology or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of proven experience in the urban, urban drainage/drainage sectors or in a related infrastructure field (either with a government’s authority, contractor(s), design or supervision consultant(s), or development institutions) with demonstrated ability to work on:
- infrastructure design or planning;
- civil works contract management and execution;
- urban resilience policies; and
- economic, social, and environmental impact of infrastructure investments;
- Effective verbal, analytical and written communication skills in English and a demonstrated ability to produce quality documents and analytical reports;
- Familiarity with the issues and problems of the Urban and Disaster risk management sectors;
- Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geo-spatial analysis desirable.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work effectively in multi-cultural teams (with virtual teams located in different countries), and with clients, different stakeholders and colleagues across units and departmental boundaries.
- Good project management skills, an ability to work effectively on multiple activities simultaneously, strong problem-solving skills and demonstrated ability to self-navigate, with minimal support, through complex bureaucratic environments; and
- Knowledge of key developments in related sectors and on cross-cutting issues affecting the performance of the sectors, such as: environmental and social impacts, gender equality, climate change, or poverty reduction;
Duty Station:
Remote working
Duration:
17 March 2025 – 16 March 2026 (with possibility of extension)
Itinerary:
N/A
Condition of payment:
The Contract price is: USD 9,000 [US Dollars Nine Thousand only]
- 25% of contract value amountingto USD 2,250 (US Dollars Two Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Only) after submission of Inception and methodology document, acceptable to the Project Lead (due date two (2) weeks from signing the Contract).
- 50% of contract value amounting to USD 4,500 (US Dollars Four Thousand Five Hundred Only) after submission of the Expected Outputs 2 and 3,acceptable to the Project Lead [due date two (2) months from delivery of Output 1 above].
- 25% of contract value amounting to USD 2,250 (US Dollars Two Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Only) after submission of the Expected Output 4 and 5,acceptable to the Project Lead [due date three (3) months from delivery of Output 2 above].
How to apply
Interested Candidates can submit the completed ADPC application form, (downloadable from www.adpc.net), resume, copy of degrees/certificate(s) together with a cover letter, to: adpcjobs@adpc.net
Female candidates are especially encouraged to apply.
ADPC encourages diversity in its workplace and supports an inclusive work environment.