Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Contract

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Disaster Risk Management Specialist

Description

Do you want to build a truly worthwhile career? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries, a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org. The Sustainable Development Practice Group:

The Sustainable Development (S.D.) Practice Group (P.G.) helps countries tackle their most complex challenges in the areas of Agriculture and Food, Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy, Environmental and Social Framework, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience & Land, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, and Water.

Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR): Established in 2006, the GFDRR is a multi-donor partnership and grant-making financing mechanism. The GFDRR contributes to implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction by supporting on-the-ground technical assistance to help developing countries integrate Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change adaptation into development strategies, policies, and investment programs, including post-disaster recovery and reconstruction.

The GFDRR Secretariat is hosted within the Global Practice for Urban, Resilience, and Land (GPURL) in Washington, D.C., with satellite offices in Brussels and Tokyo. The Secretariat is responsible for resource mobilization, awarding and managing grants, reporting results, and carrying out outreach and partnership development. It also acts as the support hub for a decentralized network of Disaster Risk Management experts within the World Bank. In addition, it supports several global platforms for knowledge-sharing and capacity building.

To respond to pressing development needs considering disaster losses and climate risks, GFDRR implements most of its activities through the World Bank in partnership with national, regional, and other international agencies. Partnering with several donors to promote best practices in Disaster Risk Management has equipped the GFDRR to respond to needs from client countries comprehensively through areas of engagement with specific program targets. These are Science and Technology, Inclusive Disaster Risk Management and Gender Equality, Urban Resilience, Resilient Infrastructure, Hydromet, Early Warning Systems, Financial Protection and Insurance, Nature-based Solutions, Fragility, and Conflict-DRM nexus, and Resilient Recovery. The Facility maintains experienced teams within each engagement area that provide grant recipients with specialized knowledge and quality assurance in designing and implementing activities. Along with these teams, GFDRR maintains communities of practice that help connect a broad array of partners, facilitate global engagements and capacity building, and produce innovative knowledge.

The Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming DRM in Developing Countries: The Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming DRM in Developing Countries ("the Program") is a program established by the partnership between the Government of Japan and The World Bank to support client countries in enhancing their resilience against climate change natural disasters. The Program was established in 2014 and operated by the GFDRR's satellite office in Tokyo (DRM "Hub"). The Hub works in partnership and coordination with World Bank regional and thematic teams and global, regional, and national institutions. Moreover, the Hub partners with Japanese and international experts and institutions on DRM across various sectors.

The Program aims to achieve this objective by funding technical assistance (T.A.) grants. Its twin objectives are:

(i) to support developing countries in mainstreaming DRM in national development planning and investment programs through World Bank operations and country strategies, and

(ii) to connect Japanese and global expertise in DRM with developing countries and World Bank teams.

Duties and Accountabilities:

GFDRR is seeking a highly motivated Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Specialist with strong technical, analytical, writing, and organizational skills to deliver the Tokyo DRM Hub's work program and critical initiatives in knowledge and operations for GFDRR and the W.B. The selected candidate will report to the Program Task Team Leader, based in Tokyo, Japan, and managed by the GFDRR Practice Manager.

The DRM Specialist will be a core member and work closely with all Tokyo DRM Hub staff, GFDRR staff (based in Washington DC and Brussels), and frequently interact with World Bank operational teams (based globally) to implement, manage, and report on the Program. To do so, the DRM Specialist is expected to provide a timely and professionally competent review of technical assistance (T.A.) grant proposals and reporting prepared by various task teams across World Bank Global Practices (G.P.s), such as Transport, Water, Environment, Energy, and Urban, Resilience, and Land, Health, and others as needed. In addition, the DRM Specialist will play a critical role in identifying and maintaining good relations with key constituencies and new partners on DRM and other related sectors, such as resilient infrastructure, in Japan to explore their interest in contributing to grant activities, providing support to engage and connect them to World Bank task teams and client country partners.

Specific responsibilities of the Disaster Risk Management Specialist will include:

• Build and maintain rich networks of centers of excellence and Japanese DRM experts in various sectors, and connect them with World Bank task teams and client country stakeholders to enhance the design and implementation of activities supported by the Program-financed technical assistance (T.A.) grants and World Bank investment projects aiming to the mainstream of DRM in developing countries.

• Provide a competent technical review and screening of T.A. grant activities developed by World Bank Global Practices and provide advice on Japanese expertise that could inform these activities' implementation.

• Support task teams in developing and supervising activities, including traveling to Washington and client countries to support implementing, monitoring, and evaluating specific projects and programs.

• Support and/or lead the development, sharing, and utilization of knowledge products, capacity building, outreach, and communication activities under the Program.

• Draft and coordinate notes, briefs, presentations, and talking points for World Bank management, stakeholders, task teams, GFDRR's communication team, and the External and Corporate Relations team in Japan (ECRJP).

• Draft sections for annual reviews, annual reports, website pages, and other communications materials.

• Conduct research, contribute to the unit's operations, develop communication materials, and conduct analytical tasks as a critical GFDRR and Tokyo DRM Hub member.

• Support the Special Representative of the World Bank in Japan, in his role as representative of the World Bank, in maintaining and carrying out institutional relationships with Program stakeholders, including civil society, academia, private sector, government agencies, and other relevant entities.

• Perform other duties and functions as assigned by the Program Team Leader, the Special Representative of the Bank in Japan, and the GFDRR Practice Manager.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree or equivalent in an area relevant to climate and disaster risk management, water resource management, urban planning, engineering, infrastructure, or related.

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience, including two years of experience in disaster risk management.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of project design and implementation issues.

• Knowledge of the World Bank procedures and policies is a plus but not essential.

• Excellent writing skills in English and Japanese with the ability to distill key lessons and narratives and communicate them effectively across multicultural environments, stakeholders, and sectors.

• Strong ability to analyze and transfer disaster risk management-related research information into easily accessible Language and present complex ideas straightforwardly.

• Knowledge of the World Bank's key disaster risk management and climate adaptation priorities and programs is a plus but not essential.

• Good network with Japanese and global experts and institutions across diverse sectors, including but not limited to DRM, resilient infrastructure, climate change adaptation, disaster risk finance, insurance, etc.

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to work under tight deadlines and handle multiple requests simultaneously while being detail-oriented.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and proven ability to apply these in carrying out research and operational tasks, presenting findings and recommendations, and contributing to the resolution of the sector and/or country issues.

• Experience of working in an international or national development institution on the relevant issues is an advantage.

• Ability to share best practices, trends, knowledge, and lessons learned from Japan with clients and partners, articulating ideas verbally and in writing clearly and compellingly across various audiences.

• Ability to take the initiative and deliver with minimal supervision in a fast-paced environment.

• Proven communications skills, both in oral presentations and written documents, including sections of papers, briefs, and independent reports.

• Strong interpersonal, diplomatic, and team-building skills and a proven track record of building and maintaining collaborative relationships.

• Ability to gather inputs, assess risk, consider the impact, and articulate benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term.

• Advanced computer skills and full proficiency in using relevant software applications; (e.g., excellent skills in Microsoft PowerPoint).

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

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