Senior Technical Adviser for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Asia Foundation is seeking a Senior Technical Adviser for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Philippines. This role involves providing technical guidance, developing policy recommendations, and facilitating collaboration among stakeholders to enhance disaster risk management and climate resilience. The position focuses on implementing reforms related to evacuation centers and disaster risk information, aiming to improve preparedness and response to natural hazards in the country.
Terms of Reference

Senior Technical Adviser for Disaster Risk Reduction

under Climate & Environment for Coalitions for Change Program Phase 3

Coalitions for Change

Coalitions for Change (CfC) is a centerpiece program of the partnership between the Australian Embassy and The Asia Foundation in the Philippines. CfC strategically supports the development, introduction, adoption, and implementation of key policies consistent with the governments agenda on economic growth, improved governance, and social development.

The program creates spaces for collaboration, strengthening coalitions and networks, civil society, private sector, the government, academia, and others to bring about transformative change. Working with these motivated groups and individuals, and armed with technical and political analysis, CfC ushers in reforms that lead to sustainable and inclusive development, improving the lives of Filipinos.

Background of the Project

According to the 2023 World Risk Report, the Philippines ranks first (1st) among all 193 countries in terms of disaster risk. Inadequate disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) practices, such as prioritizing response and rehabilitation over preparedness and mitigation, often worsen the impact of existing natural hazards. Moreover, our current state of infrastructure exacerbates the Philippines lack of coping capacities to prevent, prepare and respond to hazards brought about by natural sources such as super typhoons.

While there are many challenges in Philippine DRRM, Coalitions for Change (CfC) has mainly focused on introducing policies that enable existing disaster risk information to influence actions especially on disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness. Most recently, CfC worked on policies prioritizing the construction and/or improvement of evacuation centers in high risk LGUs among others. The reform involves long-standing partnership with government agencies such as the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), science and professional agencies, legislators, and civil society organizations.

For CfC Phase 3, there is a need to sustain the gains from the work on Evacuation Centers through the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRRs) of the Evacuation Center Bill and to identify reforms towards the goal of enabling the use of disaster risk information, maps, warnings and analysis to inform disaster risk reduction, prevention and preparedness actions.

Scope of Work of the Technical Resource Person.
• Spearhead technical guidance documents, position papers, and recommendations on risk reduction and climate resilience.
• Develop policy recommendations based on scientific data and risk analysis to inform national DRR frameworks and legal reforms.
• Facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration by providing technical expertise to multi- stakeholder platforms on risk-informed development.
• Conduct consultations and discussions on possible new reform areas under CfC DRR with DRRM actors, and CfC DRR team taking off from CFC DRR reforms such as NDRRM Fund Management, and Evacuation Centers.
• Identify and network with stakeholders, groups, and organizations on possible new reform areas as agreed with the CfC DRR team.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate should possess the following qualifications:
• Advanced degree in Political Science, Economics, Public Policy, Environmental Studies, or a related field;
• Substantial experience conducting policy analyses, research, policy studies, plans, policies, and guidelines on DRR with the government and international development organizations under a problem-driven, iterative, adaptive approach and Development Entrepreneurship approach;
• Strong institutional and technical background governing the DRR sector, specifically, policy reforms on disaster preparedness, disaster financing, evacuation management, disaster recovery and rehabilitation;
• Strong analytical and technical skills focusing on disaster risk assessment and utilization of existing disaster risk information from the mandated government agencies to concrete actions;
• With extensive and diverse network across different types of organizations and government agencies that are relevant to the DRR sector, especially the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Science and Technology, and Department of the Interior and Local Government, international organizations, among others; and
• With proven track record for pushing impactful policy reforms on DRR along a coalition of individuals and organizations using problem-driven, iterative, adaptive approach and Development Entrepreneurship approach.

The contractor will directly report to The Asia Foundation Senior Program Officer.

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