Programme: Integrated Water and Hazard Management (IWHM)

Background

ICIMOD is a regional knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. We are working to develop an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain populations -– now, and for the future. In line with its new Strategic Framework, ICIMOD is strengthening its capacity to develop new approaches to meet the growing challenges in the region posed by climate change and globalisation.

ICIMOD has developed its Medium Term Action Plan, MTAP (2008-2012) in conjunction with a new five-year strategic framework organised around three programmes – Integrated Water and Hazard Management (IWHM), Environmental Change and Ecosystem Services (ECES), and Sustainable Livelihoods and Poverty Reduction (SLPR) – supported by a strong knowledge management division and specialists in gender, equity, governance, and economics, working together on programmes designed to help people adapt to climate change and improve their livelihood while protecting the environment. The IWHM is focusing on strategy and policy issues in relation to water and hazards, with a clear focus on reducing risks and increasing benefits to mountain people and downstream population. In this work disaster risk reduction (DRR), particularly for water induced disasters, is of great importance. This work has gained high priority by ICIMOD in the past, and in the light of climate change and its predicted negative impact on the HKH region. ICIMOD is therefore looking to strengthen itself by employing an outstanding individual to further ICIMOD and its capacity in this field.

Role of Action Area Team Leader / Disaster Reduction Specialist

The Team Leader/DRR Specialist is responsible for the overall design, planning and implementation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Action Area. S/He is aware of the lessons learned and the best practices applicable in the HKH as well as knows the stakeholders in this sector. H/she organizes proper division of labor within the AA, develops the AA program and is proactively taking initiatives and integrates innovative ideas. S/He is responsible for the annual planning and contributes actively to the IWHM strategic programme and is in a position to think and act in the interest of the institution as a whole.

Reporting and Supervising

The Action Area Team Leader/DRR Specialist  is reporting to the Programme Manager of the Integrated Water and Hazard Management (IWHM) Programme in all aspects of program development and implementation for the AA whereas in all institutional matters to the Director General. S/He supervises all core staff of the Action Area and will administer and manage the regional action research and upscaling projects in the field of disaster risk reduction particularly related water induced disasters.

The main activities of the AA Team Leader/DRR Specialist are:

1. Manage the Action Area (AA) operations (program and staff) and a portfolio of action research and upscaling projects; ensure the interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach of the AA team in line with the centre’s policies; provide intellectual and managerial leadership for the Action Area (AA) team and for subject areas related with her/his specialized knowledge
2. Take leadership in the development and implementation of a regional disaster risk reduction agenda within ICIMOD. ICIMOD’s work in the past in DRR has been evolving around water induced disasters, and it is anticipated that this will be the main thrust also in the future.
3. Develop proposals and take leadership in the implementation of regional projects in the field of DRR.
4. Develop and maintain a constructive dialogue with stakeholders in the region and beyond in the field of DRR, and in doing so foster partnerships with national, regional and global stakeholders for strategic collaboration in DRR.
5. Carry out research and knowledge development and compilation in the field of DRR keeping in view the target recipients who are policy- and decision makers since ICIMOD’s work aims at bridging the gap between research and policy.
6. Be a team player within ICIMOD to support other AA-based activities and promote organization goals and objectives working closely with colleagues within and outside the IWHM programme to contribute to a constructive and professional working environment and to the development of ICIMOD as a fully integrated mountain development centre.

Minimum qualifications required:

The thrust of ICIMOD projects are often of transboundary and regional nature, and the AA Team Leader shall have a good understanding of the regional dimension of DRR as well as the positioning of this work in a global context. The position requires a person with a regional overview. In fostering DRR work within ICIMOD, the selected person has to take particular consideration of marginalized and vulnerable groups living in hills and mountains as well as need to know how to mainstream gender perspective in DRR. Without neglecting the importance of ‘technical’ solutions in the field of DRR, the AA Team Leader should spearhead ‘social inclusion’ and a people perspective’ in ICIMODs DRR work.
The minimum qualification required for this job is a postgraduate degree, preferably PhD, in DRR or natural resources management; A post graduate degree in applied social sciences (Development or Disaster Management with a thrust towards natural resources management) will also be considered.

• 5 years of minimum work experience in the field of DRR, of which part preferably has been gained in the HKH region.
• Experience in research, and a documented record of publications in the field of DRR.
• Ability to prepare project proposals, progress reports, skills in project planning, providing training lectures in DRR, negotiation skills with Government/Research officials and performance assessment.
• Strong managerial and administrative experience in project management, project monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Experience of working in multi-cultural and interdisciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English.

Remuneration

Salaries and benefits of ICIMOD are highly competitive compared to other regional organisations; remuneration is commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Duration

3 years, of which the first six month is probation period. Starting date is March 2010, or as early as possible.

Gender and Equity Policy

Qualified and eligible women candidates and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. ICIMOD implements a gender fair policy and is supportive of working women. It operates a day-care centre at the campus and a Gender Resource Centre and is committed to gender mainstreaming at the organisational and programmatic levels.

Applications together with a complete curriculum vitae and the names and contact addresses of three referees should be sent to:

HRD Officer
ICIMOD
GPO Box 3226
Kathmandu, Nepal
hrd@icimod.org

not later than 5 February 2010.

ICIMOD is committed to gender equity and has a strong interest in recruiting women. Only short- listed candidates will be notified.