Consultant (Campaign Handbook)
The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human, economic and social risk and losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations. The implementation of the ISDR is supported by a secretariat lead by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The secretariat’s main functions are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.
In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction adopted the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and represents the key policy framework for reducing risk and to strengthen community resilience. The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, established by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is the main global policy forum for disaster risk reduction, and is complemented by a system of regional, thematic and national platforms, which bring together all relevant stakeholders.
UNISDR’S “MAKING CITIES RESILIENT” CAMPAIGN
The specific needs of local governments on how to integrate risk information and risk reduction measures in city planning and services, in their institutional, economic, social, physical (planning and infrastructure) and environmental tasks and responsibilities require firstly the awareness and commitment by local decision makers and leaders to make risk reduction a priority, and secondly the understanding of the linkages, disaster risk reduction strategies and options in all these fields.
Therefore, in May 2010, UNISDR launched the global campaign “Making Cities Resilient – My City is Getting Ready!” (http://www.unisdr.org/campaign). The campaign is promoting increased understanding and commitment by local governments to risk reduction and to building resilient cities to disasters and climate change. The overall target of the campaign is to get as many local governments as possible committed to disaster risk reduction, and to span a global network of engaged cities, provinces and municipalities of different sizes, characteristics, risk profiles and locations, that can help and learn from each other.
A “ten-point checklist” for making cities resilient (or benchmarking the level of disaster resiliency in cities – see Annex I) is the guiding document for commitments and an organizing principle to identify good practice, tools and resources in support of resilient cities/local governments. Municipalities that have signed onto the campaign are working within this framework and are currently seeking to enhance their knowledge, transfer of expertise and technical support to achieve their objectives for building resilience.
ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING AND REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
The Consultant will work closely with the Deputy-Director/ Chief, Resource and Programme Branch, UNISDR, who will provide comments, guidance and suggested additions/alterations during the drafting process. The proposed content of the handbook will also be reviewed by the UNISDR Campaign Advisory Group and other experts, who will be supporting the work of the consultant by providing inputs and comments throughout the drafting process. The Consultant is not responsible for layout, setting, editing or print-ready formulation of the handbook.
THE “HANDBOOK” FOR MAYORS
In this context, UNISDR and its partners will produce a guidance document - “handbook”- mainly addressed to mayors and policy makers at the local government level, to support commitment and decision making for the practical implementation of the “ten essentials” in their own communities (see Annex I for further information).
The objective of this handbook is to provide mayors, governors and other decision makers with high-level strategic information on how to make cities and local governments more resilient to disasters. The handbook will build on the knowledge and expertise of campaign partners, participating cities and local governments, as well as other stakeholders in the area of disaster resilience. Overall, the handbook will aim to:
- Illustrate the basics of assessing urban risk and the different entry points and linkages between disaster risk reduction tasks and the municipal services and local sustainable development;
- Illustrate linkages to national strategies, policies and resources;
- Serve as guidance tool for the needed coordination among different departments within the local government and provide for stakeholder participation.
KEY OUTPUTS
A. The main output resulting from this process will be a substantive and brief “handbook” structured around the “ten essentials”. The publication should cover/address the following key items for each of the “ten essentials” areas:
1) Key issues and linkages to local government services (including policy gains, key tasks and recommendations) as they have been identified through extensive consultations with local governments and Mayors/Governors (see below).
2) Examples of concrete actions and initiatives implemented by cities and local governments that illustrate such practices and gains (i.e. the “good practices”).
3) A monitoring framework of progress, which can support priority setting and coordination with stakeholders and will contribute to a “state of the cities” report in building disaster resilience (linked to national HFA reporting).
4) A list of selected tools, resources and existing sources of information to support mayors and local government officials in their daily work and decisions.
B. Through focus groups, workshops and analysis of concrete examples of applications, the handbook will capture high-level recommendations in an easy-to read format for Mayors and decision makers. The consultant will not be responsible for the organization of any of the consultation workshops and focus groups discussions (see timeframe below), but will be expected to participate in at least two of them.
C. Additional detailed material and pointers to existing tools, case studies and resources will be collected throughout this process. The focus groups and source material will be drawn from the cities and partners participating in the “Making Cities Resilient” campaign.
The handbook should be brief and succinct, written in clear and easy to grasp language (30 plus pages) with additional source material to be made available online on the UNISDR websites.
ACTIVITIES AND TENTATIVE TIMEFRAME
Reporting to the Deputy-Director/ Chief, Resource and Programme Branch, UNISDR the Consultant will perform the following services:
February 2011:
- Review the Making Cities Resilient material and other related literature and documentation submitted by participating cities and local governments.
- Prepare an annotated outline for the consultative workshops, with lead questions and methodology for consultation and peer reviewing of content.
March 2011:
- Prepare draft table of contents and proposed outline of the handbook for discussion during the consultative meetings.
- Participate in working session with the UNISDR secretariat in Geneva (date to be defined).
- Facilitate consultation on the handbook content and structure during the “Regional Platform for Urban Risk” in the Americas, Mexico, 17-18 March 2011.
April 2011:
- Facilitate consultation on the handbook content and structure during an ad-hoc meeting in Mumbai (date to be defined).
- Revise draft table of contents and proposed outline based on the emerging comments and inputs for further discussion at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in May 2011 (see below).
May 2011:
- Participate and contribute to a dedicated side-event on the handbook at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva 8-13 May 2011.
June 2011 (and beyond):
- Seek technical and policy oriented inputs for the different sections of the handbook, with support from UNISDR.
- Draft the handbook, incorporating inputs and comments from all participating cities and local governments, experts and results from consultations.
September 2011:
- Preparation of final draft.
Competencies:
Professionalism: Strong writing and editorial skills and ability to manage processes, interpret/analyze a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and activity problems. Knowledge of issues related to disaster risk reduction at the city / local government level.
Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner, working to tight deadlines.
Technological Awareness: Fully proficient computer skills, particularly in using relevant information databases, internet services, contact sources.
Communication: Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Advanced university degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in disaster risk reduction or other related fields. A first level university degree with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
Experience: A minimum of 10 years of working experience in the fields of sustainable development, disaster risk reduction or other related discipline, five of which should include experience working with working with cities and local governments.
Language skills: Fluency in written and spoken English
Other skills: Experience in disaster risk reduction issues particularly in the context of cities / local governments and urban settings. Proven professional writing, research, analysis and editing skills.
Annex I
“Handbook” for Mayors (and Governors)
Making Cities Resilient
Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow
DRAFT Outline
Background
More than 50% of the world’s population now live in urban areas, with a projection of becoming 70% by 2030. Local governments is the closest authority to the population and its territory, the first to respond in case of disasters and through its services, plans and control mechanisms responsible for dealing with the disaster risks that are increasing in most urban areas.
The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters, was adopted by United Nations in 2005, and has since guided national policy, and international organizations in their efforts to substantially reduce the losses of natural hazards. This framework is comprehensive and addresses roles of states, regional and international organizations, calling on civil society, academia, volunteer organizations and private sector to join efforts. It calls for decentralization of authority and resources to promote local-level disaster risk reduction.
The specific needs of local governments on how to integrate risk information and risk reduction measures in city planning and services, in their institutional, economic, social, physical (planning and infrastructure) and environmental tasks and responsibilities require firstly the awareness and commitment by local decision makers and leaders to make risk reduction a priority, and secondly the understanding of the linkages, disaster risk reduction strategies and options in all these fields.
Therefore, in May 2010, UNISDR launched the global campaign “Making Cities Resilient – My City is Getting Ready!” (http://www.unisdr.org/campaign).The campaign is promoting increased understanding and commitment by local governments to risk reduction and to building resilient cities to disasters and climate change. The overall target of the campaign is to get as many local governments as possible committed to disaster risk reduction, and to span a global network of engaged cities, provinces and municipalities of different sizes, characteristics, risk profiles and locations, that can help and learn from each other.
A “ten-point checklist” for making cities resilient (or: benchmarking the level of disaster resiliency in cities) is the guiding document for commitments and an organizing principle to identify good practice, tools and resources in support of resilient cities/local governments (see Box 1 below). Municipalities that have signed onto the campaign are working within this framework and are currently seeking to enhance their knowledge, transfer of expertise and technical support to achieve their objectives for building resilience.
In this context, UNISDR and its partners will produce a guidance document- “handbook”- mainly addressed to mayors and policy makers at local government level, to support commitment and decision making for the practical implementation of the “ten essentials” in their own communities.
Objectives
The objective of this initiative is to bring together and share the knowledge and expertise of campaign partners, participating cities and local governments, as well as other stakeholders in the area of disaster resilience. It aims to:
- Illustrate the basics of assessing urban risk and the different entry points and linkages between disaster risk reduction tasks and the municipal services and local sustainable development;
- Linkages to national strategies, policies and resources;
- Serve as guidance for the needed ccoordination among different departments within the local government and provide for stakeholder participation.
The main outcome resulting from this process will be a substantive and brief “Handbook” structured around the “ten essentials” and a network of cities and local governments who have contributed to the content for further knowledge transfer.
The guidance document will be structured around the following key items, for each of the “ten essentials”:
A) Key issue and linkages to local government services (including policy gains, key tasks and recommendations) as they have been identified through extensive consultations with local governments and Mayors/Governors.
B) Examples of concrete actions and initiatives implemented by cities and local governments that illustrate practice and gain (i.e. the “good practices”).
C) A monitoring framework of progress, which can support priority setting and coordination with stakeholders and will contribute to a “state of the cities” in building disaster resilience (linked to national HFA reporting).
D) A list of selected tools, resources and existing sources of information to support mayors and local government officials in their daily work and decisions.
Through focus groups, workshops and analysis of concrete examples of applications, the Guidance note will capture the high-level recommendations in an easy-to read “handbook” for Mayors and decision makers. Additional detailed material and pointers to existing tools and case studies and resources will be made available online. The focus groups and source material will be drawn from the cities and partners participating in the Making cities resilient campaign.
Timetable
2011
January: Agreed outline (AP). Collection of good practice and resource material initiated
February: Recruit main author/coordinator; establish focus groups and work programme.
March: Regional Platform for Urban Risk in the Americas, Mexico: consult on content
Feb-April: Consult on content during selected national/regional campaign events
March/April: Tentative focus group with Mayors and others in Mumbai, consult on content
8-13 May: Side event at Global Platform, Geneva
3-5 June: Work session at resilient Cities Conference, Bonn (ICLEI)
[19-21 June Review at: International Conference on Building Resilience: Interdisciplinary approaches to disaster risk reduction, and the development of sustainable communities and cities, Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka, www.buildresilience.org )
October: Final Draft (editing, layout. Pending decisions on translations)
2012:
Jan-March: Launch (including online expanded version)- to be determined
Box 1: Ten-point checklist for local governments - Ten essentials for making cities resilient, to
1. Put in place organization and coordination to understand and reduce disaster risk, based on participation of citizen groups and civil society. Build local alliances. Ensure that all departments understand their role to disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
2. Assign a budget for disaster risk reduction and provide incentives for homeowners, low‐income families, communities, businesses and public sector to invest in reducing the risks they face.
3. Maintain up‐to‐date data on hazards and vulnerabilities, prepare risk assessments and use these as the basis for urban development plans and decisions. Ensure that this information and the plans for your city’s resilience are readily available to the public and fully discussed with them.
4. Invest in and maintain critical infrastructure that reduces risk, such as flood drainage, adjusted where needed to cope with climate change.
5. Assess the safety of all schools and health facilities and upgrade these as necessary.
6. Apply and enforce realistic, risk‐compliant building regulations and land use planning principles. Identify safe land for low‐income citizens and develop upgrading of informal settlements, wherever feasible.
7. Ensure education programmes and training on disaster risk reduction are in place in schools and local communities.
8. Protect ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate floods, storm surges and other hazards to which your city may be vulnerable. Adapt to climate change by building on good risk reduction practices.
9. Install early warning systems and emergency management capacities in your city and hold regular public preparedness drills.
10. After any disaster, ensure that the needs of the survivors are placed at the centre of reconstruction with support for them and their community organizations to design and help implement responses, including rebuilding homes and livelihoods.
1. Cover letter, explaining why you consider yourself qualified and motivated for this particular assignment.
2. A proposed implementation plan with a tentative timeframe and costing of all the activities that will be carried out during the assignment.
3. Completed personal history profile form ( this form can be downloaded from the UNISDR website)
It would be appreciated your stating your full name and the ISDR vacancy notice number (ISDR/C/05/2011) as the subject in your e-mail of application.
Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.
In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction adopted the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and represents the key policy framework for reducing risk and to strengthen community resilience. The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, established by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is the main global policy forum for disaster risk reduction, and is complemented by a system of regional, thematic and national platforms, which bring together all relevant stakeholders.
UNISDR’S “MAKING CITIES RESILIENT” CAMPAIGN
The specific needs of local governments on how to integrate risk information and risk reduction measures in city planning and services, in their institutional, economic, social, physical (planning and infrastructure) and environmental tasks and responsibilities require firstly the awareness and commitment by local decision makers and leaders to make risk reduction a priority, and secondly the understanding of the linkages, disaster risk reduction strategies and options in all these fields.
Therefore, in May 2010, UNISDR launched the global campaign “Making Cities Resilient – My City is Getting Ready!” (http://www.unisdr.org/campaign). The campaign is promoting increased understanding and commitment by local governments to risk reduction and to building resilient cities to disasters and climate change. The overall target of the campaign is to get as many local governments as possible committed to disaster risk reduction, and to span a global network of engaged cities, provinces and municipalities of different sizes, characteristics, risk profiles and locations, that can help and learn from each other.
A “ten-point checklist” for making cities resilient (or benchmarking the level of disaster resiliency in cities – see Annex I) is the guiding document for commitments and an organizing principle to identify good practice, tools and resources in support of resilient cities/local governments. Municipalities that have signed onto the campaign are working within this framework and are currently seeking to enhance their knowledge, transfer of expertise and technical support to achieve their objectives for building resilience.
ORGANIZATIONAL SETTING AND REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
The Consultant will work closely with the Deputy-Director/ Chief, Resource and Programme Branch, UNISDR, who will provide comments, guidance and suggested additions/alterations during the drafting process. The proposed content of the handbook will also be reviewed by the UNISDR Campaign Advisory Group and other experts, who will be supporting the work of the consultant by providing inputs and comments throughout the drafting process. The Consultant is not responsible for layout, setting, editing or print-ready formulation of the handbook.
THE “HANDBOOK” FOR MAYORS
In this context, UNISDR and its partners will produce a guidance document - “handbook”- mainly addressed to mayors and policy makers at the local government level, to support commitment and decision making for the practical implementation of the “ten essentials” in their own communities (see Annex I for further information).
The objective of this handbook is to provide mayors, governors and other decision makers with high-level strategic information on how to make cities and local governments more resilient to disasters. The handbook will build on the knowledge and expertise of campaign partners, participating cities and local governments, as well as other stakeholders in the area of disaster resilience. Overall, the handbook will aim to:
- Illustrate the basics of assessing urban risk and the different entry points and linkages between disaster risk reduction tasks and the municipal services and local sustainable development;
- Illustrate linkages to national strategies, policies and resources;
- Serve as guidance tool for the needed coordination among different departments within the local government and provide for stakeholder participation.
KEY OUTPUTS
A. The main output resulting from this process will be a substantive and brief “handbook” structured around the “ten essentials”. The publication should cover/address the following key items for each of the “ten essentials” areas:
1) Key issues and linkages to local government services (including policy gains, key tasks and recommendations) as they have been identified through extensive consultations with local governments and Mayors/Governors (see below).
2) Examples of concrete actions and initiatives implemented by cities and local governments that illustrate such practices and gains (i.e. the “good practices”).
3) A monitoring framework of progress, which can support priority setting and coordination with stakeholders and will contribute to a “state of the cities” report in building disaster resilience (linked to national HFA reporting).
4) A list of selected tools, resources and existing sources of information to support mayors and local government officials in their daily work and decisions.
B. Through focus groups, workshops and analysis of concrete examples of applications, the handbook will capture high-level recommendations in an easy-to read format for Mayors and decision makers. The consultant will not be responsible for the organization of any of the consultation workshops and focus groups discussions (see timeframe below), but will be expected to participate in at least two of them.
C. Additional detailed material and pointers to existing tools, case studies and resources will be collected throughout this process. The focus groups and source material will be drawn from the cities and partners participating in the “Making Cities Resilient” campaign.
The handbook should be brief and succinct, written in clear and easy to grasp language (30 plus pages) with additional source material to be made available online on the UNISDR websites.
ACTIVITIES AND TENTATIVE TIMEFRAME
Reporting to the Deputy-Director/ Chief, Resource and Programme Branch, UNISDR the Consultant will perform the following services:
February 2011:
- Review the Making Cities Resilient material and other related literature and documentation submitted by participating cities and local governments.
- Prepare an annotated outline for the consultative workshops, with lead questions and methodology for consultation and peer reviewing of content.
March 2011:
- Prepare draft table of contents and proposed outline of the handbook for discussion during the consultative meetings.
- Participate in working session with the UNISDR secretariat in Geneva (date to be defined).
- Facilitate consultation on the handbook content and structure during the “Regional Platform for Urban Risk” in the Americas, Mexico, 17-18 March 2011.
April 2011:
- Facilitate consultation on the handbook content and structure during an ad-hoc meeting in Mumbai (date to be defined).
- Revise draft table of contents and proposed outline based on the emerging comments and inputs for further discussion at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in May 2011 (see below).
May 2011:
- Participate and contribute to a dedicated side-event on the handbook at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva 8-13 May 2011.
June 2011 (and beyond):
- Seek technical and policy oriented inputs for the different sections of the handbook, with support from UNISDR.
- Draft the handbook, incorporating inputs and comments from all participating cities and local governments, experts and results from consultations.
September 2011:
- Preparation of final draft.
Competencies:
Professionalism: Strong writing and editorial skills and ability to manage processes, interpret/analyze a wide variety of data, and identify/resolve data discrepancies and activity problems. Knowledge of issues related to disaster risk reduction at the city / local government level.
Planning and Organizing: Demonstrated effective organizational skills and ability to handle work in an efficient and timely manner, working to tight deadlines.
Technological Awareness: Fully proficient computer skills, particularly in using relevant information databases, internet services, contact sources.
Communication: Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively orally.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Education: Advanced university degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in disaster risk reduction or other related fields. A first level university degree with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
Experience: A minimum of 10 years of working experience in the fields of sustainable development, disaster risk reduction or other related discipline, five of which should include experience working with working with cities and local governments.
Language skills: Fluency in written and spoken English
Other skills: Experience in disaster risk reduction issues particularly in the context of cities / local governments and urban settings. Proven professional writing, research, analysis and editing skills.
Annex I
“Handbook” for Mayors (and Governors)
Making Cities Resilient
Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow
DRAFT Outline
Background
More than 50% of the world’s population now live in urban areas, with a projection of becoming 70% by 2030. Local governments is the closest authority to the population and its territory, the first to respond in case of disasters and through its services, plans and control mechanisms responsible for dealing with the disaster risks that are increasing in most urban areas.
The Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters, was adopted by United Nations in 2005, and has since guided national policy, and international organizations in their efforts to substantially reduce the losses of natural hazards. This framework is comprehensive and addresses roles of states, regional and international organizations, calling on civil society, academia, volunteer organizations and private sector to join efforts. It calls for decentralization of authority and resources to promote local-level disaster risk reduction.
The specific needs of local governments on how to integrate risk information and risk reduction measures in city planning and services, in their institutional, economic, social, physical (planning and infrastructure) and environmental tasks and responsibilities require firstly the awareness and commitment by local decision makers and leaders to make risk reduction a priority, and secondly the understanding of the linkages, disaster risk reduction strategies and options in all these fields.
Therefore, in May 2010, UNISDR launched the global campaign “Making Cities Resilient – My City is Getting Ready!” (http://www.unisdr.org/campaign).The campaign is promoting increased understanding and commitment by local governments to risk reduction and to building resilient cities to disasters and climate change. The overall target of the campaign is to get as many local governments as possible committed to disaster risk reduction, and to span a global network of engaged cities, provinces and municipalities of different sizes, characteristics, risk profiles and locations, that can help and learn from each other.
A “ten-point checklist” for making cities resilient (or: benchmarking the level of disaster resiliency in cities) is the guiding document for commitments and an organizing principle to identify good practice, tools and resources in support of resilient cities/local governments (see Box 1 below). Municipalities that have signed onto the campaign are working within this framework and are currently seeking to enhance their knowledge, transfer of expertise and technical support to achieve their objectives for building resilience.
In this context, UNISDR and its partners will produce a guidance document- “handbook”- mainly addressed to mayors and policy makers at local government level, to support commitment and decision making for the practical implementation of the “ten essentials” in their own communities.
Objectives
The objective of this initiative is to bring together and share the knowledge and expertise of campaign partners, participating cities and local governments, as well as other stakeholders in the area of disaster resilience. It aims to:
- Illustrate the basics of assessing urban risk and the different entry points and linkages between disaster risk reduction tasks and the municipal services and local sustainable development;
- Linkages to national strategies, policies and resources;
- Serve as guidance for the needed ccoordination among different departments within the local government and provide for stakeholder participation.
The main outcome resulting from this process will be a substantive and brief “Handbook” structured around the “ten essentials” and a network of cities and local governments who have contributed to the content for further knowledge transfer.
The guidance document will be structured around the following key items, for each of the “ten essentials”:
A) Key issue and linkages to local government services (including policy gains, key tasks and recommendations) as they have been identified through extensive consultations with local governments and Mayors/Governors.
B) Examples of concrete actions and initiatives implemented by cities and local governments that illustrate practice and gain (i.e. the “good practices”).
C) A monitoring framework of progress, which can support priority setting and coordination with stakeholders and will contribute to a “state of the cities” in building disaster resilience (linked to national HFA reporting).
D) A list of selected tools, resources and existing sources of information to support mayors and local government officials in their daily work and decisions.
Through focus groups, workshops and analysis of concrete examples of applications, the Guidance note will capture the high-level recommendations in an easy-to read “handbook” for Mayors and decision makers. Additional detailed material and pointers to existing tools and case studies and resources will be made available online. The focus groups and source material will be drawn from the cities and partners participating in the Making cities resilient campaign.
Timetable
2011
January: Agreed outline (AP). Collection of good practice and resource material initiated
February: Recruit main author/coordinator; establish focus groups and work programme.
March: Regional Platform for Urban Risk in the Americas, Mexico: consult on content
Feb-April: Consult on content during selected national/regional campaign events
March/April: Tentative focus group with Mayors and others in Mumbai, consult on content
8-13 May: Side event at Global Platform, Geneva
3-5 June: Work session at resilient Cities Conference, Bonn (ICLEI)
[19-21 June Review at: International Conference on Building Resilience: Interdisciplinary approaches to disaster risk reduction, and the development of sustainable communities and cities, Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka, www.buildresilience.org )
October: Final Draft (editing, layout. Pending decisions on translations)
2012:
Jan-March: Launch (including online expanded version)- to be determined
Box 1: Ten-point checklist for local governments - Ten essentials for making cities resilient, to
1. Put in place organization and coordination to understand and reduce disaster risk, based on participation of citizen groups and civil society. Build local alliances. Ensure that all departments understand their role to disaster risk reduction and preparedness.
2. Assign a budget for disaster risk reduction and provide incentives for homeowners, low‐income families, communities, businesses and public sector to invest in reducing the risks they face.
3. Maintain up‐to‐date data on hazards and vulnerabilities, prepare risk assessments and use these as the basis for urban development plans and decisions. Ensure that this information and the plans for your city’s resilience are readily available to the public and fully discussed with them.
4. Invest in and maintain critical infrastructure that reduces risk, such as flood drainage, adjusted where needed to cope with climate change.
5. Assess the safety of all schools and health facilities and upgrade these as necessary.
6. Apply and enforce realistic, risk‐compliant building regulations and land use planning principles. Identify safe land for low‐income citizens and develop upgrading of informal settlements, wherever feasible.
7. Ensure education programmes and training on disaster risk reduction are in place in schools and local communities.
8. Protect ecosystems and natural buffers to mitigate floods, storm surges and other hazards to which your city may be vulnerable. Adapt to climate change by building on good risk reduction practices.
9. Install early warning systems and emergency management capacities in your city and hold regular public preparedness drills.
10. After any disaster, ensure that the needs of the survivors are placed at the centre of reconstruction with support for them and their community organizations to design and help implement responses, including rebuilding homes and livelihoods.
How to apply
Please email the following documents to the ISDR secretariat at isdr.vacancies@un.org:1. Cover letter, explaining why you consider yourself qualified and motivated for this particular assignment.
2. A proposed implementation plan with a tentative timeframe and costing of all the activities that will be carried out during the assignment.
3. Completed personal history profile form ( this form can be downloaded from the UNISDR website)
It would be appreciated your stating your full name and the ISDR vacancy notice number (ISDR/C/05/2011) as the subject in your e-mail of application.
Please note that applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration.
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