Registered Users
1,882,998
Posted Jobs
103,801
1. Background

The Crisis Prevention and Recovery Unit (CPRU) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting the Government of Pakistan in establishing policy, legal and institutional arrangements for disaster risk reduction. The purpose of UNDP support is to develop and strengthen capacities of the Government of Pakistan at national, provincial and local levels to adopt strategies for reducing threat of disasters and minimizing their impact when they occur.

The Government of Pakistan is in the process of passing a National Disaster Management Ordinance, and establishing the National Disaster Management Commission (NDMA) and a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Capacity building initiatives are being developed and implemented by UNDP at national level and in all four provinces. A five year programme, developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders, will be implemented in hazard prone parts of the country. The priorities identified by stakeholders include i) national hazard and vulnerability mapping, ii) strengthening early warning systems, iii) developing institutional and legal mechanisms, iv) promoting disaster risk reduction planning, v) training, education and awareness raising, vi) community and local level preparedness programming, vii) mainstreaming disaster risk management into development, viii) capacity development for emergency response, and ix) capacity development for post disaster recovery.

UNDP plans to initiate the development of a Vulnerability Atlas of Pakistan immediately in order develop a base line data on disaster risks, vulnerabilities and impacts. This would enable the national, provincial and district level policy and decision makers to understand the impact of disasters upon sustainable development and vice a versa and allocate appropriate resources for disaster risk reduction in order to avoid or minimize risks and impact of disasters in future. In this regard, the UNDP is engaging a team of multi-disciplinary experts to work on the development of hazard maps and conduct vulnerability analysis.

A Multi-sectoral Technical Experts Group composed upon seismologists, flood experts, drought experts, landslide experts, architects, GIS experts and socio-economic experts would be formed to develop the National Vulnerability Atlas of Pakistan.

Through consultations with stakeholders and communities and field based analysis, the Technical Experts Group would develop hazard maps, undertake vulnerability analysis and develop guidelines for risk reduction in multiple sectors. The products expected from the Experts Group would include the following:-

Hazard maps: - Macro and micro scale hazard maps will be developed for droughts, earthquakes, floods and landslides. The macro scale maps would indicate the major regions of Pakistan which lie in hazard prone areas. These maps would be drawn to indicate the provincial and district boundaries. The mapping would indicate the regions at high, medium and low risks to impending hazards. Micro scale hazard mapping would be done in a group of 20-25 districts, located in high risk zones to demarcate high risk areas and recommend land uses over there.

Vulnerability analysis:
A comprehensive vulnerability analysis would be conducted particularly in high risk regions, districts and towns to develop scenarios of loss and damage and to identify priorities for risk reduction. This will include analysis about shelter, critical facilities and infrastructure, life (death/injury), livestock (death/injury), environmental vulnerabilities, potential economic losses and poverty and population growth analysis.

Technical Guidelines: - Technical guidelines will be produced for multiple development sectors in order to make development safer and sustainable in hazard prone areas.

2. Reporting
Under the overall supervision of the ARR, the Structural Engineer will report to the National Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

• Work as member of the Multi-sectoral Technical Experts Group to undertake the assignment on Vulnerability Atlas of Pakistan;
• Collect research reports, technical documents and data on drought, earthquake, flood and landslide risks and vulnerabilities in Pakistan from stakeholders as well as from other sources; e.g. libraries, websites, news reports and technical centers;
• Participate in national Kick-off workshop on Vulnerability Atlas of Pakistan to get inputs and feedback from stakeholders;
• Based upon feedback from the Kick-off workshop, work with other members of the Technical Experts Group to finalize the purpose, scope and methodology for Vulnerability Atlas of Pakistan;
• Develop an action plan for vulnerability analysis of shelter, critical facilities, infrastructure, and economic and production activities against droughts, earthquakes, floods and landslides;
• Conduct review of secondary data gathered from stakeholders in order to undertake vulnerability analysis;
• Organize stakeholder consultations, community visits and field assessment for first hand vulnerability analysis and development of guidelines for vulnerability reduction. This may involve visits to arid zones, fault-lines, and riverine areas to assess the risks.
• Prepare a report on vulnerabilities of various types of shelter, critical facilities and infrastructure, and on life and injury scenarios (for human and animal population), environmental resources, economy (potential losses and damages to economic facilities and production).
• Contribute to the work of Technical Experts Group on guidelines for vulnerability reduction in the above sectors; e.g. shelter, infrastructure, facilities, economy, environment for the use of sectoral policy and decision makers at national and local levels;
• Present the results of research in appropriate forums, during and after the completion of research (within the project period) as required and requested;
• Seek feedback from stakeholders about the research results and make appropriate modifications as necessary;
• Any other assignments related to the development of Vulnerability Atlas;

4. Competencies
 Highly developed analytical abilities, particularly about vulnerability of buildings, infrastructure, and facilities with relation to disaster risks in Pakistan;
 Demonstrated ability to conduct high quality output oriented research and writing of technical reports, papers and documents on disaster related vulnerabilities;
 In-depth academic knowledge of construction types and materials in Pakistan and the historical behavior of various type of shelter and infrastructure against disasters like earthquakes, floods and landslides;
 Ability to work in a multi-sectoral group as a technical member and give analytical inputs and feedback on aspects related to development of purpose, scope and methodology of research as well as outputs of research;
 Good interpersonal communication and coordination skills;
 Demonstrated ability to work under high pressure conditions and meet deadlines;



Education
Must Degree Degree Level Country Description
YesMastersMasters DegreeAdvanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in engineering or a discipline relevant to vulnerability assessment of buildings and infrastructure.