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 GIS Specialist 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;
• Gather the seismological, hydrological and drought maps developed by various organizations in Pakistan; e.g. PMD, GSP, FFC, NESPAC, HABITAT, WFP, Centers of Excellence in Geology, OXFAM, Nuclear Regulatory Authority, WAPDA and any others. In this regard the GIS Specialist will have to work closely with other experts on seismology, hydrology, drought (hydrology/meteorology), landslide, and engineering/ architecture.
• Collect research reports, technical documents and data on earthquake, flood, drought, 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 the 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 the Vulnerability Atlas of Pakistan;
• Develop computer based maps for drought, earthquake, flood and landslide hazards based upon the analysis done by the hazard experts on seismology, hydrology, drought and landslide. The maps should indicate high, medium and low risk regions of the country against droughts, earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Work closely with other members of the Experts Group in order to agree on the scope of hazard mapping.
• Digitize the maps by including information about vulnerabilities of shelter, facilities, infrastructure, life, environment, economy, poverty and demography based upon analysis done by the Technical Experts Group.
• Develop micro-zonation maps for selected districted, as identified by the Experts Group;
• Present results of research in appropriate forums, during and after the research (during the project duration) as required and requested;
• Seek feedback from stakeholders about research results and make appropriate modifications as necessary;
• Any other assignments related to development of Vulnerability Atlas with relation to seismic risk and vulnerability analysis;
4. Competencies • Ability to develop GIS based maps, with the ability to undertake digitization by including relevant data;
• Ability to undertake computer-based hazard simulations, modeling, and forecasting in order develop future risk scenarios;
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary group as a technical member and give analytical inputs and feedback on aspects related to development of GIS based digitized maps;
• Good interpersonal communication and coordination skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work under high pressure conditions and meet deadlines;
| Education |
Must |
Degree |
Degree Level |
Country |
Description |
| | Masters | Masters Degree | | Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in computer science, GIS, remote sensing or any other discipline relevant to computer based mapping and digitization. |