Consultant – Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment

About IFRC

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 192-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The IFRC also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The IFRC has had a consistent presence in Afghanistan since 1990, to support Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS)’s development, auxiliary role and outreach, contributing to its partnership development, humanitarian footprint and sustainability. The IFRC coordinates/facilitates engagement from and cooperation with Partner National Societies and represent them in the country as an International Organization. However, given the security-related constraints, it deliberately maintains a small presence of international delegates, along with a long-standing presence of national staff with technical expertise.

The Afghanistan delegation office supports Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) capacity building and programme implementation guided by the ARCS established strategic plan in the areas of health, disaster risk management, food security and livelihoods, social outreach, organizational development, and COVID-19 pandemic operations.

Job Summary

IFRC Afghanistan Delegation has been supporting ARCS in implementing a long-term community resilience building programme in Herat and Samangan provinces. The project goal is “strengthening community resilience to climate change in Herat and Samangan province in Afghanistan” with main activities of community-based disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and livelihood development supports to most vulnerable households and communities. One of the critical components of this project, to be implemented in its first year, is implementation of Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) in target communities and districts of Herat and Samangan provinces. Hence, IFRC Afghanistan Delegation is seeking a local consultant who will technically lead and support IFRC and ARCS project teams in implementing the VCA activities in locations noted above. Details of responsibilities and accountabilities, this local consultant will have, are listed below.

The interested applicants are expected to submit the following documents as part of his/her offer. 1) CV including references. 2) Cover letter (explaining the previous similar assignments). 3) Brief outline proposing process and methodology. 4) Technical offer including an action plan and financial offer.

Duties & Responsibilities

The key accountabilities and responsibilities of the Local Consultant – Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment will include but not limited to the followings.

Design and Development

• The consultant will take lead in designing the technical proposal and assessment tools for implementing the disaster risk assessment / vulnerability and capacity assessment in target communities and districts in Herat and Samangan provinces.
• The consultant will share the technical proposal / inception report and assessment tools with IFRC Disaster Risk Management Coordinator for review and approval.
• The consultant will provide necessary orientation to IFRC and ARCS disaster management teams in the technical proposal and tools developed.

Implementation of Disaster Risk Assessment / Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment

• In combination of IFRC and ARCS disaster management team, the consultant will work on desk review activities by means of reviewing the existing secondary data (documents and reports) already produced by other actors (ANDMA, UNOCHA, etc.) in Herat and Samangan provinces. The desk review will avoid duplication and compliment field level assessments. Assessment reports, case studies, lessons learned, and other hazard risk assessment information, already produced by other actors as noted above, will be reviewed, condensed and synthesized. The results of the synthesis will be checked with the communities and district authorities to ensure these findings are in line with the realities on the ground. Furthermore, the consultant with support from ARCS project team, will also collect information on any existing Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) projects in the target districts to ensure complementarity and explore possible synergies.
• Using a participatory approach, and in combination of IFRC and ARCS disaster management team, the consultant will lead implementation of disaster risk assessment (vulnerability and capacity assessment) in target communities and districts in Herat and Samangan provinces. The consultant will support the project teams in implementing focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and all other data collection works.

Reporting and Documentation

• The consultant will have support of IFRC and ARCS disaster management teams in data entry activities, but final data analysis will be done by the consultant.
• The consultant will draft the assessment report and will share it with IFRC Disaster Risk Management Coordinator and ARCS Disaster Management Director for their review and inputs.
• The consultant will work to incorporate all comments he/she will receive on assessment report and will then submit the final version of assessment report to IFRC Disaster Risk Management Coordinator and ARCS Disaster Management Director for their approval.
• The consultant will present the key findings of assessment to IFRC and ARCS disaster management teams.
• The consultant will submit all the data (database, pictures, etc.) to IFRC disaster risk management team, which he/she will collect as part of this VCA implementation.

Capacity Building of IFRC and ARCS Disaster Management Staff

• In support from IFRC Disaster Risk Management Coordinator and ARCS Disaster Management Director, the consultant will design and implement a full training to IFRC and ARCS disaster management teams in participatory disaster risk assessment / vulnerability and capacity assessment.
• The consultant will submit the training implementation and evaluation reports to IFRC Disaster Risk Management Coordinator and to ARCS Disaster Management Director.

Duties applicable to all staff

1. Actively work towards the achievement of the Federation Secretariat’s goals 
2. Abide by and work in accordance with the Red Cross and Red Crescent principles
3. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager

Job Requirements

Education

• At least university degree in development studies or any related field of disaster risk management; Master’s would be an asset.
• Trained in Participatory Disaster Risk Assessment (PRDA) or Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA).
• Trained in Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction Programming

Experience

• 5 years of hands-on experience in implementing PRDA / VCA with international organizations and/or UN agencies.
• Strong knowledge of Disaster Risk Management.
• Good knowledge and experience in survey design, implementation of surveys and statistical data analysis.
• Experience in use of participatory appraisal techniques in data collection
• Red Cross/Red Crescent experience (Preferred)

Knowledge, Skills and Language

• Self-sustaining in Microsoft Office Software (MS. Word, MS. Excel, MS. PowerPoint)
• Excellent analytical, research, writing and communication skills.
• Strong capacity and vulnerable assessment analysis skills.
• Fluently spoken and written command in English as well as local language (Dari or Pushto)

Competencies

1. Core Competencies: Communications, Collaboration & Teamwork, Judgement & Decision, National Society & Customer Relations, Creativity & Innovation, Building Trust.
2. Functional Competencies: Strategic Orientation, Building Alliances, Leadership, Empowering Others
3. Values: Respect for Diversity, Integrity, Professionalism, Accountability

Submission Guideline

Interested candidates who meet requirements are requested to send their,

• Cover letter
• Resume
• Sample of similar past work experience

Functional Area

Consulting

Report writing

Need Assessment

Monitoring and Evaluation

Countries

Submission Email

afghanistan01@ifrc.org

Attachments

ToR - Consultant Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment.pdf

Apply Now