International Consultant: INSARAG Accreditation Process and Emergency Operation Plan Development Specialist for Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) of Bangladesh

Background

Over the past few decades, Bangladesh has experienced rapid development. Fast-growing urban centers have become the economic hubs of the country with high population density. As a result, many cities and towns have developed haphazardly. Although there has been no major earthquake in the recent past, due to geographical location and historical events, the country is highly vulnerable to a large earthquake. A strong earthquake affecting a major urban center may result in huge search and rescue needs and may have disastrous consequences for the entire nation.

Feeling the urgency of the need for a National USAR team for Bangladesh, in collaboration with UNDP Bangladesh, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief has taken an initiative for the process of a National USAR team accreditation system that will allow for the establishment of common national minimum standards, followed by based on experience, local needs and risk scenarios of Bangladesh followed by INSARAG Recognized National Accreditation Process (IRNAP). The International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) facilitates such Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) capacity building and accreditation, which is valued recognition of excellence in the comprehensive emergency management system in a country and Bangladesh is keen on such standards by establishing an accreditation mechanism for national teams that “allows a country to manage, monitor and establish the same standards officially and adhere closely to the INSARAG standards and guidance” in line with INSARAG Guidelines and methodology.

Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) of Bangladesh is one of the prime mandated organizations in Bangladesh that has reasonable capacities for such SAR operations, particularly in the event of building collapse scenarios caused by natural or man-made disasters. Often such SAR operations are augmented by other SAR trained entities, particularly by Armed Forces Divisions of Bangladesh supported by other paramilitary forces, local volunteers, NGOs, civil societies, etc. However, Bangladesh has yet to have an internationally recognized National USAR team. It also has a limited scope under National Disaster Management Framework to manage a sustainable National USAR system to operate internationally. Thus, Bangladesh can be considered at its design level, which has no national framework in place, requesting support to establish a standardized national process. In order to develop a sustainable national USAR system in line with INSARAG guidelines and methodology, UNDP thus plans to initiate the process the of National USAR Team’s accreditation process to enhance the national capacity by establishing an accreditation mechanism for national teams and the critical aspects in developing the national capacity will be the establishment of a National Accreditation Process (NAP). Such a process allows a country to manage, monitor, and establish national standards and adhere closely to the INSARAG Guidelines in developing its USAR national response system followed by IRNAP under current phase of initiatives.

To support the National capacity, with particular focus on FSCD’s improved standards to form a light USAR team; UNDP is looking for an international consultant who will liaison with the national and International authorities e.g., the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR), Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD), Armed Forces Division and other relevant USAR actors in the country, international Technical Support Group (TSG) members, etc. to facilitate the INSARAG-Recognized National Accreditation Process (IRNAP) for Bangladesh. The international consultant will also be reasonable to oversee and coordinate with FSCD authorities in developing their Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) that will closely be linked with USAR-related roles and responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The main objective of this consultancy is to:

Support in developing and facilitate the National USAR accreditation system development for Bangladesh.
Support and facilitate the process of the INSARAG-Recognized National Accreditation Process (IRNAP) for Bangladesh.
Support in conducting the INSARAG national USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) capacity-building initiatives to attain USAR standards.
Support in developing Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for FSCD.

SCOPE OF WORK:

(1) Support to develop and facilitate the National USAR accreditation system and National Policy Framework for IRNAP

To recognize the interlinkage in between stakeholders, define roles, responsibilities, and hierarchy and to support and recognize a countries’ efforts in the development of national capacity for USAR team, a national framework is required. Identifying the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), its roles and responsibility along with the hierarchy is essential. Therefore, establishment of an official nation policy framework for INSARAG Recognized National Accreditation Process (IRNAP) will be supported by the consultant where he will provide following supports:

Identify political and legal support needs to identify/form a National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and/or Local Emergency Management Authority (LEMA) in Bangladesh context.
Support in ddeveloping of the national framework in support to USAR accreditation and IRNAP process
Support in forming various authorizes, core-teams for assessment, committees, technical and recognition support group etc.
Defining roles and responsibility of NDMA/ LEMA in Bangladesh context.
Advocacy and awareness among various stakeholder in forming a national Light USAR team for Bangladesh

(2) Assist in Formulating an effective national USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Team

Facilitate process of formulating an effective USAR Team. Support the ministry of Disaster Management and Relief to open the call to the different organizations through the ministry's media, establishing the basic profile to be part of the USAR teams. After analyzing the profiles of the applicants, a list of the members of USAR teams will be determined and the numbers of the teams will be determined with the capacity, and they will be cataloged (light and medium).

Call for Application on Light USAR Team
Eligibility criteria of USAR team
Cataloguing candidates as per eligibility (Light)

(3) Assist in conducting Self-Assessment and Capacity Building and Training Recommendation of Light USAR Team

Facilitate the Self-Assessment of the National USAR Team through documentation and field Assessment. This will necessitate the conduction of a "Self-Assessment of USAR team’s present capacity prescribed by INSARAG’s Self-Assessment Guideline, format and build capacity by accommodating TSG’s training recommendation for national USAR Teams. The training will be also conducted as per recommendation.

Formation of National TRG, TSG
Self-Assessment of USAR team by NDMA
Assessment formats filling out
Assessment Results (Red/ Orange/ Yellow/ Green)
Training Recommendation as per Assessment results
Conduction of Training to attain light USAR capacity at least.

(4) Assist Bangladesh with the INSARAG-Recognized National Accreditation Process (IRNAP)

The process will be initiated with the issuance of a letter to the INSARAG Secretariate to initiate the process of INSARAG accreditation by the Government of Bangladesh (GOB), and the consultant will need to provide administrative effort for IRNAP by maintaining liaison, coordination, and consultation with the Emergency Response Operation Expert, NDMA (GOB) and UNDP. Followed by self-evaluation of USAR team’s present capacity by the Core Team for the accreditation process. The Evaluation will incur necessary capacity improvement.

Issuance of Letter to INSARAG from NDMA along with Self-Assessment Result
Connect with INSARAG Secretariat for commencing IRNAP
Co-ordinate and establish contact with international TSG/ TRG
Advice, train and/or suggest suitable trainers /training teams for conducting ccontinuous capacity building activities to familiarize with simulation exercise or similar.

(5) Assistance in developing and institutionalizing the FSCD's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Emergency Operation Center (EOC).

Consultant will support and coordinate with Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) developing team(s)/consultants to ensure that the USAR related role and responsibilities are endorsed and linked in the overall planning for FSCD. He will also advice and suggest support the team(s)/consultants to align Emergency Operational Center (EOC) functions in line with USAR teams’ requirements.

DELIVERABLES:

The deliverables would be in the following manners:

Deliverable 1: Submission of an inception report declaring the roadmap to IRNAP, including the methodology, timeline, and the contextualization for Bangladesh’s IRNAP, stakeholders’ consultation meeting plan in developing National framework.
Deliverable 2: Submission of first progress report including the process documentation of National Policy Framework for IRNAP in collaboration with NDMA (GoB) and UNDP Bangladesh.
Deliverable 3: Submission of second progress report describing updates on formulating an effective Light national USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Team
Deliverable 4: Submission of third progress report on conducting Self-Assessment, Capacity Building and Training Recommendation of USAR Team
Deliverable 5: Submission of fourth progress report on assisting Bangladesh with the INSARAG-Recognized National Accreditation Process (IRNAP).
Issuance of Letter to INSARAG from NDMA along with Self-Assessment Result
Connect with INSARAG Secretariat for commencing IRNAP
Co-ordinate and establish contact with international TSG/ TRG
Advice, train and/or suggest suitable trainers /training teams for conducting ccontinuous capacity building activities to familiarize with simulation exercise or similar.
Deliverable 6: Submission of Final report which include but not limited to: findings overall progress on general INSARAG Training, QA and QC of the INSARAG accreditation process, after action review on EOP and EOC process development, recommendations and way forward in attaining National USAR team’s/FSCD’s External Accreditation Certification process as next step.

Deliverables

Required days

Tentative Timeline

Deliverable 1: Submission of an inception report declaring the roadmap to IRNAP, including the methodology, timeline, and the contextualization for Bangladesh’s IRNAP, stakeholders’ consultation meeting plan in developing National framework.

10 Days

1 August 2022 to 30 August 2022

Deliverable 2: Submission of first progress report including the process documentation of National Policy Framework for IRNAP in collaboration with NDMA (GoB) and UNDP Bangladesh.
Deliverable 3: Submission of second progress report describing updates on formulating an effective national USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) Team

20 Days

1 September 2022 to 15 December 2022

Deliverable 4: Submission of third progress report on conducting Self-Assessment, Capacity Building and Training Recommendation of USAR Team

50 Days

5 January 2023 to 30 March 2023

Deliverable 5: Submission of fourth progress report on assisting Bangladesh with the INSARAG-Recognized National Accreditation Process (IRNAP).

Issuance of Letter to INSARAG from NDMA along with Self-Assessment Result
Connect with INSARAG Secretariat for commencing IRNAP
Co-ordinate and establish contact with international TSG/ TRG
Advice, train and/or suggest suitable trainers /training teams for conducting ccontinuous capacity building activities to familiarize with simulation exercise or similar.

30 Days

15 March 2023 to 30 June 2023

Deliverable 6: Submission of Final report which include but not limited to: findings overall progress on general INSARAG Training, QA and QC of the INSARAG accreditation process, after action review on EOP and EOC process development, recommendations and way forward in attaining National USAR team’s/FSCD’s External Accreditation Certification process as next step.

10 Days

1 June 2023 to 30 June 2023

SUPERVISION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:

The Consultant will work closely with the Disaster Response and Recovery Facility (DRRF) Team from the UNDP Country Office, in coordination with the Emergency Response Operation Expert, UNDP and national and local stakeholders.

The international consultant will report directly to the Project Manager of DRRF and receive the overall guidance of the Programme Analyst of the Resilience and Inclusive Growth Cluster. The Project Manager-DRRF will sign off on payments as per the payment schedule on receipt of deliverables, timesheets, and certification. Standard IC contract provisions apply.

DUTY STATION:

Duty Station: Dhaka and its periphery.

UNDP Bangladesh will not provide office space, any equipment related to operation and implementation, and other logistic support to the International Consultant. To help develop the selection of groups and teams, an office within the Ministry could be used to facilitate the speed of the process. The consultant should take all safety measures related to COVI19 during the field visit or any other activity of the consultancy.

Travel, DSA, and Communications

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

Communication and IT equipment: The Consultant is expected to have their laptop and mobile phone. The cost of communication should be included in the financial proposal.

No DSA will be paid at the duty station and for field visits. If unforeseen travel outside the area of work (i.e., duty station plus field visits) not mentioned by the Terms of Reference is requested by UNDP, and upon prior agreement/approval, such travel shall be UNDP’s expenses and the individual contractor shall receive a per-diem not to exceed United Nations daily subsistence allowance rate in such other location(s).

Competencies

Demonstrates commitment to UN’s mission, vision, and values
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Excellent communication and problem management skills
Demonstrates sound judgment, diplomacy, and sensitivity to different expectations of the stakeholders
Well versed with project management and development
Ability to work under pressure and against tight deadlines
A proactive, participatory, and result-oriented approach to work.

Knowledge and Skills:

Ability to think clearly and analytically
Ability to plan own work, setting priorities and completing it under pressure or, when faced with competing demands
Ability to lead a team of technicians for preparation of the document
Ability to efficiently use modern equipment and software’s related
Flexibility to make ad-hoc changes as and when the need arises; ability to perform under stress; willingness to keep flexible working hours
Ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect.
Sensibility to consider pragmatic program elements (quality and efficiency of service delivery) as well as "soft" components, such as gender sensitivity, due consideration, and inclusion of vulnerable, etc.,

Language Requirements:

Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) in English.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

Minimum Master’s degree in Emergency Management/ Defence Study/ Disaster Management/ Engineering/ Social science or related fields.

Professional Experience:

Minimum 10 years of cumulative expertise covering the areas in emergency management/ capacity building response/ climate and multi-hazard risk assessments/ disaster risk reduction and specializing in fire service/Search and rescue or relevant field.
Global exposure and experience in emergency response/ hazard mitigation/ UN missions/ Training, exercise and Drill/ response for emergencies and disasters providing capacity building and training and drill on emergency management.
Experiance/Knowledge of incident management and development of emergency training processes. Experience of working as fire chief/assistant chief/ battalion chief or similar.
Relevant experience in working with the National Accreditation process of INSARAG/Fire Service/Civil Defense