Organizational Setting

The ASEAN region is one of the most at-risk regions in the world. Countries are exposed to a variety of climate-related hazards, including floods, storms, typhoons, droughts and extreme weather events. Even though the region is also heavily exposed to geophysical hazards such as tsunamis and earthquakes (primarily due to Indonesia’s extensive earthquake exposure), the largest share of economic and human damage across countries is attributed to hydrometeorological and climatological hazards, particularly tropical cyclones, floods and droughts.  Nearly half of the ASEAN population or over 300 million people are exposed to cyclones, which also threaten USD 3.5 trillion of economic exposure. Floods are the most common disaster event on record in the region, with 13 percent of the ASEAN population and USD 926 billion capital stock exposed.  In 2015–2016 and 2018–2020, the harshest droughts in decades affected more than 70 percent of the land area in Southeast Asia, with over 325 million people facing moderate drought conditions, and over 210 million enduring severe drought conditions during the peaks). 
In 2023, Viet Nam assumed the role of the chair of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management, along with that is the chair of the ASEAN Minister Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM), and Chair of the Conference of Patties to ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (COP to AADMER), VDDMA coordinates with the ASEAN Secretariat, AHA Centre and AMSs to organize the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management and a series of technical-level meetings on disaster management in 2023 in Viet Nam. As one of the tasks under the chairmanship role, VDDMA acted as the focal agency for ASEAN disaster management cooperation to develop the “Ha Long Ministerial Statement on Strengthening ASEAN Anticipatory Action in Disaster Management” with the support by FAO under the framework of the “Increasing Capacities and Scale for Anticipatory Action including through Social Protection Systems” project. The project provides technical support to VDDMA and the project-targeted local Committees on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (CNDPCs) on the development and institutionalization AA into DRM system, contribution to sustainable development, and resilience of the vulnerable communities. In addition, the project works with the Department of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs DOLISA) of Thua Thien Hue province to pilot the integration of AA into the Social Protection system. This includes the development of an operational guideline for AA in SP programs and training to Thua Thien Hue DOLISE and NDPC staff on AA/SP linking model and Cash transfers programme.
The Ha Long Ministerial Statement was an important document that hallmarked Vietnam’s chairmanship of ACDM in 2023. It will contribute to the implementation of the AADMER work plan 2021-2025 and the development of the ASEAN Vision on Disaster Management after 2025. The Statement was adopted by the ASEAN Disaster Management Ministers at the 11th AMMDM and the 12th COP to AADMER in October 2023 in Quang Ninh province, Viet Nam. With the support from FAO, the ASEAN Framework on Anticipatory Action (AA) in Disaster Management (the Framework) was endorsed by the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management in May 2022 and subsequently noted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits. The Framework represents a significant shift in how ASEAN plans to tackle natural-hazard-related disasters. The Framework also represents a landmark commitment from ASEAN to move the anticipatory action agenda forward in the region. The Framework aims to guide ASEAN in achieving its long-term goals of a climate-resilient future and shift towards a proactive approach to tackling natural hazards – particularly as one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world. It is further complemented by the Guidelines on Disaster Responsive Social Protection which clearly highlight AA’s value in these systems to ensure scalability and sustainability moving forward.
To translate Ha Long’s Statement into action, VDDMA has kick-started the preparation for developing a 5-year Implementation Plan for Viet Nam. This includes conducting a comprehensive AA mapping exercise that reviews AA initiatives being underway in Viet Nam, related national policies, regulations, mechanisms, and tools as well as consultations with various stakeholders. The outcomes of this mapping exercise will inform the development of the Implementation Plan.

Reporting Lines

The CBDRM Technical Specialist will work under the overall administrative supervision of the FAO Representative, the daily supervision of the Assistant to FAO Representative (Programme), and the technical supervision of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) Anticipatory Action team.  

Technical Focus

Carry out AA mapping exercise that will provide insights into the current status of AA the enabling environments including the mapping wherein existing government programs of agriculture (farmer related) and social protection programs can be leveraged for institutionalizing AA as well as the gap. Develop a high-level AA Implementation Plan, which highlights key areas that Viet Nam aims to progress and achieve in the next five years, contributing to the implementation of the ASEAN Framework on Anticipatory Action in Disaster Management and placing/connecting the approach within the wider DRM frameworks in Viet Nam.

Tasks and responsibilities

Carry out national AA mapping exercise:
•    Assess the current state of AA in the country and map them against three key pillars i) risk analysis, forecasts, and triggers, ii) identification, planning, and testing of actions, and iii) financing for anticipatory actions; 
•    Conduct a desk review of relevant policies and reports concerning, but not limited to, disaster risk management, hydro-met forecast, early warnings, anticipatory action, financial resources for disaster risk reduction and response, etc to get a better understanding of enabling factors as well as gaps in terms of laws and policies, institutionalization and coordination, evidence generation, and advocacy and learnings;
•    Develop Inception Report for AA gap analysis including assessment tools/surveys (i.e. semi-structured questionnaires, in-depth key informant interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs);
•    Contextualize the regional AA mapping tool for data collection;
•    Collect primary data;
•    Evaluate the national readiness to link to and/or integrate AA into the existing policies, National CBDRM framework, coordination, and mechanisms as well as how the national disaster preparedness and response work is leveraged on AA. Highlight the gaps that challenge the government-led AA initiatives; 
•    Present the preliminary findings in a workshop; and
•    Finalize a comprehensive AA gap analysis report (in Vietnamese and English languages)

Develop a high-level Implementation Plan on AA: 
•    Review the ASEAN Framework on Anticipatory Action (AA) in Disaster Management and the Anticipatory Action in Asia and the Pacific Technical Standards to ensure the contextualization with the National Implementation Plan; 
•    Develop an outline of the Implementation Plan on AA;
•    Develop a 5-year Implementation Plan to implement the Ha Long Statement on Strengthening ASEA Anticipatory Actions in Disaster Management. Based on the gap analysis report and the review of the regional frameworks;
•    Present the draft Implementation Plan in a workshop; and 
•    Finalize the Actional Plan in English and Vietnamese languages).

Develop a high-level Implementation Plan on AA:
•    Develop an outline for the Policy Brief;
•    Develop a Policy Brief (in English and Vietnamese languages) to highlight key policy recommendations to institutionalize the AA in Viet Nam. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in resource management; Climate Change and development, public governance, or other related areas;
•    At least 7 years of experience in Climate Change response and/or Disaster Management with internationally funded projects, preferably UN agency-funded projects. 
•    Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese.
•    National of Viet Nam or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in a similar area 
•    Excellent organizational skills; 
•    Good written communication skills, including in emergency settings; 
•    Demonstrated ability to analyse problems, make appropriate recommendations, effective decisions, including in emergency settings; 
•    Strong foundation in programme formulation, planning, implementation, management, and evaluation. 

Selection Criteria

•    Experience in working with government agencies in conducting research, emergency operations, and community-based disaster risk reduction.
•    Being familiar with working with concerned government bodies including the Ministry of Rural Agriculture and Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
•    Experience in climate finance, disaster risk, and resource mobilization from private and public sectors for disaster management and CC response.
•    Experience in working with vulnerable groups, gender equity and inclusion.