Disaster Law Research Consultant

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). 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.

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. IFRC through its Disaster Law programme is a leader in developing and disseminating guidance on best practice for disaster law and policy.

IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC
also has country cluster delegation and country delegations throughout the world. The Maputo IFRC Country Cluster Delegation, based in Maputo, Mozambique, provides representation supports to the two National Societies (NS) of Angola, and Mozambique, based on IFRC mandate.

The Early Warnings for All initiative (EW4All) was formally launched by the UN Secretary-General in November 2022 at the COP27 meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh. The initiative calls for every person on Earth to be covered by an early warning system by the end of 2027. The evidence is clear: early warning systems are one of the most effective risk reduction and climate adaptation measures to reduce disaster mortality and economic losses. Half of countries globally do not have adequate early warning systems and even fewer have regulatory frameworks to link early warnings to emergency plans. Early Warnings for All is co-led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and supported by pillar leads International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and IFRC.

The EW4All Initiative is built on the four Multi-Hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS) pillars: (1) Disaster risk knowledge and management, which aims to ensure all countries have access to reliable, understandable and relevant risk information, science and expertise (led globally by UNDRR); (2) Detection, observation, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of hazards, which aims to ensure all countries have robust forecast and monitoring systems (both soft and hardware infrastructure) and enable policies to support optimization and sustainability of hazard monitoring and early warning systems (led globally by WMO); (3) Warning dissemination and communication, which aims to use a people-centered approach to ensure that early warnings are effectively and timely disseminated to reach everyone, especially those most at risk (led globally by ITU); and (4) Preparedness to respond to warnings, which aims to ensure local governments, communities and individuals at risk have the knowledge and means to take pre-emptive early action to prepare for and respond to incoming disasters upon receiving warnings (led globally by IFRC).

Job Purpose

IFRC seeks a Disaster Law Research consultant to support with the ongoing research initiatives in the Africa region relating to the inter pillar work on policy development relating to the Early Warning for All Initiative (EW4All). Integrating early warning and early action mechanisms into existing DRM laws and policies for enhancing Mozambique's preparedness and response capabilities.

• The Consultant will support IFRC to gain an enhanced understanding of specific disaster risk management legal frameworks of Mozambique within the context of the of the EW4All initiative in order to better understand the opportunities for strengthening early warning systems and early action processes through law and policy. Specifically, the consultant is expected to:
  • Assess the current DRM law and policy frameworks in Mozambique.
  • Identify gaps and limitations in integrating early warning and early action mechanisms.
  • Recommend actionable steps for enhancing the integration of early warning and early action in DRM laws and policies

Desired outcomes
The desired outcome of the consultancy is for IFRC to have furthered its research on Disaster Law thematic in Mozambique to identify the recommended actions necessary to strengthen the national DRM frameworks to
better integrate the functional and effective early warning systems into the national DRM structure.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Consultancy outputs
This consultancy is intended to support IFRC with the following deliverables:
1. Support DRM Mapping under the Early Warning for All Initiative

Purpose, outputs and intended outcomes

The purpose of this mapping exercise is to clearly articulate the legal and policy arrangements for disaster risk management, to better understand the national disaster governance frameworks vis a vis effective early warning systems as envisioned under the EW4All initiative. The mapping is expected to support the Mozambique National Societies in further engagement with public authorities in the development and implementation of relevant domestic climate, disaster and emergency laws and regulations.

The mapping will conclude with mapping that provides an overview of the disaster risk management framework of Mozambique, as per the research template provided in Annex 1. It will also include a final report summarizing
the key findings of the mapping as well as detailing opportunities for strengthening the national laws to better integrate early warning systems. The report will also detail recommended next steps that can be taken by public authorities, supported by the NS, in developing/reviewing and implementing DRM laws that ensure structures for the efficient function of multi-hazard early warning systems as provided.

When a detailed analysis of Mozambique current disaster risk management framework is done, The National Society should be able to be able to develop advocacy strategies to develop a robust disaster risk management framework with the support of IFRC and other partners.

At a regional and global level, the mapping will assist policy makers and humanitarian practitioners navigate national and regional institutional arrangements in order to better understand how early systems have been reflected in national disaster governance frameworks thus better support prepare for and facilitate of regional
collaboration and coordination in DRM.

Content, Scope and Methodology of Desktop Mapping

The mapping and final report will examine national arrangements and provide an analysis of strengths and gaps in the institutional architecture for the coordination and facilitation of disaster risk management with particular focus on national early warning systems. The mappings will use the questions from existing IFRC Disaster Law tools to guide the assessment.

The mappings will be conducted through desktop research by a consultant through collection and analysis of relevant legislation, policies, agreements, and secondary resources. The consultant will also be expected to have follow up meetings (key informant interviews) with key public authorities as well as other relevant stakeholders in country focused on DRM as guided by, also including, the National Societies.

Method of delivery and reasons for selecting that method

The consultancy will be primarily home based, although travel within the region may be required from time to time for the purposes of attending meetings and consultations. The method of delivery will be primarily the production of the mapping and the final research report in the format required as advised by the Disaster Law Team e.g. in the format of the template required by IFRC Disaster Law.

Support to be provided to the consultant

The Maputo IFRC Country Cluster Delegation and the Disaster Law Team will provide technical oversight over the consultant’s work and the National Societies supported the cluster delegation will provide the consultant with the contact details of key interviewees, as required.

 

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

Submission Requirements
Interested Consultants are invited to submit:

• A detailed proposal outlining the approach to achieving the objectives.
• Financial proposal, including a breakdown of costs.
• Curriculum Vitae (CVs) of the Consultant
• Examples of previous relevant work.

Evaluation:

The proposals will be evaluated based on technical competence, relevant experience, and financial Considerations.

Education

• Advanced degree in Law, Public Policy, Disaster Management, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in DRM, law, and policy analysis, with a focus on early warning and early action

 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

• Strong analytical, research, and report-writing skills. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities(Required)
• Familiarity with Mozambique's DRM context and international best practices in DRM law and policy.(Required)
• Fluent spoken and written English(Required)
• Good command of Portuguese(Required)

Competencies, Values and Comments

• Respect for diversity; Integrity; Professionalism; Accountability
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to engage with stakeholders and gather feedback effectively