Job Description
Reference No. : CFCV/2026/019
Position Title : Consultant (Technical Expert to Support the Development of the Compendium of Best Practices on Disaster Management: Commemorating 20 Years of AADMER)
Duty Station : Homebased
Organization Unit : Mobility & Rersilience Unit
Classification : Consultancy
Type of Appointment : Consultancy
Report to : National Project Officer
Estimated Start Date : As soon as possible
Closing Date : 23 June 2026
Project Context and Scope
The ASEAN region is highly vulnerable to disasters due to its geographic and climatic conditions. Located along the “Ring of Fire,” Southeast Asia frequently experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis triggered by geophysical factors. At the same time, the region faces increasingly severe climate-related hazards, including storms, floods, landslides, droughts, and extreme heat. These risks are becoming increasingly complex due to climate change, urbanization, environmental pressures, and other interconnected factors, posing serious challenges to regional resilience, disrupting development gains, and adversely affecting the well-being and livelihoods of ASEAN communities.
In response to these growing challenges, ASEAN has significantly strengthened regional disaster management cooperation over the past two decades through the adoption and implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). Signed in 2005 and ratified in 2009, AADMER serves as a legally binding, comprehensive, and proactive regional policy framework that guides cooperation and coordination among ASEAN Member States in disaster management. Through AADMER and its successive AADMER Work Programmes (AWPs), ASEAN has advanced a broad range of initiatives covering disaster risk assessment and monitoring, prevention and mitigation, preparedness and response, recovery, as well as the promotion of knowledge and innovation. These efforts have positioned ASEAN as a global leader in regional disaster management cooperation.
Notable achievements under AADMER include the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre), the ASEAN-Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT), the Disaster Emergency Logistics System for ASEAN (DELSA), and the Standard Operating Procedure for Regional Standby Arrangements and Coordination of Joint Disaster Relief and Emergency Response Operations (SASOP). ASEAN has also institutionalized initiatives such as the ASEAN Regional Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise . Together, these mechanisms have significantly enhanced ASEAN’s capacity to coordinate timely, effective, and collective humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts across the region.
Given the evolving nature of disaster risks and the wealth of experience accumulated over the past 20 years, there is a compelling need to systematically document ASEAN’s achievements, best practices, and key lessons learned in disaster management. The Compendium of Best Practices on Disaster Management: Commemorating 20 Years of AADMER will serve as a strategic knowledge product that captures ASEAN’s collective journey in disaster management over the last 20 years, at both regional and national levels, through the experiences of ASEAN Member States in the implementation of AADMER. The compendium will highlight how regional frameworks, including AADMER and the AWPs, have contributed to strengthening disaster management mechanisms across ASEAN, while also showcasing how experiences and innovations from ASEAN Member States have shaped and enriched regional cooperation over the past two decades.
As part of its support to ASEAN disaster management cooperation and the implementation of the AADMER Work Programme 2026-2030, IOM will support the preparation of the Compendium through technical coordination, stakeholder engagement, quality assurance, and knowledge management support. To contribute to this process, IOM seeks to engage a technical expert to provide research, consultation, drafting, synthesis, and editorial support. The consultant’s work will be undertaken under IOM’s coordination and will be subject to review by IOM and relevant stakeholders.
Nature of the consultancy and Project Context
The consultancy will provide technical research, drafting, synthesis and editorial support to IOM in the development of the Compendium of Best Practices on Disaster Management: Commemorating 20 Years of AADMER to contribute on implementation of the AADMER Work Programme 2026-2030. The Compendium will serve as a strategic knowledge product documenting ASEAN’s achievements, best practices, and lessons learned in disaster management at both regional and national levels over the past two decades.
Drawing on regional and national experiences across ASEAN Member States, the Compendium will highlight innovative approaches and good practices that have strengthened disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and regional cooperation under AADMER and its successive Work Programmes. It will also identify key lessons, opportunities, and actionable recommendations to enhance regional coordination, institutional resilience, capacity building, and future disaster management efforts across ASEAN.
The consultant will support this process through desk review, stakeholder consultations, analysis, drafting, and revision of the Compendium under IOM’s coordination and quality assurance. The assignment will be carried out in consultation with relevant stakeholders, and the draft outputs will be subject to review by IOM and ASEAN stakeholders prior to finalization.
Responsibilities
As a part of IOM’s technical support to the development of the Compendium of Best Practices on Disaster Management: Commemorating 20 Years of AADMER, the consultant will work closely with the IOM project team. The consultant will contribute to the research, consultation, drafting, synthesis, and editorial process. The assignment will be undertaken as part of an IOM-led process and under IOM’s coordination and quality assurance. Specifically, the consultant will support the IOM project team in the following areas:
a) Support IOM in the development of the proposed structure, outline, and methodology for the Compendium of Best Practices on Disaster Management, for review and agreement by IOM and ASEAN Stakeholders.
b) Conduct a comprehensive desk review of key ASEAN disaster management initiatives, programmes, projects, and activities implemented over the past 20 years, including a review of AADMER Work Programme implementation reports, evaluations, and other relevant regional and national documents.
c) Support the preparation and conduct key informant interviews and consultations with representatives from the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), the ASEAN Secretariat, the AHA Centre, ASEAN external partners, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to validate findings and gather additional insights.
d) Analyze and synthesize the collected information to identify key achievements, best practices, lessons learned, challenges, and opportunities in the implementation of AADMER and regional disaster management cooperation.
e) Prepare the Compendium draft for review by IOM and ASEAN stakeholders. This will include incorporating feedback received through the review and validation process, and finalizing the publication, including practical and actionable recommendations to strengthen future ASEAN disaster management efforts.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications and Experience
Education
- Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Public Policy, Development Studies, International Relations, Disaster Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Environmental Science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience
Experience
- Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in Public Policy, Development Studies, International Relations, Disaster Management, Humanitarian Affairs, Environmental Science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
- Demonstrated strong knowledge of ASEAN disaster management cooperation i.e. AADMER and its Work Programmes (AWPs), and other regional ASEAN initiatives related to disaster management, climate change, humanitarian cooperation, and/or emergency response.
- Proven experience in developing high-quality knowledge products such as compendiums, policy reports, strategic papers or any regional publications, preferably for ASEAN entities, international organizations or United Nations agencies, particularly on topics related to disaster management, climate change, humanitarian affairs and emergency response.
- Strong track record in analytical research and publications, including reports or studies commissioned by governments, international organizations, or development partners relevant to this assignment.
- Excellent organizational, research, communication, and writing skills, with strong analytical and critical thinking abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise, and policy-relevant outputs.
- Familiarity with ASEAN working processes and AADMER implementation at a regional level and/or ASEAN Member States is considered a strong advantage.
- Fluency in English is required. Other language skills from ASEAN countries are considered an advantage.
General Terms and Condition
Consultants should not assign, transfer, pledge, sub-contract or make other disposition of the consultancy contract or any part thereof, or of any of the Consultant’s rights, claims or obligations under the consultancy contract except with the prior written consent of the Organization, in conjunction with HRM. Therefore, only in limited circumstances, when approved in advance.
Languages
For this consultancy, Fluency in English is required, but fluency in other ASEAN languange is an advantage
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Required Competencies
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link. Competencies will be assessed during the selection process.
Values - all IOM staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:
- Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
- Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
- Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
- Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
- Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.
Core Competencies – behavioural indicators
- Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
- Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
- Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
- Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.
- Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication. Explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
Notes
IOM covers Consultants against occupational accidents and illnesses under the Compensation Plan (CP), free of charge, for the duration of the consultancy. IOM does not provide evacuation or medical insurance for reasons related to non-occupational accidents and illnesses. Consultants are responsible for their own medical insurance for non-occupational accident or illness and will be required to provide written proof of such coverage before commencing work.
Any offer made to the candidate in relation to this vacancy notice is subject to funding confirmation.
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, security clearances.
IOM has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and IOM, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities.
IOM does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training or other fee). IOM does not request any information related to bank accounts.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system (for internal candidates link here). The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
For further information and other job postings, you are welcome to visit our website: IOM Careers and Job Vacancies
Required Skills
Job info
Contract Type: Consultancy (Up to 11 months)Org Type: Country Office
Vacancy Type: Consultancy
Recruiting Type: Consultant
Grade: UG
Is this S/VN based in an L3 office or in support to an L3 emergency response?: No