Environmental Recovery Program for Earthquake Affected Areas

TERMS OF REFERENCE

International Landslide Stabilization Specialist

July 2007

Duty Station: Muzaffarabad, with frequent visit to the Programme Area

Title: International Landslide Stabilization Specialist

Duration: 2 person-months on split-mission basis

Background

The immediate impact of the 8 October 2006Pakistan earthquake included deaths exceeding 73,000 people, at least 100,000 injured, more than 3 million people homeless and extensive damage to social and physical infrastructure. The earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale with the epicentre 19 km northeast of Muzaffarabad. Frequent after shocks have been recorded in the months since 8 October, some as high as 6.4 on the Richter scale, threatening previously damaged unstable structures and together with rain and snow melt, increase the risk of further landslips and loss of life.

The impact of the earthquake extends over some 30,000 sq km of the upper mountain catchments of the IndusRiver and its major tributaries, including the Neelum, Jhelum and KunharRivers within the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). Harsh winter weather conditions experienced in this mountainous area placed the surviving population under additional stress with immediate relief needs of food, shelter, heating and sanitation being supported by a large number of national and international agencies and NGOs.

In addition to the broader humanitarian impact, the earthquake has had a severe impact on the region’s institutional capacity through loss of life and physical infrastructure. This is particularly evident in centres such as Muzaffarabad, the seat of AJK Government, but also within local administrations and more decentralised remote offices such as the Forest Department.

UNEP in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Pakistan , ERRA (Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority), UNDP and OCHA completed the South Asia Earthquake Disaster Preliminary Environmental Assessment in early December 2006. Team consisted of international and local experts with expertise in waste management, land stability and natural resource management. The Preliminary Environmental Assessment identifies the early recovery environmental issues, together with immediate, medium and long term priorities for intervention.

The Preliminary Environmental Assessment was also used to inform the United Nations System’s Pakistan 2005 Earthquake Early Recovery Framework completed in November 2005. The Early Recovery Framework outlines needs, specific strategies and programme interventions for all sectors including the environment.

Environmental Recovery Programme

The Environmental Recovery Programme focuses on the immediate to medium term impacts and needs proposing interventions that aim to protect human health provide livelihood opportunities and facilitate long term environmental recovery.

The Program has been informed by the Preliminary Environmental Assessment, is consistent with the United Nations System’s Early Recovery Framework and has been developed in consultation with local and international implementing partners. The Program has been approved by ERRA and EAD (May 2007). The Program has been developed and will be implemented by United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with UNEP, ERRA and other implementing partners which have been identified for specific interventions.

Objectives

The overall objective of the programmeisto provide for safe, healthy, viable environment for communitiesby strengthening institutional and community capacity to mitigate, rehabilitate and manage the environmental impacts of the earthquake through activities in waste and debris management, slope stabilization, livelihoods and natural resource management.

The Programmeaims at providing expertise and mobilise resources to:

  • Integrate environmental considerations into the reconstruction agenda and mechanisms for coordination, funding and implementation;
  • Strengthen the environmental institutional capacity within Pakistan and the affected area in particular and assist them to guide national aims and procedures for reconstruction;
  • Provide livelihood opportunities and mitigate threats to human health & the broader environment from within the landslide and waste management sectors;
  • Promote and advise on environmental disaster risk reduction measures; and
  • Promote the use of environmentally sound technologies in reconstruction, land management and livelihood development.

Programme Components

The Environmental Recovery Program consists of two key components which are summarised as follows:

A.Waste management

Assistance in the management and disposal of the enormous volume of waste resulting from the earthquake will be provided. The Programme will provide training workshops in reuse and recycling of the debris and safe disposal of hazardous waste, a satellite imagery based quantification of the volume of the debris and seed local business investment in heavy crushing equipment to expedite debris clearance and facilitate reuse of the rubble in reconstruction.

B.Land stability, natural resource management and livelihoods.

Land stability, natural resource management / forestry and livelihoods are integrally linked and will require a range of assistance and interventions in the immediate future to limit further damage and together with capacity building and planning will facilitate long term recovery.

  1. UNDP has already made effective efforts to protect existing forests and vegetation by providing alternative fuels for cooking and heating (or efficient wood burning stoves) to many impacted communities. The Environmental Recovery Programme will expand this project.
  1. The Programme will provide for the development of a fully integrated forest management plan together with immediate planting programs to commence implementation in selected watersheds. The programme activities are based on community engagement and by providing livelihood opportunities. The programme will undertake landslide vulnerability assessment and hazard mapping. The assessment will inform slope stabilization measures that will include engineering and bioengineering techniques, to stabilize landslides/slopes. Furthermore, the Program will provide training to Forest Department staff (train the trainer) to disseminate basic geotechnical and seismic threat information to field officers and local communities.

Responsibilities

The Landslide Stabilization Specialist (LSS) will be responsible to prepare strategic plan and provide technical assistance for landslides/slopes stabilization for the earthquake affected areas in AJK and NWFP.

LSS will be a part of the Project Team and thereby report to the Project Coordinator EnvRP, and work closely with the International Technical Advisor,local and international experts and the project team. The LSS will coordinate with the relevantorganisationsin Pakistan, and keep the UNEP Regional Office in Bangkokposted on all essential issues and technical matters.

The LSS will work in close collaboration with MoE, ERRA, and the governments of AJK and NWFP both informally and formally through the Programme Coordinator.

Contract duration

The Landslide Stabilization Specialist will be engaged for a total period of two months on split-mission basis.The first one person-month input is anticipated from October 2007, and the second one person-month input will be required in April 2008.

Tasks

Program management

  • Carry out situation analysis based on available information and gather additional information, if required, on landslides and destabilized slopes;
  • Prepare landslide stabilization strategy based on situation analysis and other relevant information;
  • Suggest technical measures including engineering and bioengineering techniques for stabilization of landslides/slopes;
  • Review a sample of selected landslides and undertake technical and financial viability for their technical treatment/stabilization;
  • Review the plans for land slide stabilization prepared by the local consultant and provide technical input;
  • Assess the institutional capacity of relevant government agencies like forest departments, Geological Survey of Pakistan etc and prepare capacity building plan including training modules and conduct training sessions for their staff;
  • Assess the effectiveness of landslide stabilization measures and suggest changes and modifications.

Coordination and liaison

  • Liaise with the Forest Departments of AJK and NWFP, Geological Survey of Pakistan, NESPAK and other relevant authorities at the Federal, provincial, and state levels, on all matters relevant to the landslides management;
  • Work in close collaboration with the project consultants and concerned staff to ensure coordinated delivery of different component of the programme;
  • Assist the programme management in responding to the direction from the Programme Steering Committee;
  • Participate in meetings related to the programme and share programme related matters with the stakeholders.

Reporting

  • Provide regular reports to the project management;
  • Keep the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific posted on the progress and issues of the relevant component of the programme;
  • Prepare draft reports for the donors, as required.

Education, Experience Competencies:

Masters degree preferably PhD in the discipline of environment, forestry, natural resource management, civil engineering, geology or geotechnical engineeringwith 15 years of working experienceas a team leader or technical advisor in projects related to land degradation and slope stabilization management.Hands on experience in management of landslides through engineering and bioengineering techniques is must.

Corporate Competencies:

  • Demonstrate Integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards
  • Promote the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
  • Display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability

Functional competencies:

Ability to lead and manage results-oriented strategic and thematic activities

Substantial knowledge and understanding of issues related to environmental recovery and disaster management

Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, creation of new approaches

Good knowledge of Results Management Guide and Toolkit

Management and Leadership:

Build strong relationship with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feed back

Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude

Demonstrate openness to change and ability to manage complexities

Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills

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