Local consultant to mainstream Protection within the INGD’s Safeguarding Office at National level

Operational Context:

Mozambique is one of Africa’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. Mozambique ranks 154 out of 181 countries in the ND-GAIN index (2016) that measures vulnerability to climate change. It is the 35th most vulnerable and the 24th least ready country – meaning that it is vulnerable to, yet unready to address climate change effects. A combination of poverty, weak institutional development and frequent extreme weather events places the country at heightened vulnerability. In recent years, Mozambique has been hit by climate-related hazards such as droughts, floods, and cyclones. Of those, in the context of climate change and disasters, cyclones have been increasing in intensity and frequency mostly hitting central Mozambique. Cyclones that in recent history were happening over period of years are now happening on an annual basis causing displacements and disruption of livelihoods. In the last 16 years, the country has recorded 10 tropical systems, among them cyclones and storms. In the last two seasons, cyclone Gombe was the most devastating, in terms of deaths, affected population and damaged infrastructure. Comparing the category four cyclones recorded from 2006/07 to date, Idai has caused the most human and infrastructural impacts, followed by Gombe and Kenneth.

Since the beginning of 2022, the country has been already impacted by 5 tropical storms which regularly hit the northern coastal areas affecting thousands of families both in rural and urban locations. On 11 March 2022, Tropical Cyclone Gombe made landfall over the coastal area of central Nampula with strong winds, intermittent rains, and thunderstorm, causing significant damages. The cyclone reached the category of level 4, which was the same level measured for the IDAI cyclone in 2019. GOMBE had stronger winds in comparison to IDAI and these were mainly felt at the sea and coastal areas. As of 22 March 2022, local authorities declared that over 448,570 people have been affected in Nampula and Zambezia provinces, with the vast majority (380,000) in Nampula only. In addition, 82 people were injured and 61 reported dead.

Out of 735,000 conflict-induced internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Mozambique, 69,000 are in the affected area and also in need of urgent assistance after the cyclone. Based on preliminary data, around 1,600 emergency shelters have been impacted by Cyclone Gombe in Corrane IDP site. Many public infrastructures were destroyed. In addition, the impassable roads leading to the IDP site make it too challenging for health care workers to visit. This situation exacerbates the already difficult access of IDPs and host community to services. Other districts heavily affected by Cyclone Gombe are Angoche, Nacala-Porto, Mogincual, Ilha de Moçambique, Mossuril, Liupo, Monapo and Meconta. Many IDPs who escaped violence in Cabo Delgado reside in those districts, and now see themselves being displaced again, which increased their vulnerability. Rapid assessment by protection team and the cluster have shown clear needs for MHPSS due to the traumatic experiences, in addition to other basic needs.

The priority for the Mozambique operation at the national level is to strengthen key national actors – especially Mozambique’s National Natural Disaster Management Institute (INGD) – in responding to disasters, to ensure mainstreaming of protection in their coordination and response to cyclone-related displacement and protection risks.

Purpose of project: This project aims at strengthening the coordination role of National Natural Disaster Management Institute (INGD) and its Office for Social and Environmental Safeguarding as the government valid interlocutor in the response of Internally Displacement Situations (both conflict induced and Climate induced) at national level as well as to strengthen the integration and mainstreaming of protection in the INGD’s coordination activities.

The programme covers areas such as:

• Coordination and collaboration.
• Capacity building and protection mainstreaming.
• Institutional Support.
• Creation of reports on protection jointly with INGD.

These areas are in line with UNHCR strategic engagement with the government and the request by the National INGD’s Office for Social and Environmental Safeguarding as the priority areas for collaboration with Protection Cluster/UNHCR. INGD recognizes that Protection Cluster/UNHCR plays an important role in fostering the protection of internally displaced persons and intends to make use of the expertise to improve its coordination role and integration of protection in its response to internal displacement due to extreme events.

Please also note that engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme is subject to proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Duties:

1. Enhance the understanding of protection in disaster risk, considering hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities for both UNHCR and external partners, in particular Government counterparts. The project will include a test to see how much the participants in the project have incorporated these concepts. Furthermore, it will be known how this knowledge will be concretely integrated within the contingency plans of the Government.
2. Identify concrete ways to include the mainstreaming of protection in disaster risk reduction planning and response through, inter alia capacity-building of key national actors, adoption of risk mitigation measures that aim to protect lives and assets,
3. Promote disaster preparedness and response through coordination of the different stakeholders at national and local level, including local community committees, and identification of other community-based interventions.
4. Facilitate and advance centrality of protection in climate action with stakeholders, including by proposing, coordinating, and finalizing protection tools to be used by national stakeholders.
5. Explore opportunities for strengthening centrality of protection with key Government and civil society respondents.
6. Explore fund-raising opportunities for mainstreaming protection within DRR and response.

Under the guidance of Deputy Representative (Protection) of UNHCR at national level/Maputo and assigned headquarter technical expert, the consultant will:

1. Ensure an overall coordination of work and provide technical support to the consultant that will be working at the provincial level.
2. Act as a focal point at national level on protection-related issues as they relate to DRR and response to climate related disasters with Governmental actors.
3. Identify key policy issues on DRR/Resilience at national level that would benefit to strengthen protection.
4. With support of the sub-national consultant, work on an action plan for the process of enhancing protection in DRR at local, national and regional stakeholders.
5. With support of the sub-national consultant, develop and compile training materials, a matrix of questions for survey and monitoring and list of stakeholders that will be used as resources.
6. Ensure that documents and training materials developed are tailored for relevant audiences and stakeholders and include solutions that are guided by practicability and ability for easy implementation and harmonized with any documents and/or training materials developed at the sub-national level.
7. Support and facilitate training to Government officials and key respondents and other appointment trainees, such as community-based organizations (especially the disaster risk reduction local committees)
8. Establish best practices from current and planned interventions, as well as from local, national and other networks that align with the global sectoral standards.
9. Draft MOUs and agreements in relation to climate action under the guidance of country office.
10. Explore possible ideas for projects with INGD’s safeguarding department for 2023 and present the concept of an idea that will be implemented in the coming months.

Essential minimum qualifications and professional experience required

The ideal candidate will have the following:

1-year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree.

The person to be deployed should have the following competencies:

• The consultant should possess excellent knowledge in disaster risk management, climate change, protection, community resilience and its research aspects.
• Education background in Natural, Environmental or Social Sciences, with emphasis on development and risk management issues or a related field, or equivalent.
• Experience in the humanitarian and development sectors.
• Experience in developing strategies, position papers, and capacity building materials.
• Strong written and verbal communication, facilitation skills and the ability to establish good working relationships with the staff and stakeholders in a sensitive environment.
• She/he must demonstrate strong interpersonal, and motivational skills and the ability to work with minimal supervision and under tight deadlines.
• Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills.
• Excellent communication skills in Portuguese and English.
• Any other duties as requested.

Competencies:

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Communication
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client & Results Orientation
• Organizational Awareness

Remuneration:

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For local individual contractor, the salary is corresponding to national service category.