Position Title: Consultant – Floods Research
Duty Station: Homebased
Job Code: CON 2024 07
Classification: Consultant, Grade Other
Type of Appointment: Consultant, five months
Estimated Start Date: As soon as possible
Closing Date: 14 April 2024
Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners. IOM is dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration for the benefit of all. It does so by providing services and advice to governments and migrants.
Context:
Project Context and Scope
Shelter Projects is a joint initiative to develop learning and understanding around good shelter programming, it centres around a collection of global case studies developed through an interagency consultative process which has already completed nine editions since 2008. Shelter Projects aims to support learning from past responses in order to inform current and future practice. As such, Shelter Projects includes case studies of a wide range of different approaches to shelter and settlements assistance. Case studies highlight both good practices and challenges encountered and reflect on what could have been done differently.
In addition to case studies, Shelter Projects also regularly produces thematic booklets that focus on specific geographic regions or thematic areas (e.g. urban settings, cash, site planning, etc.). These have primarily been an opportunity to compile case studies along these themes to make them more accessible and targeted to specific audiences. However, there is also a desire for more analytical and substantive research to accompany these thematic collections of case studies, including through the use of mixed-methods research.
This research aims to analyze case studies from Shelter Projects in flood-prone contexts to identify common themes, issues, trends, and best practices. Research may complement existing literature for example on preparedness in light of the anticipated impacts of climate change, to provide valuable insights into what makes shelter and settlements programming more effective, efficient, and impactful in flood-prone contexts. The exercise is therefore both a synthesizing of existing research and documentation on this issue, as well as the production of original research, including through the use of interviews with key stakeholders in flood-prone contexts. Specific research questions are to be developed by the consultant following the initial literature review, however, these should consider certain themes while ensuring relevance to shelter and settlements practitioners. Themes to consider may include:
- How to enhance resilience to flood hazards?
- How to increase preparedness for a shelter and settlements response to flood hazards?- How to ensure effective shelter and settlements response to a flood disaster?
Floods are one of the hazards generating devastating impacts for millions of lives globally each year. Adequate shelter provision during and after floods is crucial for the safety and well-being of affected communities. Research may help practitioners and these communities understand what anticipatory actions can be implemented and what preventive and disaster risk reduction measures can be in place to tackle entrenched vulnerabilities and to enhance resilience against the impact of hazards.
The consultancy’s main objective is to produce a thematic booklet on shelter and settlements interventions in flood-prone contexts highlighting findings, good practices, and possible recommendations for future programs and policies. The booklet should consider the impact of climate change in floods and extreme precipitation events in the future design of shelter and settlements interventions in rural and urban contexts and provide insights from thematic experts on anticipated future trends. The booklet should also try to go beyond outlining what the sector already does and provide a forward-looking perspective of what the sector could do to influence policy and practice to make interventions more impactful, effective, and efficient in support of the most vulnerable.
The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative techniques, such as:
- Literature and Document Review: The literature review will include existing literature on the impact of flood and extreme precipitation events, foreseen trends, and policies and practices, from Shelter Projects case studies. Where relevant and feasible, published shelter and settlements program reviews, evaluations, or case studies outside of the Shelter Projects library will be incorporated.
- Case Study Analysis: Following an agreed selection framework, 5 to 10 case studies will be chosen from Shelter Projects and analyzed in detail to identify common themes, issues, and trends, and to deepen research questions based on findings from this analysis.
- Interviews: Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with at least 10 key stakeholder sinvolved in policy setting and/or management of emergencies related to flood and extreme precipitation events. These stakeholders may include government officials, thematic experts, industry leaders, relevant financial institutions, shelter and settlements practitioners, and community representatives from different groups, with a focus on stakeholders at the national level. They may be linked to the selected case studies or to relevant contexts and actors. Interviews will be transcribed. Following primary analysis, at least two key informants will be selected for a follow-on interview that will be published independently of the thematic booklet (format to be determined). These interviews will support the broader objectives of raising awareness and engaging stakeholders of Shelter Projects, as well as bringing attention to the research on floods.
- Data Analysis and write-up: Qualitative data from case studies, relevant literature, and interviews will be analyzed using thematic analysis techniques to identify recurring themes, challenges, and best practices. This analysis, as well as content from the selected case studies themselves, will constitute the thematic booklet to be published by Shelter Projects.
Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:
Department of Humanitarian Response and Recovery in IOM Headquarters – Shelter and Settlements unit (Office of the Deputy Director General -Operations).
Under the current BHA funded project “Promoting Better Shelter and Settlements Practices” and the direct supervision of Shelter and Settlements Officer, the Consultant – Flood Research will provide support for the Shelter and Settlements Unit of IOM in their capacity as lead agency for the publication of Shelter Projects (www.shelterprojects.org), a compendium of case studies, research, and other materials promoted by the Global Shelter Cluster.
Core Functions / Responsibilities:
Tasks to be performed under this contract
The consultancy should take place between May and September 2024. The expected deliverables are as follows:
- Inception report / presentation: forming the basis of a meeting with the Shelter Projects teamfollowing the initial desk review, the researchers should prepare a presentation or short inception report that suggests specific research questions or lines of enquiry, proposed case studies for further analysis, and key stakeholders to interview.
- Thematic Booklet: A concise booklet (<20 pages, not including reproduced case studies)summarizing the findings of the research, including common themes, issues, trends, and best practices identified from the case studies and interviews. The booklet should include analysis of shelter interventions in flood contexts to date, as well as a look ahead at what might be expected in the future. The final publication will include a reproduction of the selected case studies, in addition to the <20-page research component of the booklet. Note that the booklet will be produced in multiple (at least two) iterations to allow for feedback and revision.
- Presentation of findings: depending on interest, an event focused on presenting the findings of this research may be organized, at which the selected consultant will be expected to present the findings and provide support materials (e.g. a presentation) for such an event.
- Published Interviews: At least two recorded interviews with key stakeholders will be edited and published as standalone pieces to showcase real-life perspectives and experiences. This will be done in coordination with the IOM communications division to support professionalism of the outputs.
Note that the selected consultant will be expected to provide finalized content for the deliverables, not necessarily including layout, video editing, etc. which will be supported by the Shelter Projects team.
The publication of the thematic booklet should take place no later than September 2024. The desired starting date for this consultancy is May 1st, allowing for a 4.5 month timeline, which may be adjusted upon mutual agreement, and structured as such:
- Inception and scoping: 2 weeks
- Desk review: 1 month
- Interviews: 1 month
- First draft: 3 weeks
- Revisions: 3 weeks
- Layout and editing: 2 weeks
Payment by installments by deliverables completion or as a standalone final payment upon completion of the consultancy will be agreed with the selected candidate.
Performance indicators for evaluation of results
- Tasks listed in the ToRs that are on-track/completed, with the quality and comprehensiveness desired.
- The consultants will be expected to provide progress updates in a meeting approximately every 1-2 weeks, as needed (frequency to be determined by the Shelter Projects team throughout the process).
- With each deliverable, and particularly the final report, it is expected that the consultant will deliver an initial draft and up to three revisions (as needed) to achieve the desired quality of output.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education, experience and/or skills required
- Master’s degree in Architecture, International Development, Humanitarian Affairs, Environmental Science, or related field an accredited academic institution with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience; or,
- University degree in the above fields with 7 years of relevant professional experience.
Experience
- Relevant professional experience in humanitarian operations, particularly shelter and settlements work in flood contexts, with thorough knowledge and understanding of the wide range of shelter and settlements assistance within the humanitarian context, as well as coordination structures and modalities is desirable.
- Relevant professional experience in writing material for international organizations as well as external reports is required.
Skills
- Proficiency in English writing is required;
- Excellent quantitative data analysis skills and demonstrated ability to produce high-quality research reports;
- Ability to work with an emphasis on result, productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness;
- Ability to perform duties under stress and strict deadlines;
- Ability to conduct research, including through conducting interviews with different types of stakeholders; and,
- Have affinity with or interest in humanitarian relief, post-conflict situations, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.
Languages
IOM’s official languages are English, French, and Spanish. All staff members are required to be fluent in one of the three languages.
For this position, fluency in English is required (oral and written). Working knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an advantage.
Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments.
Notes
The consultant must adhere to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Data Protection Principles (IN/138) and maintain confidentiality.
The consultant will be responsible to follow IOM writing guidelines and latest glossaries in all given assignments for accurate translation.
Accredited Universities are the ones listed in the UNESCO World Higher Education Database (https://whed.net/home.php).
Required Competencies:
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, make 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.
IOM’s competency framework can be found at this link.
https://www.iom.int/sites/default/files/about-iom/iom_revised_competency_framework_external.p df
Competencies will be assessed during a competency-based interview.
Other:
- The appointment 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, and background verification and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required for individuals hired on or after 15 November 2021. This will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.
- Vacancies close at 23:59 local time in Geneva, Switzerland on the respective closing date. No late applications will be accepted.
How to apply
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications HERE, by 14 April 2024 at the latest, referring to this advertisement.
IOM only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the IOM e-Recruitment system. The online tool also allows candidates to track the status of their application.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
For further information please refer to: www.iom.int/recruitment
Posting period:
From 01.04.2024 to 14.04.2024
No Fees:
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.
