Consultant - Capacity & Skills Development of Municipal DRR Units(Jahez Project)

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is an international, non-profit, research-for-development organization that works with governments, civil society, and private sector organizations to address water-related challenges in developing countries and scale up solutions. Headquartered in Colombo, Sri Lanka, IWMI is a CGIAR research center with offices in 15 countries and a global network of researchers operating in approximately 56 countries.

The Jahez Project, implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with national stakeholders, strengthens climate resilience in refugee-hosting communities in Jordan through Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Nature-based Solutions (NbS), and Early Warning Systems (EWS). Working closely with government institutions and local authorities, the project supports the establishment and capacity development of municipal DRR Units, enhances the localization of climate and weather information, and connects community-level resilience actions with national disaster risk management and early warning frameworks to improve preparedness, planning, and response in the target municipalities of Irbid, Ramtha, and Azraq.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

• Design and implement a tailored support package for Municipal DRR Units in Irbid, Ramtha, and Azraq to strengthen the delivery of localized DRR approaches tailored to the unique needs of refugee-host communities.
• Support Jahez delivery partners to cascade and translate the Municipal DRR Strategy into community-level DRR and EWS activities.
• Provide recommendations to the Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA) for scaling support to municipalities across Jordan.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Assignment Inception and Design - Develop an inception report covering the proposed approach, methodology, timeline, and allocation of days (maximum 50 days).

Deliverable - Inception Report (methodology and workplan)

2. Capacity Needs Assessment      

• Review existing policies, guidelines, and institutional frameworks (MoLA, national DRR strategies).
• Review existing disaster contingency and preparedness plans.
• Conduct consultations with municipalities, MoLA representatives, and relevant national entities (e.g., DRM and EWS actors).
• Identify

-   Skills gaps

-   Institutional bottlenecks

-   Operational needs of DRR Units

-   Implementation requirements and support needs for municipal contingency plans

Deliverable - Capacity Needs Assessment Report

3. Development of Capacity Package and Implementation Plan for DRR Activities-

• Training Modules

-   DRR fundamentals and local risk assessment

-   EWS interpretation and response

-   Preparedness and contingency planning, including SOPs

-   NbS for DRR (aligned with the Jahez project approach)

-   Community engagement and risk communication

• Practical Tools & Templates

-    Risk assessment templates

-    Local DRR action-planning tools

-    Simple monitoring and reporting formats

-    SOP outlines for emergency preparedness

Deliverable - Capacity Development Package, including:

• Training curriculum
• Training materials (presentations and manuals)
• Practical tools and templates

4. Institutional Strengthening Support - The consultant will design a comprehensive support package for municipal DRR Units, including:

• Proposed roles and responsibilities for DRR preparedness and response mechanisms, including contingency planning.
• Develop a roles and responsibilities matrix for relevant stakeholders, including municipalities, MoLA, governorates, Civil Defense, NCSCM, JMD, and other relevant partners.
• Refine coordination mechanisms with stakeholders, including civil defense and security services, to align roles and responsibilities.
• Identify processes for integrating and aligning DRR within municipal planning processes.

Deliverable -

• Draft Municipal DRR Unit Operational Package
• Roles and Responsibilities Framework for DRR Units
• Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities Matrix at each governance level
• Coordination Mechanism Framework

5. Implementation and Piloting

• Deliver training sessions (in-person and/or hybrid).
• Support municipalities in applying DRR tools and approaches.
• Provide hands-on coaching to DRR Units.
• Adapt materials and approaches based on feedback received.
• Review Jahez partner concept notes for DRR interventions and provide strategic recommendations for effective delivery in Jahez communities.
• Identify mechanisms and support Jahez delivery partners to cascade and translate the Municipal DRR Strategy into community-level DRR and EWS activities.

Deliverable –

• Training Delivery Report
• Final Report, including lessons learned and recommendations
• Findings and recommendations for Jahez partner delivery of DRR activities, including a technical support plan

Requirements

Educational Qualifications Required:

Essential:

• Advanced degree in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), climate change, environmental engineering, or a related field.

Experience Required:

Essential:

• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in DRR/CCA programming, capacity development, and training design.
• Experience working with localized disaster risk management structures in Jordan.
• Demonstrated experience in the design and development of needs assessments and capacity-building approaches and tools.
• Experience developing and/or implementing DRR contingency plans and operational plans for disaster risk management.
• Experience in designing and/or operationalizing early warning systems and hazard simulation exercises.
• Familiarity with working with NGOs and local community-based organizations (CBOs) to design and implement community DRR initiatives.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with, or experience working with, MoLA, NCSCM, and JMD.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required: 

Strong understanding of:

• Local governance systems
• Early warning systems and contingency planning
• Participatory approaches

Key Considerations:

• Ensure practicality over theory by developing tools and approaches that municipalities can readily use.
• Align with existing MoLA frameworks, Mercy Corps initiatives, and other relevant programs to avoid duplication.
• Build on Jahez community-level work, including community stakeholder groups and vulnerability assessments.
• Consider resource constraints at the municipal level.
• Integrate conflict sensitivity and GEDSI principles throughout the assignment.

Benefits

This is a nationally recruited consultancy position; therefore, individuals with relevant expertise are encouraged to apply. IWMI offers a competitive remuneration rate for this assignment. The contract duration will be for a period of five (05) months.

How to Apply: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. Applications will be accepted until 24:00 (IST) on September 14, 2026 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include a CV, cover letter, and three (3) references. All applications will be acknowledged, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

IWMI believes that diversity fuels our innovation, enhances our excellence, and is essential to our mission. We offer a multicultural, multicolor, multigenerational, and multidisciplinary working environment. We are committed to creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our dedication to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applications from individuals of all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability statuses, sexual orientations, and gender identities.