Index-Based Risk Assessment Consultant

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ABOUT WFP

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

At WFP, people are at the heart of everything we do and the vision of the future WFP workforce is one of diverse, committed, skilled, and high performing teams, selected on merit, operating in a healthy and inclusive work environment, living WFP's values (Integrity, Collaboration, Commitment, Humanity, and Inclusion) and working with partners to save and change the lives of those WFP serves.

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WHY JOIN WFP? 

• WFP is a 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.

• WFP offers a highly inclusive, diverse, and multicultural working environment.

• WFP invests in the personal & professional development of its employees through a range of training, accreditation, coaching, mentorship, and other programs as well as through internal mobility opportunities.

• A career path in WFP provides an exciting opportunity to work across the various country, regional and global offices around the world, and with passionate colleagues who work tirelessly to ensure that effective humanitarian assistance reaches millions of people across the globe.

• We offer an attractive compensation package (please refer to the Terms and Conditions section of this vacancy announcement).

BACKGROUND: 

WFP’s vision is that people in the Kyrgyz Republic will have substantially increased access to national social protection systems that safeguard and foster their ability to meet their food security, nutrition and associated essential needs, and to manage the risks and shocks they face, with ample opportunity to graduate from poverty and contribute to sustainable food systems, national disaster risk management efforts and social cohesion. 

Within Strategic Outcome 3, WFP Kyrgyz Republic Country Office (KGCO), in collaboration with the WFP Regional Bureau in Bangkok (RBB) and Headquarters (HQ), supports the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic (MES) in strengthening national disaster risk management (DRM) capacities. This support includes the implementation of the Platform for Real-Time Information and Situation Monitoring (PRISM), promotion of anticipatory action (AA) approaches, modernization of emergency preparedness and response systems, improvement of emergency food storage and management mechanisms, prepositioning of emergency food stocks, and enhancement of institutional and technical capacities of MES and Civil Protection stakeholders.

A key component of this cooperation is the promotion of risk-informed decision-making and the integration of disaster risk assessment methodologies into national DRM systems. While significant progress has been achieved in strengthening disaster management capacities, national DRM practices remain predominantly hazard-oriented. As a result, disaster management planning, preparedness, and resource allocation processes do not yet systematically incorporate key risk dimensions such as exposure, vulnerability and coping capacity.

To address this gap, WFP and MES are jointly implementing the initiative (subproject): “Development of Effective Principles for Index-Based Disaster Risk Assessment to Strengthen Risk-Informed Decision-Making for Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development in the Kyrgyz Republic (INFORM-RISK)”

The initiative consists of three phases:
•    Phase I (2024-2025): Pilot testing of a disaster risk assessment model at the municipal level;
•    Phase II (2026): Development and validation of an optimized national disaster risk assessment model;
•    Phase III (2027): Institutionalization and integration into national governance and DRM systems.

Phase I was successfully completed through the piloting of an INFORM-based disaster risk assessment model in Suzak District of Jalal-Abad Oblast, one of the most disaster-prone areas of the Kyrgyz Republic. The pilot served as a proof of concept demonstrating the applicability of integrated risk assessment approaches and it importance for local planning, DRR and resilience building.

Building on these results, Phase II was launched in 2026. Under the leadership of MES, an Interagency Technical Working Group (ITWG) was established to develop a practical and sustainable disaster risk assessment methodology that can be implemented using existing government and publicly available datasets. Through a collaborative technical process, the ITWG developed a preliminary matrix comprising 45 disaster risk indicators covering hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and coping-capacity dimensions. The proposed methodology has received positive preliminary feedback from an INFORM methodology expert.

To complete Phase II, a district-level disaster risk pilot assessment will be conducted in a target district to be selected by the ITWG. The assessment will demonstrate the practicality, feasibility, and added value of risk-based decision-making approaches and support future consideration of disaster risk assessment as a standard component of national DRM and disaster monitoring processes.

To support the successful implementation of this activity, WFP seeks to recruit an Index-Based Risk Assessment Consultant.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Under the overall supervision of WFP KGCO and in close collaboration with MES and the Interagency Technical Working Group (ITWG), the Consultant will provide technical leadership, methodological guidance, and quality assurance for the implementation of the district-level disaster risk pilot assessment under the RISK initiative.
The assignment aims to ensure that the assessment is conducted in accordance with internationally recognized INFORM methodology principles and generates robust evidence to support the future institutionalization of risk-based disaster monitoring and decision-making mechanisms within the Kyrgyz Republic.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

In coordination with WFP KGCO and in close collaboration with MES and the ITWG, the Consultant will be responsible for:
1.    Providing technical guidance and quality assurance throughout the data collection, validation, analysis, and interpretation process undertaken by the ITWG and authorized WFP personnel.
2.    Ensuring the calculation, validation, and interpretation of disaster risk indices and associated risk components in accordance with INFORM methodology and internationally recognized disaster risk assessment standards.
3.    Preparing a methodological note describing the proposed risk assessment framework, indicator selection rationale, weighting methodology, assumptions, limitations, and recommendations for future replication and scaling at the national level.
4.    Leading the preparation, technical review, submission, endorsement, and publication of the district-level disaster risk pilot assessment through the INFORM/JRC network and associated knowledge-sharing platforms, where applicable.
5.    Leading the preparation and publication of a technical paper, article, or other professional knowledge product documenting the methodology, lessons learned, and results of the pilot assessment for dissemination through an appropriate professional, academic, or peer-reviewed publication platform.
6.    Leading the preparation and presentation of the final pilot assessment report and policy recommendations to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic to support the future endorsement, institutionalization, and integration of risk-based assessment approaches into national disaster monitoring, forecasting, and disaster risk management systems.
7.    Supporting the development of a concept note and roadmap for the institutionalization of index-based disaster risk assessment mechanisms during Phase III of the initiative (2027).
8.    Providing strategic recommendations on the integration of disaster risk assessment outputs into national DRM planning, prioritization, and decision-making processes.

MODALITY OF ACTIVITY

The consultancy will be implemented primarily through remote work, including regular coordination with WFP KGCO, MES, and the ITWG, and the provision of technical review, quality assurance, and expert inputs related to methodologies, datasets, analytical outputs, and reports.
The Consultant will be required to undertake mission travel to Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, to support two key activities (tentatively planned towards the conclusion of the assignment; exact dates to be confirmed):
1.    Delivering a technical training workshop for members of the ITWG, relevant Government institutions, and WFP personnel on the disaster risk assessment methodology, analytical framework, and results of the district-level pilot assessment.
2.    Presenting the final assessment findings and recommendations to the Interministerial Commission on Civil Protection of the Kyrgyz Republic and MES.

All substantive technical outputs, including the disaster risk assessment, methodological documentation, final analytical report, publication package, and policy recommendations, shall be completed and submitted to WFP no later than 30 November 2026. The remaining contractual period may be utilized for technical review, endorsement procedures, publication processes, dissemination of results, final presentations, and administrative closure of the assignment.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

1.    Methodological Note on the District-Level Disaster Risk Assessment Framework.
2.    Validated District-Level Disaster Risk Assessment Dataset and Calculated Risk Index.
3.    District-Level Disaster Risk Pilot Assessment Report, endorsed by the ITWG and MES.
4.    Publication of the assessment on INFORM/JRC platforms, where applicable.
5.    Technical Article / Knowledge Product documenting the methodology and lessons learned.
6.    Presentation package (PowerPoint) summarizing methodology, key findings, and recommendations.
7.    Final Presentation to the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic and relevant stakeholders.
8.    Concept Note / Roadmap for Institutionalization of Index-Based Disaster Risk Assessment in Kyrgyzstan.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

Education:    Advanced University Degree with experience in one or more of the following disciplines: Social Science, Economics, Environmental Sciences, International Development, Rural Development, Communications, or relevant field.
 
Experience:    

•    At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in disaster risk assessment, disaster risk modelling, risk analytics, or related fields.
•    Demonstrated experience in applying index-based risk assessment methodologies, preferably INFORM or comparable international risk assessment frameworks.
•    Proven experience in quantitative analysis, statistical modelling, risk indicators development, and GIS-based risk assessment.
•    Experience in preparing technical reports, methodological papers, and analytical publications.
•    Experience working with governments, development partners, and international organizations on DRM, DRR, resilience, or climate-risk-related initiatives.
•    Previous experience with INFORM, UNDRR, JRC, WFP, UN agencies, the World Bank, or other international organizations would be a strong asset.
•    Experience in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Caucasus, or CIS countries would be an asset.

Knowledge & Skills:      •    Strong knowledge of disaster risk concepts, risk assessment methodologies, and INFORM principles.
•    Strong analytical, statistical, and quantitative modelling skills.
•    Experience with GIS and spatial analysis tools.
•    Excellent report-writing, presentation, and communication skills.
•    Ability to facilitate technical discussions with government institutions and multi-stakeholder working groups.
•    Ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical policy recommendations.
•    Strong planning, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills.
•    Commitment to quality assurance and timely delivery of results.
Languages:    English (fluent), knowledge of Russian is an asset.
 

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REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

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REMINDERS BEFORE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

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• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process.

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.