TERMS
OF REFERENCE
DEVELOPMENT
OF A
DISASTER
AND VULNERABILITY RISK PROFILE FOR
SEA
COW’S BAY, TORTOLA, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
1.0
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Virgin Islands is an
archipelago consisting of some 60 islands, mostly small and uninhabited, with four
principal population centres namely Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van
Dyke. This uncommon geographical feature highlights the need to have creative
approaches to the Territory’s disaster management system. Given the variability
in the impact of hazard events on the Territory, communities that are not
frequently or severely impacted can sometimes be inadequately prepared to cope
with an emergency or a disaster.
Additionally, as there is no sense of immediate need, disaster risk
reduction is rarely a priority in these communities. However, in order to
achieve vulnerability reduction within the Territory, communities must be
prepared to deal with disasters that may affect them.
Community-based disaster risk
reduction allows us to prepare for and respond to potential hazards following a
disaster event. As individuals, we can prepare our homes and families to cope
during that critical period. Through pre-event planning, communities can also
work together to help reduce injuries, loss of lives, and property damage as
well as preserve livelihoods, the environment and the overall quality of life
of residents. Community disaster risk
reduction will enhance the ability of individuals, and groups of people, to
reduce their emergency needs and manage their existing resources until other
assistance becomes available.
Best practices in the disaster
risk reduction field indicates that community resilience can be achieved by
getting all components of the community (businesses, church groups, community
partners, school children and residents) to understand the hazards they face;
identifying ways to reduce or mitigate hazard impacts and providing tools and
training which allow the community to adequately prepare for and respond to any
disaster.
Several methodologies (Hazard Risk
Assessment and Quantitative Risk Assessment), hazard maps created through the R3i
Project, the Red Cross Strategic Targeting Methodology (STM) as well as impact
data ranks Sea Cow’s Bay within the top two highly vulnerable communities on
Tortola.
Sea Cow’s Bay is located
approximately 2.5 miles (4km) west of the main commercial hub, Road Town, on
the island of Tortola. The boundaries of
the community extend generally from the Pieces of Eight and Mantee Developments
in the east, to Nanny Cay in the west, and from the sea inland to Treadfall and
Nibbs Estate. Sea Cow’s Bay is a rather
large bay separated from Sir Francis Drake Channel by areas of coral reef found
on each side of the opening. The shallow
reefs provide shelter from high seas and therefore the waters within the bay
are usually very calm. The bay is
shallow with a maximum depth of seven feet and an average depth of five
feet. Sea Cow’s Bay is also home to one
of the largest mangrove systems in the Territory and in 1990, it was categorised
as being of critical importance based on ecological and socio-economic
factors. The population of this
community is approximately 2,221 based on the last census statistics which
represents an increase of more than 300% since 1991. The community is a modest
one, primarily with residential developments that within the last ten years have
seen the emergence of low-income clusters.
Developing a profile which
identifies the natural, human-induced and technological hazards likely to
affect Sea Cow’s Bay, assesses the risk of disaster losses and evaluates the
social, economic and environmental vulnerability of the community is a critical
component of a robust community disaster risk reduction programme. Funding for the development of this profile
will be provided by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)
under the Mainstreaming Climate Change in Disaster management in the Caribbean
Project: Phase 2 (CCDM-II).
2.0
OBJECTIVES OF ASSIGNMENT
The overall aim of this assignment is to develop a Vulnerability and
Disaster Risk Profile for the natural and technological hazards likely to
affect Sea Cow’s Bay. This profile will
assist the Department of Disaster Management and other stakeholders in
determining and prioritising disaster risk reduction interventions in Sea Cow’s
Bay as part of the Territory’s SMART Community initiative.
3.0
SCOPE OF WORKS
The Consultant will report to the Director, Department of Disaster
Management and will work under her supervision.
Specifically, the Consultant will be required to:
3.1
Prepare an Inception Report
with a Work Implementation Plan that demonstrates a clear understanding of the
assignment, detailing the:
3.1.1
Proposed Work Schedule with
timelines and methodology;
3.1.2
Proposed Budget; and
3.1.3
Material or resources required
3.2
Research and review relevant
literature to support the development of suitable content for the Sea Cow’s Bay
Vulnerability and Risk Profile including but not limited to the National
Disaster Management Plan, Disaster Management Act 2003, Red Cross Vulnerability
and Capacity Assessment methodology, draft inputs for the Sea Cow’s Bay profile
and similar profiles that were developed for Anegda, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin
Gorda.
3.3
Consult with the DDM, the
residents of Sea Cow’s Bay, private sector and public sector entities and any
other relevant stakeholders on the development of the profile
3.4
Incorporate elements of the Red
Cross Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment methodology (Household Survey,
Transit Walk and Seasonal Calendar) to determine the level of disaster
preparedness among residents of Sea Cow’s Bay.
3.5
Develop a Vulnerability and Disaster
Risk Profile for Sea Cow’s Bay which identifies the hazards that affect the
community, assesses the risk of disaster losses and evaluates the social, economic,
and environmental vulnerability of a community. The profile must be appropriately formatted,
be gender sensitive and prepared in simplified language that can be accessed
and understood by a wide range of persons.
3.6
Present the draft profile to the
DDM, residents of Sea Cow’s Bay and other stakeholders to be determined by the
DDM.
3.7
Finalise the Sea Cow’s Bay Vulnerability
and Risk Profile for handover to the DDM and presentation residents of Sea
Cow’s Bay.
4.0
DELIVERABLES
4.1
Inception Report with Work
Implementation Plan;
4.2
Draft Vulnerability and Disaster
Risk Profile
4.3
Final Vulnerability and Disaster
Risk Profile which incorporates the feedback received from the stakeholders..
5.0
INPUTS OF THE DDM
The Department of Disaster Management will provide:
5.1
Relevant literature or
documentation that the Consultant may require
5.2
Assistance in sourcing relevant
census, land-use or GIS data from the relevant government entities
5.3
Technical comments and feedback
on the outputs of the Consultancy;
5.4
Logistical support for
convening meetings;
5.5
General oversight in the roll
out of the consultancy.
6.0
REQUIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
6.1 Qualifications and Experience
§ Master’s degree in Earth Science, Environmental Sciences, Social
Science or equivalent qualification.
§ At least three (3) years experience in the areas of disaster
management or natural resource management with demonstrated experience working
with communities
§ Demonstrated understanding of gender, equality and women’s
empowerment
§ Experience working on Tortola and its sister islands would be a
distinct asset
6.2 Knowledge and Skills
§ Ability to efficiently utilise the Microsoft suite with a particular
focus on Microsoft Office and Excel.
§ Good interpersonal and
communications skills.
§ Extensive experience in report writing.
§ Ability to meet deadlines and prioritise multiple tasks.
§ Sound analytical and organisation skills.
§ Experience in working with multiple-stakeholder groups including
government, non-governmental organisations and indigenous groups, would be an
asset.
§ Demonstrated knowledge of the National Disaster Management Plan and
familiarity with the Virgin Islands community in general.
6.3 Language Requirements
§ Must be able to speak English fluently.
§ The ability to communicate in Spanish will be an asset.
7.0
TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PROPOSAL
7.1
Duration
The Consultancy
is estimated to be no more than 10 working days in total and the successful
candidate should be able to assume duties by 19 December 2014.
7.2 Technical
Proposal
The
technical proposal should indicate at minimum:
i.
Proposed approach to be taken
for the roll out of the consultancy;
ii.
Evidence of stakeholder
participation in the development of the proposed profile;
iii.
Timelines and methodology;
iv.
Curriculum Vitae of consultant
and for each member of the team (if a team approach is utilized).
7.3 Financial Proposal
The financial
proposal should have a detailed budget breakdown with man days for each team
member identified.
7.4 Evaluation
The Technical
Proposal will be assessed based on the consultant’s understanding of the TOR;
experience, demonstrated qualifications, knowledge and skills as well as the
detailing of a creative and guided approach to undertaking the
consultancy. A maximum of 85 percentage points
is allocated for the technical proposal.
The financial proposal is allocated 15 percentage points and will be
assessed based on best value for money and the provision of a detailed budget
breakdown with man days for each team member.
8.0
APPLICATION
Proposals should
not exceed 15 pages in length (exclusive of CV and references) and must be
provided no later than close of business day on 16 December 2014. Further
information may be obtained from Philomena Robertson ([email protected]) at the
Department of Disaster Management.
Please send
proposals to the address below:
Attention: Ms. Sharleen DaBreo
Director, Department of Disaster
Management
#3 Wailing Road, MacNamara, Road Town
Tortola, VG 1110 Virgin Islands
Tel: (284)-468-4200
Fax: (284) 494-2024
Or via email to:
E-mail: [email protected]
