Post of Duty: Bahamas

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About this position

This consultancy seeks to support the operationalization of the Non-governmental Consultation Council (NGCC) as mandated by the DRM Act 2022 by developing the operational framework for the Council.

The Consultant shall clarify/identify the role of the community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, individual experts, corporations, and other private organizations that comprise the NGCC, taking into account the context in The Bahamas and the importance of international definitions and roles.

What you’ll do:

• Collect and review literature necessary to accomplish this work. This includes, among other relevant documents, the DRM Act 2022, and NEMA’s NGO Information Booklet. In addition to collecting published references on their own, the Consultant may also request the necessary references from the GOBH (through the IDB). Further, a review should be conducted of any reports that evaluate lessons learned in the coordination and articulation between the government, the private sector, NGOs, and local communities. Also, the review should consider previous experiences regarding the participation of individual experts on similar consultation councils. Based on this reading, the Consultant will prepare an Inception Report (outlining the study’s framework, conceptual and methodological approaches for this consultancy, as well as the planned activities and schedule).
  • Description of the methodology for each study process (data collection and data/information analysis).
  • Implementation schedule, including estimated delivery date and workshops/meetings to validate and disseminate all the processes and results of this consultancy.
• Identify and interview key stakeholders that may comprise the NGCC (i.e., community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, corporations, other private organizations, and individual experts who specialize in disaster risk management) that may comprise the NGCC. The purpose of these interviews, focus groups, or surveys is to understand their (a) current status of NGO organizing, (2) experiences, challenges, and lessons, and (3) perceived roles in DRM components/phases. Special attention should be given to their role in all components/phases of DRM based on the DRM Act 2022 (e.g., risk analysis, disaster risk reduction, and other components).
• Review the nature and scope of various non-governmental advisory and coordinating structures. Examples of these may include, but are not limited to:
  • The National Council of NGOs- Kenya
  • National Advisory Council (FEMA, The United States)
  • National VOAD (The United States)
  • Japan Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (JVOAD).

Specific attention should be given to their mission, vision, membership, and organizational structure. In the absence of NGO committees, councils, or boards, attention should be given to the mechanisms through which other ministries/departments in The Bahamas and/or other countries have sought to integrate or provide a platform for NGOs, the private sector, and individual experts to contribute to DRM or other related fields.

• Synthesize and summarize the findings of ii, iii, and develop a draft framework that establishes and guides the NGCC. The Consultant will share and discuss the draft framework with GoBH stakeholders and make modifications as appropriate. The framework should outline:
  • Mission
  • Vision
  • Membership
  • Organizational structure and basic operating guidelines that identify basic roles and responsibilities.
  • Key DRM activities that individual experts, NGOs, local communities, and the private sector should be involved in all components/phases of DRM (Note: these will be described separately by each DRM component)
  • Plans and procedures to coordinate the efforts of NGOs, local communities, and the private sector to meet the NGCC Mission/Vision.
  • Ways and means to ensure compliance with the NGCC by non-governmental actors.
• Support the convening of the first official meeting of the NGCC in collaboration with the GoBH.
• Develop a final workshop to validate the final result of this consultancy to the national and local authorities and critical NGOs involved during the consultancy. The Consultant will finalize the deliverables with input from the workshop and formally hand them over to GoBH.

Deliverables and Payments Timeline: