CALL FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY SERVICES

Title

Disaster Management & Preparedness Expert (Individual Consultant)

Organization

Aiming Change for Tomorrow (ACT) International

Project Location: Multan, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalpur

Contract Duration: 16 February 2026 – 15 May 2026

Duty Station: Home-based with frequent field travel to southern Punjab

Reports To: Project Manager

1. BACKGROUND

ACT International, with the support of a donor, is implementing a multi-district project aimed at strengthening Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Anticipatory Action (AA), and shock-responsive systems in climate-vulnerable districts of southern Punjab, including Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur.

Southern Punjab is highly exposed to riverine floods, flash floods from hill torrents, droughts, and extreme heat, with recurrent climate shocks (2022–2025) severely affecting lives, livelihoods, food security, and critical infrastructure. While early warning and risk analysis capacities are improving under national and provincial systems, operational disaster preparedness and response capacity at district and community levels remains uneven, particularly in terms of standardized procedures, trained responders, inter-agency coordination, and simulation-based readiness.

District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMAs), Emergency Operations Centers (DEOCs), and first responders, including Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, and line departments—face challenges related to:

• Limited operational preparedness planning and standard operating procedures
• Weak coordination and command-and-control mechanisms during emergencies
• Insufficient training, drills, and simulation exercises
• Gaps in community-level preparedness and last-mile response capacity

Aligned with ’s disaster preparedness and anticipatory action approach, and in close coordination with PDMA Punjab, DDMAs, 1122, and the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), this project seeks to strengthen institutional and operational DRM capacity, focusing on preparedness planning, simulations, response readiness, and institutional coordination. To support this, ACT International seeks an experienced Disaster Management & Preparedness Expert to provide technical leadership in operational DRM strengthening, SOP development, capacity building, and simulation-based preparedness.

2. PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide specialized technical expertise to strengthen district-level disaster preparedness, response readiness, and coordination mechanisms, ensuring that DRM institutions and responders are operationally ready to act effectively before and during climate-induced emergencies. The consultant will focus, strengthening institutional preparedness, response systems, and community-level readiness, complementing the anticipatory action and adaptive social protection components of the project.

3. SCOPE OF WORK AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The consultant responsibilities structured as follows:

A. Disaster Preparedness and Response Systems Strengthening

• Conduct district-level assessments of disaster preparedness and response capacity, focusing on DDMAs, DEOCs, and first responders.
• Identify gaps in preparedness planning, SOPs, coordination, equipment utilization, and response readiness.
• Support strengthening of incident management, coordination, and command structures at district level.

B. SOP Development and Preparedness Planning

• Lead development or revision of district-level Disaster Preparedness and Response SOPs, aligned with:
  • National Disaster Management Act
  • PDMA Punjab guidelines
  • DONOR emergency preparedness standards
• Support revision and operationalization of:
  • District Disaster Management Plans (DMPs)
  • District contingency and preparedness plans
• Ensure SOPs clearly define:
  • Roles and responsibilities of line departments
  • Coordination mechanisms with PDMA and humanitarian actors
  • Linkages with anticipatory action activation and early warning dissemination

C. Capacity Building, Training, and Simulations

• Design and deliver capacity-building modules on:
  • Disaster preparedness and response
  • Incident command and coordination
  • Emergency operations center (EOC) functions
• Provide technical support to trainings conducted with Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, and NIDM.
• Plan, facilitate, and technically backstop table-top exercises, drills, and full-scale simulation exercises.
• Support post-simulation after-action reviews and readiness improvement plans.

D. Community-Level Preparedness and Last-Mile Response

• Provide technical guidance for community-based disaster preparedness initiatives, including:
  • Community emergency response teams (CERTs)
  • Evacuation planning and shelter management
• Support development of community preparedness tools and guidelines, aligned with district response plans.
• Ensure community preparedness approaches are gender-responsive, inclusive, and context-specific.

E. Coordination, Knowledge Management, and Technical Reporting

• Coordinate closely with PDMA Punjab, concerned DDMAs, Rescue 1122, Civil Defence, NIDM, and DONOR.
• Support documentation of best practices, lessons learned, and scalable DRM preparedness models.
• Prepare monthly technical progress updates and a final consultancy report with recommendations for institutionalization and scale-up.

4. DELIVERABLES

Key deliverables include (but are not limited to):

• District-level Preparedness and Response Capacity Assessment Reports
• Revised / developed Disaster Preparedness and Response SOPs
• Technical inputs to updated District Disaster Management Plans
• Training materials and capacity-building session reports
• Simulation exercise designs, reports, and after-action reviews
• Community preparedness guidance materials
• Monthly progress reports
• Final Consultancy Report with operational recommendations

5. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education

• Master’s degree in Disaster Management, Emergency Management, Public Administration, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in disaster preparedness, emergency response, or DRM.
• Proven experience working with government DRM institutions (PDMA/DDMA), first responders, or humanitarian organizations.
• Demonstrated experience in SOP development, simulations, and emergency preparedness planning.
• Familiarity with DONOR emergency preparedness and response standards is a strong asset.

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of incident management systems and coordination mechanisms.
• Experience in capacity building, facilitation, and simulation-based training.
• Ability to translate plans into operational readiness.
• Strong coordination, communication, and analytical skills.

6. WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

• The consultancy requires frequent travel to southern Punjab.
• Field activities will be coordinated closely with ACT project teams and district authorities.

7. APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should submit:

• Updated CV
• Cover letter outlining relevant experience and technical approach
• Financial proposal (monthly rate; no per diem or overheads)
• Samples of similar work (optional)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.