Disaster Risk Reduction Specialist, PIMMELA

Job Description

Project Summary:

MSI is implementing the Philippines, Pacific Islands Papua New Guinea and Mongolia Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Activity (PIMMELA) in the Philippines and across its geographic area of coverage, which includes 12 Pacific Island countries and Mongolia. PIMMELA will provide monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) support services to USAID Mission in the Philippines and across its geographic area of coverage. PIMMELA will work collaboratively with the Mission’s staff and its implementing partners (IPs) to provide assistance in performance management; third party monitoring and verification; evaluation services; collaboration, learning and adapting; and monitoring and evaluation of the health portfolio.

**Please note: All citizenships are eligible for this position**

Position Summary:

The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Specialist will contribute expertise in disaster risk reduction by analyzing prevention, preparedness, and response strategies, aligning policies with broader socioeconomic contexts, and identifying opportunities for DRR integration. The DRR Specialist will ensure the completion of deliverables in a timely manner and in the form and substance acceptable to USAID. This evaluation will provide USAID/Pacific Islands with an analysis and strategic recommendations on the effectiveness of the RESILIENCE and the two IMPACT projects in building local disaster management capacity in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), particularly in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under RESILIENCE, the performance evaluation will also include an assessment of the reconstruction assistance provided under the Typhoon Wutip Reconstruction Program. The results of the evaluation will provide USAID/Pacific Islands and USAID/BHA with improved understanding on the performance of that component of work including the capacity development provided to various host government organizations and community groups in terms of their disaster management practices. These results will inform the designers and management of how best to prepare any follow-on projects or extensions.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Evaluation Team Leader in overseeing all aspects of the evaluation, with a focus on DRR strategies and policies.
• Contribute to the evaluation design and implementation, including desk reviews, field data collection, and stakeholder consultations, with an emphasis on DRR integration.
• Contribute to data collection activities such as surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs) to gather insights on DRR practices and alignment with broader development objectives.
• Provide technical expertise in assessing and analyzing risk prevention, preparedness, response, early recovery, and capacity-building efforts within the scope of the evaluation.
• Ensure the accuracy, consistency, and completeness of DRR-related data and information.
• Assist in triangulating quantitative and qualitative data, ensuring DRR considerations are integrated into evaluation analysis and findings.
• Participate in debriefings with USAID, IPs, and other stakeholders, providing insights and recommendations on DRR policies and practices.
• Assist in drafting the evaluation report’s sections on DRR, including findings, conclusions, and recommendations for integrating DRR into ongoing and future programs.
• Contribute to the preparation of the evaluation report, focusing on DRR response aspects, and ensuring it meets USAID’s quality standards.
• Provide facilitation support of learning events/workshops with USAID, IPs, and local stakeholders to share DRR-related findings and recommendations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in DRR, public policy, environmental management, or related fields is required. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum five years of experience in designing and implementing policies and strategies related to disaster risk prevention, preparedness, response, early recovery, and capacity building is required.
• Experience working with host country government agencies and local stakeholders on DRR initiatives, including policy alignment with socioeconomic and institutional contexts is required.
• Experience providing advisory services on catalytic interventions to integrate DRR into other programs is preferred.
• Experience working in FSM, RMI, or regions with similar contexts is highly preferred.
• Familiarity with evaluation methodologies and analysis techniques, with a focus on DRR integration is required.
• Familiarity with disaster-resilient infrastructure design principles and their application within broader DRR frameworks is preferred.
• Ability to write clear, concise, and insightful evaluation reports, particularly on DRR-related findings and recommendations required.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams in fast-paced environments required.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Professional written and verbal proficiency in English required. Proficiency in languages spoken in FSM or RMI preferred.

We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work.

We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants’ and employees’ religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.

MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Tech’s Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates.

Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.

Project opportunity 

Australia and Indo-Pacific Teams and Clients 

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (International Development) 

About the Organization

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.