TASKS
- Scoping study: conduct a desk review of the literature on urban risk in South-East Asia region, and fieldwork in three cities of Myanmar: Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyitaw examining the hazards, vulnerabilities, local capacities, power imbalances, and underlying risk drivers to identify strategies for enhancing resilience to disasters, climate change and conflict in the urban environment of developing Myanmar. “What” (what are the most crucial vulnerabilities that need to be addressed urgently), “Where” (where should resilience be provided), and “How” (what should be the core components of the urban planning for resilience).
- Natural Common: Assess a balance of ecosystem measures and land use options in the urban area to incorporate innovative land use services into infrastructure and resilience projects. This approach will help keep the city from being locked into financing oriented large-scale investments that contribute to urban risks.
- Evidence-based policy advocacy: Engage in research where appropriate to develop the evidence base on the position and condition of women relevant to urban resilience. Conduct policy analysis and program strategy recommendations for AAM and partners based on existing policies and practices on land-use and urban planning in Myanmar.
Crosscutting and integration: closely work with ActionAid Myanmar’s Women Rights team and Governance team to ensure urban resilience works are gender-sensitive and promote women's leadership and participation in policy influencing and implementation.
Connectedness: engage and work with township level platforms of local civil society organizations and facilitate linkages at sub-national, national, regional, and global alliances on urban resilience and land-use planning.
Required Competences
- Strong desire to work for the equality and rights of women and marginalized communities with an extensive analytical and practical understanding of policy and advocacy initiatives in a relevant area of work.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in urban resilience, land-use planning, and working with local/national partners.
- Ability in strategic thinking, facilitating participatory discussions in workshops, training for related policy impact analysis, and advocacy strategy development with local partners.
- Fluent in written and spoken English.
- Have a research background and knowledge of development policies and practices are desirable.
- Experience in Myanmar or South-East Asian region will be considered an asset.
Personal skills:
This is mixed of internal and external engagement and the person needs to have excellent interpersonal skills, high-level relationship building, have the ability to motivate, inspire and work as part of the team, ability to take initiative and ability to discuss complex issues with cultural/conflict sensitivity.
Minimum Requirements
- Masters’ degree in Urban Resilience or Development Studies or related fields.
- At least 5 and above years working experience in enhancing resilience to disasters, climate change and conflict in the urban environment.
- Sound knowledge of research, planning, and implementing on Urban Resilience and Land use.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, facilitation, communication, negotiation, networking and knowledge of working through partnerships.
- Excellent ability in written and verbal communication in English.
- Coordinate to ensure standardization of methodologies and approaches across the different and/or interrelated programmes of ActionAid Myanmar.
- Ensure that the programme has a strong policy advocacy focus aimed at improving urban resilience.
- Gender-sensitive and responsive.