Estimated Duration: 2.5 months
Project Location(s): Jordan - Azraq, Dieban, Mlaih, Shobak
** This opportunity is only open for national individual consultants. Companies or non-Jordanians are not eligible to apply.
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps (MC) is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. MC has worked in Jordan since 2003 to implement a variety of programs funded by global public institutions, as well as private donors to meet the urgent needs of vulnerable populations, build cohesive and civically engaged communities, and increase inclusive economic opportunities. MC’s current portfolio in Jordan focuses on three domains: resilient individuals, strong communities and governance, and environmentally sustainable and inclusive economic growth. MC integrates cross-cutting themes of youth, gender equality and empowerment, governance, natural resource management, and technology.
About the Project
As one of the world’s most water-scarce countries, Jordan is at a critical juncture, grappling with escalating climate-related disasters, that pose a critical challenge to its humanitarian efforts, economic stability, and environmental integrity. Based on the 4th National Communication on Climate Change, in recent years, flash floods and heatwaves have become two of Jordan’s major hazards affecting the country’s water resources, agriculture, and economy.
Mercy Corps Jordan’s project, Tabeaa: Strengthening Climate Resilience in Jordanian Communities, is funded by the Z Zurich Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The project will bolster efforts under Mercy Corps’ ongoing Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (the Alliance) aligning with MC’s vision of fostering resilient communities capable of thriving amid climate challenges. The Tabeaa project works at both the national and local community levels. On a national level the project sets to drive systematic changes through engaging key stakeholders in localizing and enforcing Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies. On the local level, the project will focus their initiatives in five communities from various governorates, selected for their high vulnerability to flash floods, heatwaves, and water scarcity. The project’s approach is multi-faceted, concentrating on three main areas: enhancing the adaptive capacity of Jordanian communities, promoting the effective localization and enforcement of national climate policies, and fostering a supportive culture for increased investments in climate resilience initiatives.
About the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance (‘the Alliance’)
The Alliance is a multi-sectoral partnership powered by the Z Zurich Foundation. The Alliance draws from the humanitarian, NGO, research, and private sectors, including Concern Worldwide, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Mercy Corps, Plan International, and Practical Action, as well a research partners the International Institute for Applied Systems and Analysis (IIASA), the London School of Economics, and the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET). The Alliance is focused on enhancing resilience to climate hazards in both rural and urban communities. Formerly the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance, the alliance has over a decade of experience in generating evidence of communities’ current levels of climate resilience and identifying appropriate solutions. The alliance aims to achieve its overarching vision by implementing solutions, promoting good practice, influencing policy and facilitating systemic change.
Purpose / Project Description:
Jordan’s municipalities have been developing disaster risk management (DRM) plans under the joint efforts of the Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA), Mercy Corps, and UNDP, and local partners. To strengthen municipal-level resilience, there is now a need to finalize and validate these DRM plans in selected municipalities (Azraq, Dieban, Mlaih, Shobak).
This assignment aims to ensure the plans are comprehensive, participatory, and operational by directly engaging municipal DRR units and aligning with Jordan’s National DRR Strategy (2023–2030), the Sendai Framework, the newly developed “Guiding Document for the Localization of Disaster Risk Management in Jordan” and global best practices.
Consultant Objectives:
The main objectives of the consultancy are to:
- Review and refine existing draft DRM plans in the four target municipalities (template is already in place with initial version prepared for each municipality)
- Facilitate in-house training/working sessions (3–4 days) with each municipal DRR unit to empower staff, validate risk analysis, and finalize the plans.
- Strengthen local ownership and technical capacity by embedding DRR planning skills within municipal DRR units.
- Ensure alignment with MoLA, UNDP and Mercy Corps frameworks and validate the finalized plans with each entities.
Consultant Activities:
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
- Inception Phase
- Participate in a kick-off meeting with the project team to align consultancy’s objectives, methodology, timelines, and deliverables.
- Establish a clear understanding of local resilience needs in each location by reviewing Tabeaa evidence (including Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC) assessment results and context analysis) and identify relevant inputs to the DRM local plans.
- Review existing draft plans, previous assessments, and national DRR/CCA frameworks.
- Develop a detailed work plan and training agenda for each municipality.
- Field Engagement & Training (3–4 days per municipality)
- Conduct in-house training workshops (practical working sessions) with DRR unit staff in each municipality (Azraq, Dieban, Mlaih, Shobak) capacity assessment of municipal Staff on DRM Planning conduct an assessment include desk review, field visits of the existing capacities of municipal staff
- Cover essential areas: risk assessment validation, preparedness/response measures, coordination, communication protocols, and monitoring.
- Facilitate participatory exercises to incorporate municipal context, resources, and risks into the plans.
- Work in close collaboration with municipalities authorities in (Azraq, Dieban, Mlaih, Shobak) to effectively lead and facilitate the development of comprehensive disaster risk management plans.
- Identification of gaps and strengths in municipal in (Azraq, Dieban, Mlaih, Shobak)DRM planning, analyze and document the strengths and weaknesses of each municipality.
- Finalization of DRM Plans
- Consolidate workshop outputs into updated DRM plans for each municipality.
- Ensure inclusion of:
- Hazard and risk mapping
- Preparedness and mitigation measures
- Roles and responsibilities (municipality, other local authorities, community actors)
- Response protocols and communication flows
- Recovery planning
- Resource/budget allocation framework
- Align the plans with MoLA’s guidance and Tabeaa objectives.
- Validation & Submission
- Submit draft finalized plans to MoLA, Mercy Corps and UNDP for review
- Conduct validation session with relevant stakeholders, gather feedback, and refine.
- Incorporate feedback and submit final versions.
Consultant Deliverables:
The Consultant will deliver:
- D1 – Inception Report: Detailed work plan, methodology, training agendas for each municipality, and coordination mechanism with MoLA, UNDP, and Mercy Corps. Deadline: 31 October 2025 (within~1 week of contract signing)
- D2 – Training Workshops/ Working sessions: Delivery of four in-house 3–4 day training sessions with DRR units in Azraq, Dieban, Mlaih, Shobak. Training materials and participant lists included. Deadline: By 27 November 2025.
- D3 – Draft DRM Plans: Draft finalized DRM plans for the four municipalities, integrating workshop outputs and aligned with MoLA frameworks. Deadline: 2 December 2025.
- D4 – Final DRM Plans: Submission of final, comprehensive DRM plans for the four municipalities, incorporating MoLA/Mercy Corps feedback and UNDP. Deadline: 17 December 2025.
- D5 – Final Consultancy Report: A synthesis report summarizing the process, outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for scaling DRM planning across other municipalities. Deadline: 25 December 2025 (end of contract).
Timeframe / Schedule:
The consultant should propose a full timeline for this consultancy that falls within end of October to early January 2025
Consultant to propose the exact number of working days needed to complete the work based on the level of effort required within the proposed timeframe mentioned above.
The tentative plan below:
- October = preparation & inception.
- November = training and drafting of plans.
- Mid December = validation and finalization.
- Early January = close-out report and handover.
Application:
Interested applicants must submit their applications including the following:
- Technical Proposal
Interested consultant must submit a technical proposal covering but not limited to the following:
- Consultant experience and qualification: Brief about the applicant showing proven expertise in DRR and municipal work.
- The methodological approach that will be followed by the applicant throughout the assignment, including the way in which the consultant intends to carry out activities to achieve the objectives mentioned throughout this ToR.
- Clear work plan with a detailed breakdown of tasks, LOE and dates as per the deliverable/ schedule identified above.
- Examples of former relevant work conducted by the applicant
- Financial Proposal
Applicants must provide details of the financial offer as a lump sum amount per deliverable, including all costs such as resources, domestic travel, communication, and any other expenses required by the consultant to complete the deliverables, preferably in JOD. (Mercy Corps will cover the costs associated with the event venues and participants, and for the accommodation for overnight stays for the consultant when needed, the consultant should budget only for their own expenses, including transportation from and to project locations, preparation and facilitation for all meetings/workshops/events needed to fulfill the deliverables.). The overall proposed amount should include tax.
Offers will be evaluated against Mercy Corps’ cost-effectiveness and efficiency standards.
- References
The consultant to share the information of three Recent References including; name, email, phone number, and address for similar assignments.
The Consultant will work closely with: Mercy Corps team, UNDP team, MoLA, Municipality staff, other stakeholders
The Consultant will report to: Mercy Corps – Policy & Influencing team
Required Experience & Skills:
- Advanced Degree (minimum master’s degree) in Disaster Management, Engineering, Natural and Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Political Science, or any other fields of relevance.
- At least 10 years of experience in risk/crisis management, resilience, national risk reduction strategies, humanitarian response, or any other related experience to this assignment.
- Prior work with government entities and development agencies related to risk/crisis management.
- Conducted relevant assignments in risk management plans or preparedness plans in fields linked to risk management on national and local levels.
- Language requirement: Proficient in both written and oral English.
- Proven ability to lead consultations and facilitate dialogue among senior government officials and other senior stakeholders required.
-