Call for Experts: DRRS South Africa, South Durban Basin

Context
In April and May 2022, the Province of KwaZulu-Natal experienced heavy rainfall (>300mm in 24 hours). This resulted in the deaths of over 400 people and severe damages to (business) property, electricity, sanitation and public infrastructure. The impact has been particularly severe on the South Durban Basin, which is the second most concentrated industrial area in South Africa. The cost of infrastructure and business losses amounted to an estimated $2 billion USD.

Aim of the intervention
To prevent future damages, the Municipality of eThekwini has requested technical support through the DRRS programme to reduce the risks and impacts of future floodings. Based on the conducted scoping study, this DRRS intervention will focus on:

• Developing a roadmap to achieve a comprehensive flood resilience strategy for the South Durban Basi. This roadmap needs to support the Municipality of eThekwini and other key stakeholders to develop and implement a strategy to reduce the local and regional flood risk to a 100-year level;
• Reviewing existing studies, models and datasets and work in co-creation with stakeholders on the a framework for flood risk assessments to identify, evaluate, prioritize and appraise measures and develop strategies for funding;
• In preparation of the DRRS intervention, an economic flood risk assessment is currently being undertaken. This assessment will deliver high-level adaptation strategies that need to be further detailed by the DRRS team in collaboration with local stakeholders.

Requirements
The team leader for this assignment has been selected. This flood risk management expert has experience with riverine and urban water systems as well as industrial flood risk, and a good understanding of the national and institutional context.

To complete the DRRS team for South Africa, we are looking for the following expertise:

1. Water economics/finance expert – This expert has a background in financing of flood risk reduction measures and has expertise in creating bankable opportunities and attract international financing from various organisations;
2. Disaster risk management expert – This expert is experienced in specifically the preparedness and response phases of the Disaster Management Cycle. The person needs to have broad, international experience with emergency preparedness and response, including disaster risk management for private industry and knowledge of flood early warning systems;
3. Water governance expert – This expert has international expertise on water governance and has experience in the development of flood resilience strategies, programmes and/or roadmaps for successful implementation of infrastructure projects. The expert should have experience in defining the requirements for implementation of disaster risk reduction measures in terms of approach, processes, water governance and institutional capacity.

The experts should preferably have working experience in South Africa and understand the local context, in particular the governance and institutional setting.

A balanced team regarding gender and age is preferred and aimed for. Young professionals are specifically encouraged to express their interest. The exact requirements for expertise and the composition of the team will be worked out with the team leader.

Planning
This assignment is scheduled from April till the beginning of August 2024. Preparation for the visit starts in April. The visit to eThekwini is to be scheduled, most likely in June. The final report is to be delivered in July at the latest. The total expected days are approximately 10-14 days.

Interested? Kindly share a short motivation and an updated CV to drrs@rvo.nl by Sunday, February 25 at the latest.