The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan (RCST) is announcing a short-term consultancy to conduct a comprehensive mapping and assessment of Tajikistan’s International Disaster Response Law (IDRL).
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct a legal assessment and mapping of laws, bylaws, and international agreements of Tajikistan related to international disaster response;
- Develop recommendations for improving Tajikistan’s legal framework in line with international IDRL standards;
- Prepare reports, presentations, and actionable recommendations for stakeholders.
- Participate in workshop and discussions with relevant parties.
- For other responsibilities refer to the attached ToR.
Duration:
January – March 2025, output-based.
Requirements:
- Advanced degree in law, international relations, disaster management, or a related field.
- At least 5 years of experience in legal research, preferably in IDRL or humanitarian law.
- Strong understanding of Tajikistan’s legal framework and analytical skills.
- Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in Tajik and Russian.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Tajikistan nationals are encouraged to apply.
- Experience in disaster risk management research and supporting legal reforms is an advantage.
- Good knowledge of the English language.
Application Requirements:
Interested applicants should submit the following:
- Letter of interest;
- CV;
- Sample of written work demonstrating skills in legal research;
- Contact details of at least three professional references;
- A technical proposal outlining the methodology and work plan.
Submission Details:
Applications should be sent to the following email addresses by January 15, 2025.
- Alisher Siddiq (alisher.sdv@gmail.com)
- Shuhrat Sangov (sshukhrat@mail.ru)
Subject Line: IDRL Consultancy
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussion.
For more detailed information about requirements and outputs refer to the attached ToR.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy for the mapping and assessment of Tajikistan International Disaster Response Law (IDRL)
Timeframe: 3 months (January 2025 – March 2025, output-based)
- Background
In 2023, Tajikistan ranked 140 in Work Risk Index among 193 countries, which is categorized as “low.” The 2023 disaster report of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoES) by the Government of Tajikistan indicates a slight decrease of the disasters in Tajikistan in 2023 compared to the previous year. The common disasters in the country are flood, mudflow, avalanche, drought and earthquake. While the overall risk rankings are not significantly high, such risks have had a high impact on the sustainable development of Tajikistan. The material loss and casualties of disasters are increasing, as shown by the recent CoES reports, and may continue to do so unless relevant disaster preparedness measures are implemented. Part of such measures is legal preparedness for disasters. When the right laws are in place indicating the rights, responsibility and coordination mechanism during disasters and emergencies, it facilitates the prevention of harms and efficient disaster response.
Since 2003, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and its member National Societies around the world have been working with the governments to strengthen legal frameworks for disaster management. The Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan (RCST) prioritizes Disaster Law as one of the vital dimensions of its activities. Through researching and studying disaster management legislation of Tajikistan, the RCST aims to provide the Government of Tajikistan with general information on its legal framework for disaster risk management, as well as a set of recommendations on how to strengthen this legal framework. Under the Year II of the ECHO-PP programme, the RCST commenced an extensive review of Tajikistan’s legislation in four disaster law areas (Legislation on International Disaster Response, Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Preparedness and Response, Public Health Emergency and Law) prepared by the National Legislation Centre (NLC). The RCST is planning to further research International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) in details and provide well-substantiated recommendations to improve IDRL legislation in Tajikistan.
- Consultancy outputs
All the output within this consultancy shall be provided in Tajik. The key outputs are as follows:
- Inception report containing the research framework and research methodology. It should include:
- Research methodology.
- Research template for Tajikistan international disaster law mapping. The RCST will provide the consultant previous research works on disaster law in Tajikistan, Regional Report on International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) for Central Asia for reference. The research template should rely on those previous researches and improve new research template focusing on the issues and areas not researched in previous works (e.g., bylaws, policies, and international agreements). IFRC IDRL Guideline and Checklist can be used for drafting the research template.
- Tajikistan IDRL mapping: containing the legal mapping of Tajikistan disaster laws, policies and agreements relevant to international disaster response / international disaster assistance in relation to supporting the implementation of the 2021 Central Asian Regulation on the Regional Coordination Mechanism, including laws, policies, and agreements following thematic areas:
- Disaster risk reduction management or disaster management for all kinds of disasters;
- Civil defense;
- Public health emergency;
- Tax and customs rules for humanitarian goods;
- Entry of special humanitarian goods and equipment (e.g. medicines, medical equipment, transportation);
- Transportation of humanitarian goods, equipment and personnel (land, air);
- Use of telecommunications;
- Use of drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV);
- Immigration / Visa requirements for humanitarian personnel;
- Practice of foreign profession (e.g. foreign emergency medical teams);
- Currency and banking;
- Volunteering;
- Humanitarian access.
“Mapping” includes: (1) collection of laws, bylaws, regulations, policies and agreements and uploading soft copies in an accessible cloud database, (2) organization of such data based on themes / questions in the research template, (3) identification of the relevant provisions in such laws/policies/ agreements as they relate to international disaster assistance, and (4) in-depth analysis of how such provisions impact on facilitation and regulation of international disaster assistance for all kinds of disasters, as well as analysis of gaps and/ or weaknesses.
Identify areas where Tajikistan’s legal framework may not align with IDRL standards.
- Presentation of results of the draft Tajikistan IDRL mapping and report to a workshop that will be organized by RCST in 2025 (Month and date TBC).
- Participation in and documentation of the proceedings and outcomes of the workshop and integration of the recommendations received in the workshop to the report and mapping.
- Final Tajikistan IDRL Report: Based on (1) the results of Tajikistan IDRL mapping, (2) the results of the workshop. The report should show the trends in terms of strength, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges in legal framework of Tajikistan and recommendations on how that legal framework can be improved.
- Executive Summary of Tajikistan IDRL Report.
- PowerPoint presentations on the final report; presentation of other required PowerPoints presentations relevant to the research and
- Participation in all relevant meetings between the consultant and RCST, IFRC, government institutions and agencies, disaster risk management partners, and other stakeholders involved in the research and workshop.
- Provide actionable recommendations to enhance Tajikistan’s IDRL framework, including potential legislative or procedural reforms.
- Assess the need for training or capacity-building initiatives to support effective implementation of IDRL in Tajikistan.
- Unofficial translation from other languages to Tajik of all referenced documents in the research. Machine translation is accepted given that the consultant is responsible for reviewing the accuracy of said translation.
- Support to be provided to the consultant
The RCST Disaster Law Officer and IFRC Central Asian Country Cluster Disaster Law Senior Officer will provide technical support and guidance to the consultant.
- Schedule for payment fees
The consultancy fee will be paid in four tranches:
- First tranche (20%) – submission of Inception Report;
- Second tranche (20%) – submission of draft Tajikistan IDRL mapping, submission of draft Tajikistan IDRL report, and uploading of database of laws, bylaws, policies, and agreements to the cloud;
- Third tranche (20%) – submission of report on the proceedings of the workshop;
- Fourth (final) tranche (40%) – submission of the final Tajikistan IDRL mapping, final Tajikistan IDRL report, Executive Summary, recommendations to enhance Tajikistan’s IDRL framework, including potential legislative or procedural reforms, assessment of the need for training or capacity-building initiatives to support effective implementation of IDRL in Tajikistan, and PowerPoint presentation on the final report.
- Time Allocation
This consultancy is output-based. Below is a table for the suggested allocation of person-days.
| ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION | SUGGESTED PERSON-DAYS | TARGET DATE |
| Development and submission of inception report | · Finalize the Research Template
· Provide the methodology / process for collection of primary and secondary data · Submit draft outline for the final report. |
5 | January (27-31) |
| Commence desk review | · Collect relevant legislation, policies, relevant international (multi and bilateral) agreements.
· Organize database and upload database to cloud. |
10 | February (03 – 14) |
| Writing of draft Tajikistan IDRL mapping and report. | · Answer the questions in the Research Template by conducting legal mapping and analysis.
· Draft the Tajikistan IDRL report based on an analysis of trends (i.e. strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges in Tajikistan IDRL legislation, including issues relevant to implementation of 2021 CA regulation) |
15 | February 17 – March 07 |
| Presentation of findings of draft report in the workshop and documentation of workshop proceedings | · Prepare and deliver a PowerPoint presentation on the initial findings;
· Document the workshop proceedings
|
5 | March (TBC) |
| Finalization of reports (entire package) | · Draft report will be revised by integrating feedback from the workshop
· Write Executive Summary · Prepare PowerPoint presentation on the Tajikistan IDRL Report · Conduct an assessment of the need for training or capacity-building initiatives to support effective implementation of IDRL in Tajikistan · Finalize recommendations to enhance Tajikistan’s IDRL framework, including potential legislative or procedural reforms. |
10 | March (-31) |
- Required qualifications of consultant
Required
- Advanced degree in law, international relations, disaster management or a related field;
- Minimum of five years of experience in legal assessments, particularly in IDRL or humanitarian law;
- Substantial experience in legal research and analysis;
- Has a good understanding of legal framework of Tajikistan;
- Excellent writing and verbal skills in Tajik and Russian;
- Strong communication skills, including experience with stakeholder consultations.
- Able to meet deadlines.
Preferred
- This consultancy is open to Tajikistan nationals;
- Experience working on disaster risk management research is preferred;
- Experience in supporting law reform is preferred.
- Good knowledge of English language.
Applicants are required to send the following information / documents to Alisher Siddiq (alisher.sdv@gmail.com) and Shuhrat Sangov (sshukhrat@mail.ru) with a subject line: IDRL Consultancy Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- Letter of interest;
- CV;
- Sample of written work demonstrating ability in legal research and writing;
- Contact details of at least 3 professional references;
- A technical proposal outlining the methodology and work plan.
- Support from our donors
This consultancy is made possible with the financial assistance of the European Union through the RCST and ECHO Programmatic Partnership (PP). The views expressed in this consultancy and the research output shall in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
