Terms of Reference
DRR Expert support in the BEALERT project
- Background of the project
The project is within the framework of the CRPM Sustainable Development Program, sub-program Climate Change.
BEALERT is a project aimed at addressing common challenges faced by seven countries: Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, and North Macedonia. These challenges include vulnerability to climate change and risks like flooding, earthquakes, and forest fires.
Its main goal is to reduce climate change risk exposure in IPA ADRION inner areas by raising awareness and enhancing preparedness among local communities and risk managers, such as local authorities and civil society organizations. This is achieved through a platform integrating data collection, big data analysis, artificial intelligence, interactive maps, and warning message dissemination.
The project introduces innovative solutions, such as the BEALERT platform and application, featuring AI and interactive maps, to serve local communities and authorities. It also includes capacity-building initiatives for local authorities and risk managers, awareness campaigns for stakeholders, and enhanced cooperation among emergency responders to improve preparedness and reduce climate change exposure.
The main output is a web-based platform for local risk managers (local authorities, civil society organizations, etc.), accessible via browser without the need to install external software. It will be composed of several modules: one to manage graphical elements, one module to manage data necessary for the interactive maps, and the last one to manage administrative data such as information about the people in charge of emergencies. Public access to the platform will also be available to allow the local population to access public data. An application will also be developed and connected to the platform. It will allow access to data from a smartphone and enable communication between the local population and the responsible authorities. A pilot action will validate the platform and application in a real environment. BEALERT will establish a network to disseminate outputs and ensure sustainability.
Under the guidance of the Catria&Nerone Mountain Union (C.N.M.U.), the project brings together a consortium of 8 partners from 7 countries. This collaboration highlights the importance of transnational cooperation in sharing best practices and pooling resources to collectively address shared challenges.
BEALERT’s innovative approach prioritizes local-level emergency response, facilitating communication, decision-making, and community engagement with AI predictions. In particular, regarding communication, the BEALERT application, compared to a one-way warning system, will facilitate two-way communication between citizens and emergency responders. Citizens will be able to report emergencies or request assistance through the API, enabling emergency services to gather important information quickly and efficiently. By integrating technology, risk management, and community empowerment, BEALERT aims to strengthen local authorities and safeguard vulnerable communities against climate change impacts, fostering resilience through collaboration and resource-sharing. Local risk managers will have a tool available to support them in making decisions and promptly informing the local population. The information channeled through the platform will have a local character, differing from the information disseminated at the regional level. For example, it may include details about closed roads or flooded bridges, relevant to the areas of competence of local risk managers, complementing the information disseminated at the provincial or regional level.
- CRPM’s role in BEALERT
The Center for Research and Policy Making is a partner in the BEALERT project, that plays a critical role in the development of the inception report, stakeholder engagement, capacity building through training, and piloting the BEALERT platform. To support these activities, CRPM seeks an expert who will provide expert guidance and support in developing the inception report, organizing stakeholder meetings, training sessions, and piloting the BEALERT platform in the project territories.
- Objectives of the assignment
The expert will support CRPM in achieving the following key objectives within the BEALERT project:
- Provide expertise support in the development of the Inception Report. The expert will assist in drafting the inception report, including analysis, research, and identifying the challenges, needs, and opportunities related to the use of digital mapping tools for climate change adaptation in the project territories.
- Facilitate stakeholder engagement. The expert will support the organization of meetings and consultations with local stakeholders such as authorities, risk managers, and community representatives to analyze environmental risks, local needs, and co-create the BEALERT platform’s features.
- Support training and capacity building. The expert will engage in the ToT, developed by the project consortium, to further transfer the knowledge to the local stakeholders. She/He will assist in the development and implementation of training session(s) aimed at local authorities and risk managers to ensure they understand how to use the BEALERT platform and tools.
- Support platform piloting. The expert will support the piloting of the BEALERT platform, ensuring the platform’s functionality is tested in real-life scenarios with local communities and stakeholders, providing guidance and feedback for final platform adjustments.
- Scope of Work
The expert will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Development of the Inception Report
- Review the challenges, needs, and opportunities related to digital mapping tools for climate change adaptation in the project areas.
- Support CRPM in conducting research to identify stakeholders and partnerships from North Macedonia for the platform.
- Assist in conducting an analysis of AI and Big Data applications for early forecasting and early warning systems related to climate risks.
- Contribute to risk analysis of the involved territories from North Macedonia.
- Contribute in assessing the accessibility of early warning systems for vulnerable populations (e.g., children, elderly, women, and people with disabilities).
- Stakeholder engagement
- Assist in organizing online and in-person meetings with local stakeholders, risk managers, and local authorities to analyze the environmental risks that need to be integrated into the BEALERT platform.
- Provide feedback during the creation process of the platform’s features, ensuring that they are user-friendly and meet local community needs.
- Review national frameworks related to emergency and disaster management with local stakeholders.
- Support the organization of a transnational thematic table to exchange best practices and develop future joint actions.
- Training and capacity building
- Participate the train-the-trainer workshop and transfer the knowledge to local authorities, risk managers, and stakeholders, ensuring that they are equipped to train others on using the BEALERT platform.
- Assist in the preparation of digital training materials and resources, leveraging materials from previous projects.
- Provide input to the training program based on lessons learned from digital mapping and early warning systems.
- Collect feedback from participants before and after training sessions to assess the effectiveness of the training (pre and post assessment analysis).
- Piloting and feedback collection
- Support the organization and facilitation of piloting and demonstration laboratories to test the BEALERT platform in real contexts with local stakeholders and communities.
- Help define the guidelines for the piloting process and identify criteria for selecting a representative population sample, including vulnerable groups.
- Develop a questionnaire to collect feedback from participants and analyze the results to make final adjustments to the platform.
- Assist in the release of the final version of the platform and application, ensuring that feedback has been incorporated and that the platform meets the needs of local communities.
- Contribute to the drafting of a transnational policy recommendations paper for local and regional policymakers.
- Deliverables and milestones
The expert will provide the following deliverables:
- Inception Report. Support in the drafting of the report, including analysis of challenges, needs, and opportunities for digital mapping tools and AI applications for early warning systems. Deadline: 30th April 2025
- Stakeholder engagement report. A report summarizing the outcomes of the stakeholder meetings, including identified risks, needs, and proposed features for the BEALERT platform. Deadline: 31st August 2025
- Training materials. Development of training materials for local authorities and stakeholders, including digital resources and explainer videos. Deadline: 1st October 2025
- Training session(s) report. The expert will facilitate at least one training session (based on the ToT) and deliver training Report including pre and post assessment analysis. Deadline: 28th February 2026
- Piloting report. A report detailing the guidelines, feedback collection, and adjustments made to the platform based on piloting activities. This will include a summary of the pilot testing process and the final validation of the platform. Deadline: 31st January 2027
- Policy recommendation paper. A joint transnational policy paper providing recommendations for the adoption of the BEALERT platform and related tools by local and regional policymakers. Deadline: 31st January 2027
- Final Report. Produce a final report for the overall assignment with recommendations on future actions and improvement possibilities. Deadline: 28th February 2027
- Qualifications and Experience
- The expert must hold at least a university degree in a relevant field such as Disaster/Risk Management, Safety Engineering, Environmental Engineering or a related field.
- Proven experience in working with climate change adaptation tools, digital mapping, and early warning systems, particularly in the context of local communities.
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse stakeholders, including local authorities, risk managers, civil society organizations, and vulnerable communities.
- Experience in designing and delivering training programs using the train-the-trainer method.
- Familiarity with AI technologies and big data analysis for disaster forecasting and early warning systems.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English. Knowledge of additional languages spoken in the project territories is a plus.
- Familiarity with EU-funded projects, particularly under Interreg or similar programs, is highly desirable.
- A track record of successfully working across borders and cultural contexts.
- Skills
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate complex data and contribute to decision-making processes.
- Proven experience working with multidisciplinary teams, showing adaptability and collaborative capabilities in diverse environments.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Problem-solving oriented, with a demonstrated ability to identify challenges and develop practical, innovative solutions.
- Duration and Timing
The expert’s support is required from 1st April 2025 to 28th February 2027 of the BEALERT project. Specific tasks will be assigned according to the project timeline. The expert’s involvement will be periodic but intensive during key activities such as report development, stakeholder meetings, training sessions, and piloting phases. Maximum of 45 expert days are planned for development of all milestones and deliverables as described above.
- Reporting and coordination
The expert will report to CRPM, who will oversee the delivery of activities. The expert will work closely with all project partners, coordinating and aligning efforts to ensure successful project outcomes. Regular meetings with the CRPM team and project partners will be held to monitor progress and ensure all activities are on track.
- Payment and compensation
The expert will be compensated based on the milestone achievements and deliverables as outlined above. Payment terms and conditions will be specified in the contract, and payment will be based on the satisfactory completion of agreed-upon tasks and deliverables.
- Application procedure
CRPM is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of gender, age, nationality, disability, or any other status. CRPM is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment.
Interested experts should submit:
- CVs (no longer than 10 pages);
- Proposal outlining the methodology;
- Financial offer;
- Timetable; and
- References of previous relevant work with contact person(s).
Applications should be sent as PDF files, compressed to matevska@crpm.org.mk, by 24th March, 2025, 16:00 CET. Applications without any of the required documents listed above will be disqualified from the procedure.
CRPM will send notifications to all interested candidates by 26th March, 2025.
