Post-Georges Disaster Mitigation Project: Terms of Reference

Coordinator for Building Inspector Training and Building Code Education Workshops

Purpose and Summary of Activities

Appropriate building practices are a critical determinant of the resilience of the built environment when faced with the stresses imposed by natural hazards. Both Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis have recently adopted national building codes. The efficacy of these codes, however, is dependent upon proper administration and enforcement of the code, as well as a widespread knowledge and understanding of the code. This contract will support work in both countries for training of the building inspectorate and for education and sensitization workshops on the existing building codes.

1. Undertake initial missions to Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis. In Antigua/Barbuda, the consultant will assist with a staff training program organized by the Development Control Authority. In St. Kitts/Nevis, he will help identify remaining steps to be taken for full implementation of the recently adopted building code and help develop outline procedures for building code implementation. In both countries, he will identify local contacts for assistance with the building inspector training course and the building code education/sensitization workshops (see below). The tentative dates for the mission to Antigua/Barbuda are Oct 4-16 2000 and for St. Kitts/Nevis November 12-21 2000.
2. Organize and oversee the execution of a two-week building instructor training program. This program is tentatively scheduled for 14-27 January 2001, for Antigua.
3. Organize and oversee the execution of building code education and sensitization workshops in Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis (each island). Separate workshops will be organized for 1) building professionals and 2) home/building owners. These workshops are currently planned for the latter half of February 2001.

Terms of Reference

1. The Independent Contractor (hereinafter referred to as "The Consultant") will be technically responsible to the Director of the Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment ("USDE") of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States ("GS/OAS"), for fulfilling the obligations established by the following terms of reference of this contract.
2. Appropriate building practices are a critical determinant of the resilience of the built environment when faced with the stresses imposed by natural hazards. Both Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis have recently adopted national building codes. The efficacy of these codes, however, is dependent upon proper administration and enforcement of the code, as well as a widespread knowledge and understanding of the code. This contract will support work in both countries for training of the building inspectorate and for education and sensitization workshops on the existing building codes.
3. Under this contract, the consultant will:
1. Undertake a preliminary mission to Antigua/Barbuda to review existing mechanisms for code administration. While in Antigua/Barbuda, the consultant will:
1. assist with the delivery of a staff training program for the Development Control Authority,
2. identify local consultants for assistance with the presentation of the building inspector training course and the building code sensitization workshops,
3. review the availability of the existing building code and building guideline documents and
4. visit Barbuda to discuss the implementation of the building code and guidelines.
2. Undertake a preliminary mission to St. Kitts/Nevis to review existing mechanisms for code administration. While in St. Kitts/Nevis, the consultant will:
1. review the legal status of the building code/guidelines and existing code administration procedures,
2. identify and engage local consultants for assistance with the presentation of the building code sensitization workshops,
3. identify appropriate mechanisms for distribution of the new building code/guidelines and
4. visit Nevis to review items III. b. i-iii.
3. Visit Barbados to review building inspector training courses previously administered by the Barbados Community College and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA).
4. Select local consultants for assisting with presentation of the materials in the training course and develop terms of reference for this participation. These additional presenters will be contracted separately from this contract by the GS/OAS, using funds from the PGDM. Terms of Reference and cost estimates for additional presenters are to be presented for review by the PGDM no later than one month prior to the beginning of the training course.
5. Develop and oversee the execution of a two-week building inspector training course. The audience for this course includes government building inspectors, inspectors/estimators for bank mortgage programs, inspectors from insurance companies, selected individuals from the national emergency offices in Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis. The course is to be scheduled so that the material important to participants other than formal government building inspectors is covered during the initial 3 to 4 days of the course.
1. Develop a detailed outline for the training course and identify appropriate reference materials for each section of the course.
2. Prepare final materials for the course, including separate guides for participants and for future organizers of building inspection training courses in the region.
3. Oversee the execution of the building inspector training course.
6. For Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis, develop two building code education and sensitization workshops, one for building professionals (engineers, architects, builders) and the other for home and commercial building owners. The courses should be designed to attract the broadest possible participation and scheduled for non-working (evening or weekend) hours. These workshops should cover the contents of the building code and guidelines as well as provide information on the benefits of adhering to the code. The consultant will oversee the execution of on instance of each workshop in Antigua, Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis. The courses should be designed for regular presentation outside of this contract.
7. Prepare a final report on the building inspector training course and the building code sensitization workshops, which should include a summary the activities carried out under this contract and recommendations for consideration when undertaking similar training courses and workshops in the future.
8. Finalize the following documents and coordinate the duplication and shipping of the number of copies noted for distribution in Antigua/Barbuda and St. Kitts/Nevis: Building Guideline Workbook answer key (40 copies),  How to Build a Small House (230), Draft Contract Between the Owner and the Builder (230), Small Format Building Code and Guidelines (100). Reproduction and shipping costs will be covered separately from this contract. Estimates for these reproduction and shipping costs are to be submitted to the GS/OAS for approval prior to commencement of printing.
4. The consultant shall submit the following documents to GS/OAS’ satisfaction. All documents are to be submitted in electronic format:
1. A trip report, describing the results of the initial missions to Antigua/Barbuda, St. Kitts/Nevis and Barbados.
2. Within a month of the start of this contract, a detailed outlines for the building inspector course and the building code sensitization workshops, for review by GS/OAS. [See §III.e]
3. Terms of reference and budgets for additional presenters for the building inspector training course and the building code sensitization workshops. These terms of reference and budgets are to be submitted at least one month in advance of the commencement of the training program and workshops. [See §III.d]
4. A final report on the building inspector training course, which should include a summary of the activities carried out under this contract and recommendations for consideration when undertaking similar training courses and workshops in the future. Copies of all materials developed for participants and future course organizers are to be included in this final report.
5. A final report on the building code sensitization workshops, which should include a summary of the activities carried out under this contract and recommendations for consideration when undertaking similar training courses and workshops in the future. Copies of all materials developed for participants and future course organizers are to be included in this final report.

Justification

Al Wason has extensive experience with the development of building codes and guidelines in the Caribbean. He served on the committee that developed the Caribbean model building code (CUBiC) and has been very active recently in developing national-level codes in the region (he has assisted Antigua/Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada and the Turks and Caicos Islands). As a former member of the staff of the Caribbean Development Bank, he is also quite familiar with this institution, which plays a significant role in building development, as well as code development, in the Caribbean.