Consultant for Development of Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) Curricula for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), India

**A. About the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center:**

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity-building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences, envisioning safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction. Being an autonomous international organization governed by the Board of Trustees. It supports sustainable solutions for disaster risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas, with a wide range of professional expertise from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) effectively.

ADPC’s Strategy 2030 guides the organization in providing comprehensive risk reduction support to countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific with various programs being implemented under 15 strategic themes by three departments, namely the **Preparedness and Climate Actions, Risk Analytics and Climate Services**, and **Risk Governance and Financing**. In addition to these, ADPC also works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Innovation, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees. These activities are supported by proactive individual departments of Finance, Human Resources, and Administration. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change, and regional cooperation. For details, please refer to the ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net.

**B. Department Introduction**

The Preparedness and Climate Actions (PCA) Department of ADPC focuses on enhancing the preparedness and response management capacities of governments, response organizations, volunteers, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, communities, and other traditional and non-traditional actors of the Disaster Risk Management Ecosystem. It also strives to strengthen the capacity of institutions and at-risk communities for faster and more efficient disaster recovery. The department works with the above-stated actors to ensure that the regional, national, sub-national, and local disaster preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks and implementation plans are in place well before disaster strikes.

**C. Statement of Intent**

The Institutional Strengthening through Preparedness and Inclusive Response in India (INSPIRE) Program is a collaborative initiative by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and state institutions in Odisha, Gujarat, and Kerala. The program aims to enhance institutional systems for disaster preparedness and climate action at national and state levels, while contributing to regional cooperation in the Bay of Bengal.

Through INSPIRE, ADPC works closely with national and state-level stakeholders to promote risk-informed planning, strengthen local capacities, and support sustainable disaster management practices. The program focuses on advancing institutional leadership and technical capacities within strategic government institutions, enabling them to play a central role in managing disasters and responding to climate shocks. It also fosters the development of innovative, data-driven solutions and promotes cross-learning through structured regional collaboration.

In this context, ADPC seeks to engage an Individual Consultant to support the development of a competency-based curriculum framework and prototype training package for Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) for the NDRF.

The Consultant will build on existing training materials developed under the PEER Program and other relevant sources, and adapt and contextualize them to align with NDRF operational doctrine, training systems, and applicable international standards. All training design and outputs shall be fully aligned with the CSSR Competency Framework, approved and endorsed by NDRF, ensuring a clear linkage among defined competencies, learning outcomes, instructional content, and assessment approaches.

**D. Expected Outputs**

At the completion of the assignment, the Individual Consultant will submit:

1. One complete competency-based CSSR training package, including:
1. Facilitator Guide
2. Participant Workbook
3. Training Slide Deck
4. Exercise and Simulation Guide
5. Training Evaluation and Assessment Tools
6. Reference and Resource Compendium
2. Technical recommendations report on:
1. CSSR training facility design
2. Simulation and practical exercise infrastructure
3. Equipment and supply requirements
4. Safety and risk management considerations
5. Module-wise recommendations on the most appropriate training delivery modalities, including classroom instruction, practical drills, field simulations, tabletop exercises, AR/VR systems, simulation videos, and digital learning technologies, with rationale for aligning each modality to the relevant CSSR learning objectives and future modernization of NDRF training facilities.
3. All materials are in editable formats (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other relevant formats).
4. Final documents formatted and organized for institutional use by the NDRF Academy and related NDRF training institutions.
5. Final completion report summarizing:
1. Methodology applied
2. Consultation and validation process
3. Key recommendations
4. Considerations for rollout, institutionalization, and future curriculum enhancement

**E. Responsibilities and Tasks:**

The Individual Consultant will provide technical and instructional design support to the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) in developing a streamlined, competency-based curriculum framework and a prototype training package for Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR).

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of ADPC and in close coordination with the NDRF Technical Curriculum Working Group (TCWG) and designated CSSR subject matter experts from NDRF Headquarters and the NDRF Academy.

**1.1 Technical Collaboration and Coordination**

The consultant will:

- Work closely with ADPC technical leads and the NDRF Technical Curriculum Working Group throughout the curriculum development process.
- Lead, plan, and participate in technical consultations, working sessions, and validation meetings organized by ADPC and NDRF.
- Ensure all training products reflect operational realities and the NDRF doctrine, incorporating feedback from NDRF operational experts and instructors.
- Maintain regular coordination with the ADPC technical lead to ensure alignment with the INSPIRE India Program's objectives.

**1.2 Curriculum Framework Development**

The consultant will develop a structured competency-based curriculum framework for CSSR. The curriculum framework should define:

- Training objectives and expected operational competencies
- Target participants and competency levels
- Training modules and sequencing
- Learning outcomes
- Instructional methodologies
- Duration and training structure
- Assessment approaches and performance verification methods

The CSSR curriculum must align with the CSSR competency framework and standards developed under the INSPIRE India Program and support their operational application within NDRF training systems.

The curriculum shall be designed to support implementation within NDRF Battalion training environments and operational field conditions. Training co