Hydro-meteorological consultant

Vacancy number: ISDR/C/12/2010

Background

The International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) is a multi-disciplinary and multistakeholder platform to enable societies to increase their resilience to natural, technological and environmental disasters and to reduce associated environmental, human and economic and social risk and losses. A range of United Nations organizations and international partners participate in cooperation with Governments and civil society organizations.

The implementation of the ISDR is supported by a secretariat led by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. The secretariat’s main functions are policy coordination, advocacy and information management, at the international and regional levels, to ensure synergy between disaster reduction strategies and those in the socio-economic and humanitarian fields.

In January 2005, the World Conference on Disaster Reduction adopted the Hyogo Declaration and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. The Hyogo Framework constitutes the essential guide for implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction and represents the key policy framework for reducing risk and to strengthen community resilience. The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction established by the UN General Assembly in 2006, is the main global policy forum for disaster risk reduction, and is complemented by a system of regional, thematic and national platforms, which bring together all relevant stakeholders.

UNISDR secretariat is working with the World Bank and WMO in a project “Central Asia and Caucasus Disaster Risk Management Initiative (CAC DRMI”) which is aimed at reducing the vulnerability of the countries of Central Asia and Caucasus to the risks of disasters. The CACDRMI incorporates three focus areas, with the possibility to include new activities:

-Coordination of disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response.
-Financing of disaster losses, reconstruction and recovery, and disaster risk transfer instruments such as catastrophe insurance and weather derivatives.
-Hydro-meteorological forecasting, data sharing and early warning.
-The proposed assignment relates to component Hydro-Meteorological forecasting, data sharing and early warning. Part of the assignment has been completed in 2009 with the support from World Meteorological Organization (WMO) namely:
1. Undertaking feasibility assessment of the existing capacity and data sharing procedures in eight countries of Central Asia and Caucasus;
2. Identifying the needs, both in capacity terms as well as equipment and facilities.

The current assignment will aim at:
-Reviewing and processing data related to the three countries of South Caucasus, namely, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
-Finalizing the Hydromet Services Review in CAC (Central Asia and Caucasus) through complementing the undertaken socio-economic analysis built on National Reports from eight countries. Geographic Coverage: Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and for CAC - Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia

Expected results:
I. Draft report: after 6 weeks from the start of the assignment.
II. Final Report: after two months from the start of the assignment.

Competencies

Professionalism
-Strong background, knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles and approaches to disaster risk reduction; proven project management skills and ability to lead a project to completion.

Client orientation
-Ability to identify and analyze clients’ needs and develop appropriate
services to meet business requirements.

Communications
-Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately

Planning and organizing
-Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required

Teamwork
-Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations with people in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.

Education
Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in hydro-meteorology or a related field. A first- level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in hydro-meteorology or related area.

Languages
English is the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this assignment, fluency in written and spoken English and Russian is required.