Drought Management and Risk Assessment Expert

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

Result of Service

Enhanced drought programme for the National Centre for Meteorology.

Work Location

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Expected duration

9.5 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Organizational Setting, Purpose, and Objective: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. The West Asia Office delivers advisory services and capacity building support to countries to achieve environment and sustainable development objectives. This consultancy is established at the West Asia Office within the framework of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement between UNEP and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager in UNEP West Asia Office and in coordination with the National Centre for Meteorology (NCM) and the respective department in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the expert will carry-out, inter alia, the following duties & responsibilities: 1. Coordinate and provide professional, technical, and intellectual expertise to the Climate Change Center (CCC) of NCM in the development of drought analysis and seasonal prediction system for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). 2. Undertake analysis of collaboration between different institutions in the KSA working on drought management and the assessment frameworks, identify gaps and barriers at both national, regional, and international levels. 3. Conduct an analysis of droughts over KSA in the historical period, their future trends under different socioeconomic scenarios. 4. Develop and lead the long-term strategy for managing drought incidents in KSA in the 21st century under different climate change scenarios. 5. Technical review of drought monitoring and early warning methodologies and tools, and assess the applicability of such methodologies and tools for Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 6. Develop methodology, tools and approaches for drought vulnerability and impact assessment, over KSA and support NCM in the implementation of impact and vulnerability assessment 7. Technical review the formulation of national drought plans of KSA, and analyze their alignments with relevant national frameworks, with strong focus on national adaptation plans 8. Prepare dissemination and knowledge products for drought management, and design capacity-building program for NCM, contribute to the awareness raising activities on drought management.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree or equivalent in drought hydrology, geography, climate science, agriculture, food security, water engineering, water resources management or water resources engineering is required. PHD is an asset. At least 10 years of working experience as a recognized technical expert in disaster management, drought risk and food security management, climate change expert in a reputable or regional organization is required. Publications in a professional and high impact factor scientific journal is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.