International Expert in Meteorology

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

Due to the diverse and complex terrain of the Caucasus mountains, its significant influence and the influence of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea on the climate and weather of the region, Georgia is exposed to various climate-induced hazards including floods and flash floods, climate-induced geological hazards (including landslides, mudflow, debris flows), droughts, soil erosion, severe winds, hailstorms and avalanches. Furthermore, according to Georgia’s the 2nd and the 3rd National Communications, the frequency, intensity and geographical spread of extreme hydro meteorological hazards will increase under climate change and may result in significant impacts on key sectors including agriculture, critical infrastructure (transportation networks, buildings, roads, water supply, energy installations), natural resources and eco-systems, glaciers and forests.

To address the existing development challenges, UNDP Georgia is implementing a program aimed at reducing exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through a well-functioning nation-wide multi-hazard early warning system and risk-informed local action. It will provide critical climate risk information that would enable the Government of Georgia to implement a number of nation-wide transformative policies and actions for reducing exposure and vulnerability of the population to climate-induced hazards, thus catalysing a paradigm shift in the national climate risk management, climate-proofed disaster risk reduction and early warning approaches.

The program encompasses three interrelated projects funded by Green Climate Fund (GCF), Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Swedish International Development Cooperation(SIDA).

The GCF funded project interventions target expanding the hydro-meteorological and agrometeorological observation network, introducing methods and tools for gender sensitive vulnerability assessment, supporting establishment of a centralized multi-hazard disaster risk information and knowledge system, enhancing multi-hazard forecasting and modelling capacities and improving community resilience through implementation of early warning system (EWS) & risk reduction measures.

The project funded by SDC aims at reducing exposure and vulnerability of communities in Georgia, through development of multi-hazard risk information by introducing standardized and harmonized national multi-hazard mapping and risk assessment methodologies, effective national regulations, coordination mechanism and institutional capacities.

The SIDA funded project intends to reduce exposure of Georgia’s communities, livelihoods and infrastructure to climate-induced natural hazards through supporting implementation of structural measures in the affected areas.

Geographical coverage of the program is nation-wide, covering all 11 major river basins in Georgia: Enguri, Rioni, Chorokhi-Adjaristskali, Supsa, Natanebi, Khobi, Kintrishi, Khrami-Ktsia, Alazani, Iori, Mtkvari (same as Kura) focusing on the following hazards: floods, landslides, mudflows, avalanches, hailstorms, windstorms and droughts.

At present existing capacities of national institutions do not enable forecasting of hazards with high precision and accuracy, nor is the regulatory and institutional setup appropriate to support a well-designed multi-hazard early warning system. Among others, introduction of modelling capacities is integral part of addressing those issues.

The program seeks to provide support to national institutions in building capacities for multi-hazard and risk modelling and mapping, operationalization of multi-hazard early warning system and community-based resilience building.

Duties and Responsibilities

The overall responsibility of the international meteorological expert is to lead the process of improvement of existing weather forecasting capabilities, as a cornerstone for all of the hazards to be included in the Multi-hazard Early Warning System (MHEWS). The international expert is expected to support enhancing of capacities of the National Environmental Agency (NEA) in verification of quality of local and global forecasting products and improvement of local model performance. Additionally, the meteorological expert will be responsible to address the need of implementation of assimilation and ensemble modeling techniques in NEA. In parallel, he/she will support NEA in realization of Model Output Statistics.

The expert will work under overall guidance of Project Chief Technical Advisor and in cooperation with International Expert on Forecasting Systems.

Duties and Responsibilities:

For the entire period of the assignment the international expert will be responsible for:

• Supporting NEA in improvement of existing weather forecasting capabilities, through:
  • providing guidance for the deployment of meteorological models in HPC.
  • providing guidance in the remaining assessment of the quality of local and global forecasting products by considering all the possible data sources and the use of the HPC.
  • assisting in the enhancement of the local area models implemented in NEA, by enhancing horizontal resolution of the models to 1km (WRF) and 2.5km (COSMO).
  • providing advice on the inclusion of assimilation processes in the local models.
  • provide support in further enhancements of the local meteorological models by assisting in realization of ensemble modeling technique and inclusion of HAILCAST module.
• Supporting NEA in data format, data flow and data processing for meteorological forecasting.
• Supporting NEA in the implementation of Model Output Statistics (MOS) to improve the forecasts of the NWP models.

Payment Schedule:

1 March 2022 -31 March 2023 (50 working days)

3% Deliverable 1- Work plan and Methodology. The methodology should describe approaches for implementation of each task and timeframes. The sequence of tasks and respective deliverables can be rearranged with clear justifications and reasoning.

10% Deliverable 2- Report on the provided support to NEA on implementation of the Local Area Models in HPC. The report should focus on the best procedures, approaches, recommendations, results and analysis of simulation launching.

13% Deliverable 3 - Report on verification of global models that should include information about the possible best configurations for hazard forecasting for a range of scenarios, conclusions, recommendations, and reasons explaining the best configurations.

17% Deliverable 4- Report on the support provided for the inclusion of new modelling data sources into the local meteorological forecasting and enhancement of local models. The report should concentrate on best approach for the inclusion of ECMWF, ICON or GFS data in WRF or COSMO as well as initial and boundary conditions approach, best configuration and parametrization approach for both COSMO and WRF and recommendations and conclusions considering the results of every approach.

13% Deliverable 5- Report on support about data format, data flow and data processing for meteorological forecasting, detailing all the actions and the recommendations and the results of them.

1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024

11% Deliverable 6- Report on the support provided for implementation of Model Output Statistics (MOS).

11% Deliverable 7 -Report on the support provided for assimilation outlining the whole assimilation process, the recommendations and the analysis of the results of implemented assimilation as well all the scripts required.

11 % Deliverable 8 - Report on the support provided for inclusion of ensemble forecasting and HIALCAST module to local meteorological model with analysis of the results and recommendations by also considering benefits for impact -based forecasting.

11% Deliverable 9 - Report on verification of local models that should include information about the possible best configurations for hazard forecasting for a range of scenarios, conclusions, recommendations, and reasons explaining the best configurations.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

• Understanding of the mandate and the role of UNDP would be an asset;

• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of UNDP;

• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism

Functional competencies:

• Strong communication and analytical skills;
• Demonstrated skills in drafting reports;
• Ability to work under pressure with several tasks and various deadlines;
• Actively generates creative, practical approaches and solutions to overcome challenging situations;
• Excellent writing, presentation/public speaking skills;
• A pro-active approach to problem-solving;
• Computer literacy;

Leadership and Self-Management skills:

• Builds strong relationships with the working group and with the project partners; focuses on impact and results for the project partners and responds positively to feedback;
• Cooperates with working group effectively and demonstrates strong conflict resolution skills;
• Consistently approaches work with energy, positivity and a constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates strong influencing and facilitation skills;
• Remains calm, in control and good humoured under pressure;
• Demonstrates openness to change, new ideas and ability to manage ambiguity;
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrates ability to transfer knowledge and competencies;
• Ability to work independently and hurdle competing priorities.

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Degree in meteorology, hydrology or any related field, Master’s degree (minimum requirement) – 10 points;

Experience

• Experience working with global and local meteorological forecasting models and data formats, flows and processing 8 years (minimum requirement) - 10 Points, More than 8 years – additional 5 points;
• Experience in the use and implementation of WRF and/or COSMO models 5 years (minimum requirement) – 10 Points, More than 5 years – additional 5 point;
• At least one assignment depicting implementation of assimilation in local models (minimum requirement) – 5 point;
• Familiarity and/or experience in MHEWS (asset) - 5 point;

Language Requirements:

• Proficiency in both spoken and written English.

Evaluation:

Offerors will be evaluated based on the cumulative analysis method, against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum total obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria (desk review and interview) equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30. Offerors that do not meet any of the Minimum Requirements will be automatically rejected, while the rest will form the long list. Technical evaluation will comprise of desk review and interview stages. Offerors who pass the 70% threshold, is obtain minimum 35 points as a result of the desk review will be invited to the interview. Offerors passing 70% threshold as a result of the interview (i.e. obtain minimum of 14 points) will be recommended for financial evaluation.

Financial Proposal:

Lump sum contracts . The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the ToR. In order to assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump sum amount. Maximum 30 points will be assigned to the lowest price offer. All other price offers will be scored using the formula (inverse proportion): Financial score X = 30* the lowest price offer/suggested price offer. All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal as well.