International Expert in Weather Radar and Satellite Products

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) and.

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 expert is to lead the process of improvement of hazard forecasting capabilities of integration of the new sources of data into the hazard forecasting systems. The international expert is expected to support enhancement of the capacities of the National Environmental Agency (NEA) in assessment of quality of satellite products to ensure bias correction and full deployment of those data sources into the hazard forecasting platform as well as acquisition, processing, analysis and use of weather radar data. Additionally, the expert will be responsible to undertake a thorough assessment of the capacity needs of NEA in weather forecasting.

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:

• Assessing technical and human capacity needs of NEA in weather forecasting and elaborating capacity development plan.
• Supporting NEA in weather radar data analysis and processing.
• Supporting NEA in the introduction of weather radar data in the hazard forecasting.

Supporting NEA in the utilization of the satellite precipitation estimates for hazard forecasting

Payment Schedule:

End of July March 2022:

20% Deliverable 1 - Report on capacity needs assessment that should include developed and filled in technical capacity assessment scorecard, capacity development plan and recommendations.

End of July 2022:

30% Deliverable 2 - Report regarding the results of assessment of the quality of the weather radar data against the weather stations and also detailed recommendations on the suggested approach for the exploitation of the weather radar data for forecasting purposes. All the scripts for data acquisition and processing should be provided.

End of September 2022:

25% Deliverable 3 - Report on the support in the introduction of weather radar data in the hazard forecasting systems with recommendations regarding how those data can be used, including developed scripts and procedures needed for this.

End of November 2022:

25% Deliverable 4 - Report on the accuracy analysis of satellite precipitation estimates to be used primarily for hazard forecasting purposes.

Management Arrangements:

The international expert will work under direct supervision of Team Leader in Capacity Building Policy and Planning and Project Coordinator. The Environment and Energy Team Leader will be engaged in overall supervision, while the Chief Technical Advisor will guide the expert’s work. The expert will be directly responsible to, reporting to, seeking approval from, and obtaining certificate of acceptance of deliverables from the above-mentioned persons.

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) – 15 points;

Experience:

• Experience in acquisition, processing and analysis of weather radar data and utilization for hazard forecasting (minimum requirement) 5 years– 10 Points, More than 5 years – additional 5 point;
• Experience in analysis of satellite precipitation estimates and in using the data for hazard forecasting purposes (minimum requirement) 5 years – 10 Points, More than 5 years – additional 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.