CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST – VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT : 2301892

Landslide Early Warning System Development Specialist

Job Posting: 26/Jun/2023

Closure Date: 10/Jul/2023, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : FABGD

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : Consultant

Grade Level : N/A

Primary Location: Home-Based

Duration : 11 months on WAE

Post Number : N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

•  FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture.
•  Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
•  Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
•  FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
•  All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
•  All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

FAO supports the Government of Bangladesh to develop policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors, and to use their natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO Bangladesh has four priority areas: i) productive, diversified and knowledge-based agri-economic growth, ii) healthy, safe, and nutritious food, iii) climate resilience and nature-based, low-carbon sustainable development, and iv) gGender equality and youth development.

In response to Rohingya influx in 2017, FAO established a sub-office in Cox’s Bazar to manage a portfolio of projects that include agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and natural resources management and emergency response and resilience building Bangladeshi host communities and Rohingya refugee camps FAO Cox’s Bazar Field Office implements projects on sustainable productivity, resilient livelihoods, improved food security, and ecosystem health in four sub-districts of Cox’s Bazar, namely Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Ramu, Teknaf, and Ukhiya.

Reporting Lines: The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh and the technical supervision of the Emergency and Resilience Programme Coordinator, in close coordination with technical specialists and in consultation with relevant national institutions and stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will work closely with FAO Cox`s Bazar Field Office and Emergency and Resilience Unit to validate the framework for a dynamic landslide early warning system (LEWS). He/She will also support the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) in building their capacity to institutionalize and implement the forecasting system in landslide-vulnerable communities to save lives and protect livelihoods in all hilly areas of Bangladesh.

Tasks and responsibilities:

Facilitate the validation of the landslide forecasting system for Cox’s Bazar during the monsoon season and develop a new landslide forecasting system for the Rohingya refugee camps:

•  Review and validate the rainfall event threshold analysis to understand the location-specific triggering point based on historical data, and site-specific rainfall measurements and conduct analysis on real-time rainfall measurement forecasting from the BMD and other relevant international sources in close collaboration with BMD and FAO Cox`s Bazar field office
•  Update the landslide susceptibility maps produced for Cox’s Bazar based on field data collected by field teams
•  Develop a landslide susceptibility map for the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar
•  Develop forecast service (early warning protocol) for camp areas
•  Train and support the field team for proper field inventory and data
•  Update the web-based dynamic landslide forecasting system together with BMD

Support the institutionalization process of the Landslide Early Warning System (LEWS):

•  Assist in assessing the capacity gap of BMD, and work with the BMD LEWS-focal points for management and maintenance of the forecast service
•  Support the formation of the National Landslide Taskforce for Bangladesh
•  Take active participation in and co-lead, together with government partners, BMD and Department of Disaster management (DDM), and FAO, the National Landslide Taskforce.

Overall support to FAO and BMD technical teams:

•  Assist in and provide support for workshops
•  Update field data collection methodology for field validation purposes
•  Answer to queries about the field inventory data collection and checking the data
•  Support the reviewing of training curriculum for community-based landslide response teams
•  Provide inputs and co-develop a standard operating protocol (SOP) for landslides
•  Participate and provide inputs in the task force meetings
•  Support in the formulation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BMD
•  Provide inputs for exploring possibilities to develop impact-based forecasting for landslides and developing anticipatory action protocols for landslides.
•  Assist in reviewing communication and awareness materials focusing on landslides.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•  University Degree in Geospatial Technologies, Disaster Risk Reduction, Landslide Susceptibility Modelling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Remote Sensing or any other related field;
•  1 year of progressively responsible professional work experience in the relevant field.
•  Excellent working knowledge of English (level C) and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO language (Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian). For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•  Results Focus
•  Teamwork
•  Communication
•  Building Effective Relationships
•  Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•  Demonstrated experience in collecting, analyzing, and disseminating technical information and data.
•  Ability to perform in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary contexts;
•  Ability to work independently and with minimum supervision;
•  Excellent report-writing skills
•  Experience in the preparation, editing, and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing meetings and workshops
•  Communicative command of Bangla would be an asset.
•  Experience in complex/protracted emergencies like would be an asset;
•  Experience in conflict-sensitive and peacebuilding programmes would be an asset;
•  Proficiency in ArcGIS or QGIS
•  Excellent scientific writing skills as proven by publication records.
•  Relevant work experience in Bangladesh is an asset.
•  PhD or Doctorate or equivalent in the relevant field is an asset.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

•  FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
•  Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
•  Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
•  For more information, visit the FAO employment website
•  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

•  To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
•  Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
•  Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
•  Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
•  Incomplete applications will not be considered
•  Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
•  Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
•  Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org

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