HYDROLOGIST

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice *

This consultancy position is open for recruitment for an initial period of six months and may be subject to extension. Consultants are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. Recruitment for this position is done on a local basis, whether or not the candidate is a resident of the duty station.

Organizational Setting:

The United Nations Environment 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**.**

Part of UN Environments’ Division of Ecosystems, the Post-conflict and Disaster Management Branch (PCDMB) works to understand and reduce the impacts of environmental degradation from disasters and conflicts on human health, livelihoods and security. It also emphasizes the role of healthy ecosystems and sustainably-managed resources in reducing the risk of disasters and conflicts. From the Balkans to Afghanistan, Lebanon, Sudan and Nigeria, PCDMB has responded to crisis situations in more than 40 countries since 1999, delivering wide-ranging environmental expertise to national governments and partners in the UN family. PCDMB has also conducted post-crisis environmental assessments in 12 countries.
Through its Disasters and Conflicts subprogram, UN Environment provides four main services to Member States and the broader UN system:
• Post-crisis environmental assessments
• Post-crisis environmental recovery
• Environmental cooperation for peacebuilding
• Disaster risk reduction.
PCDMB has project offices in Afghanistan, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, and Nigeria, and these activities are coordinated from the main PCDMB office in Geneva, Switzerland.

UN Environment Sudan plans to implement a second phase of the Wadi El Ku Integrated Catchment Management project in North Darfur with support from the European Union. The purpose of this second project phase is to extend and scale up successful interventions, based on the first phase of the project, with the aim of improving local community livelihoods and stemming the negative cycle of environmental degradation and social tensions in the Wadi El Ku. Phase 2 will expand the geographic coverage of planned interventions both upstream and downstream of the initial project intervention area, and build on and enhance the role of the Catchment Management Forum to assume a more comprehensive watershed management approach.

Specific Tasks and responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities of this position are as follows:

· Co-design the approach and work plan for Result 3 together with UN Environment’s water experts in Khartoum and partners in North Darfur;

· Manage and be responsible for the delivery of the work plan, including selection of appropriate partners and the establishment of partnership agreements (both in consultation with UN Environment water experts and according to UN Environment Rules and Procedures) and partner work plans which are consistent with the overall work plan for the output;

· Ensure proper implementation of activities according to agreements with partners, and provide technical support to partners to enable the achievement of high quality outputs;

· Working with partners, develop a clear understanding of surface and sub-surface water hydrology for the new project area and for the wider wadi, building on the work undertaken during the project’s Phase 1;

· Working with partners, improve and expand data collection, analysis and interpretation including a clear logic of which data is being collected, how, why, by whom, and who benefits;

· Working with partners ensure development of a water balance model, based on numerical simulation (mathematical modeling) of water resources to predict the future status of water taking into consideration climate change stresses and rainfall variability in the project area;

· Working with partners, develop a clear understanding of water supply and demand, emphasizing the multiple needs and uses of water;

· Working with partners, establish and support a drought and vulnerability assessment of water use in the WEK project area (beyond IDP camps) to inform contingency planning with consideration given to the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater in the project area;

· Enable and assist in establishing a clear and sustainable system of hydrological (surface and groundwater) data management at state level, and ensure that information is made available for technical and other purposes (including an assessment of the effectiveness of current data management systems);

· Provide technical support and IWRM related data for the development of water resources policy and strategy, encompassing stakeholders at all levels;

· Keep meticulous and systematic records and documentation, including of key approaches which enable effective IWRM, and proactively share information and data with stakeholders;

· Provide proactive assistance to the Knowledge Management Coordinator whose task it is to provide assistance for effective communication of the results and lessons of each of the project’s Outputs to a wider audience;

· Identify training and capacity building needs of government and NGO partners – consistent with the work plan for the overall Output – and support institutional strengthening of related government agencies;

· Reach out to the UN Environment water experts in Khartoum throughout the lifetime of the project to ensure coordination and information sharing with the overall UN Environment programme of work on water, and for technical backstopping when needed;

· Provide technical advice and support to the project management team on hydrological issues and implementation of activities related to Result 3;

· Ensure integration and alignment with the other project outputs and high-level responsiveness to project activities;

· Provide other support, as necessary.

Work critical factors involves:

· Water-related interventions of WEK Phase 2 identified, programmed and delivered by the project and its implementing partners;

· Decision-making around water resources at state level effectively informed by a robust science base;

· IWRM principles mainstreamed into planning and implementation in collaboration with government, implementing partners and communities;

· Relevant institutions and key staff have improved capacity to carry out their functions

Expected Results /Deliverables

· A detailed work plan and approach for Result 3 developed and delivered;

· Appropriate partners selected and partnership agreements drafted, where relevant, including clear work plans which are consistent with the overall work plan for Result 3;

· A science advisory committee established for Result 3;

· Surface and sub-surface hydrology of the WEK Phase 2 project area and the wider wadi assessed;

· Water data collected, water balance model developed and understanding of water supply and demand improved;

· Drought and vulnerability assessment undertaken;

· A State level system of hydrological data management in place;

· A capacity building plan prepared which defines partners’ key needs, means of addressing these needs, and a work plan which is consistent with the overall work plan for Result 3.

Competencies:

· Professionalism – Knowledge of general office and administrative support including administrative policies, processes and procedures. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.

· Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

· Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

· Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Qualifications:

Education:**

· A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a water related field with good hydrology background;

• Seven (7) years of relevant experience, preferably in a science driven - science based work context

Experience:

· Experience in surface and groundwater monitoring, preferably in catchment management project(s) in arid and semi-arid areas;

· Experience in science based advocacy;

· Results driven, ability to work under pressure and to meet strict deadlines;

· Highly organised and systematic, with an open attitude towards data and information sharing;

· Experience working with a variety of partners, with the objective of providing technical input/support;

· Excellent written and spoken communication skills required in both English and Arabic;

· Ability to work in multidisciplinary environments, as a contributing member;

· Comfortable working at the conceptual and practical levels;

· Excellent knowledge of the socio-political context of Sudan;

· Knowledge of Sudanese water institutions and their mandates;

• Comfortable working and living in rural contexts

Language:

Fluency in both written and oral English a must. Knowledge of Arabic and the Sudan context a strong asset

Assessment: Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other

assessment methods.

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.

UN Environment shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8).

For more information on UN Environment, please visit our website: www.unep.org/sudan

How to apply

All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. It is preferable for applications to be sent in by email with a clear indication of the “Functional Title” associated with the application.

A letter of motivation as well as the P11 form/Curriculum Vitae should be sent by email to: chado.tshering@unep.org