National Consultant - Training and Coordination of Meteorological Observations and Forecasting, Part Time Basis

Background

Background

Government of Sri Lanka secured financing from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through UNDP to implement the Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project with an aim to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in the Dry Zone to climate variability and extreme events.

The Project will benefit 770,500 people living in three river basins (i.e. Mi Oya, Malwathu Oya, and Yan Oya) directly through investments in irrigation, drinking water and disaster risk management. Moreover, another 1.2 million people living in these districts will indirectly be benefited from the project through increased capacities of the Agrarian Services centres and early warning systems. The Project will be implemented in seven Dry Zone districts (i.e. Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Mannar, Polonnaruwa, Puttlam, Trincomalee and Vavuniya,) over seven years starting from 2017. 

The Project covers three key Outputs:

1. Output 1: Climate resilient investment to rehabilitate small tank-based cascading systems and related infrastructure and facilitate sustainable, climate-proof agricultural practices in targeted areas;
2. Output 2: Investments to increase access to and quality of drinking water in remote and rural areas through a multi-pronged partnership approach that seeks to replenish sources, build storage, purify contaminated water and address root causes of water quality issues;
3. Output 3: Improve community access to timely early warning for flood and drought to avoid losses and impacts on key livelihood assets. This includes the generation, coding, modelling, dissemination and access to weather related data/knowledge including advise and early warning.

The Project implementation modality includes a Project Management Unit established under the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment and a field office located in Anuradhapura.  The Project entered into partnerships with four leading civil society organizations to assist the project in social mobilization and community awareness. UNDP, as the responsible party for Project assurance, is providing technical assistance to implement the Project through a team of Specialists.

Scope of the assignment

Project has developed a detailed capacity building strategy for the Department of Meteorology (DOM). This has activities related to strengthen the meteorological observations (by setting up equipment such as Agro- Met stations and Rain gauges), provide required training programmes for DOM staff, increase the server capacity of the DOM and setting up central server which link to agro-met stations, strengthening the generation, dissemination and interpretation of the weather forecasts at national and local levels.  In 2018, Project will implement in 6 – 8 cascades (20 – 30 GN divisions). The consultant has to base in the DOM and need to closely work with the designated staff and respective staff members of the CRIWMP to support day-today activities under this scope. In addition, consultant has to engaged in capacity development of the filed officers who maintain the agro – met stations installed by the Project and uptake of weather advisories.  At the end of the consultancy period, consultant has to set up a system in the DOM to continuous delivery of short-long range weather forecasts for targeted beneficiaries in the 7 districts of the Project.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities 

1. Overall support to implement the capacity building progrmmes of the DOM;
2. Prepare specifications for equipment to be purchased by the project. This includes agro- meteorological equipment, servers and related equipment, GIS software, digital displays, data transfer mechanisms etc and install equipment;
3. Identify appropriate locations (desk and physical verifications of field locations) to install above equipment;
4. Develop TOR’s and organize the training programmes on seasonal and numerical weather forecasting and GIS for DOM staff;
5. Develop training guideline and conduct TOT programmes on operation and maintenance of the agro-met stations;
6. Facilitate DOM staff to generate tailor made short and long term weather forecasts and climate projections downscale to the cascade level which are necessary for climate smart agriculture and water management;
7. Support establishment and executing inter-agency coordination and data sharing mechanism;
8. Assist conducting TOT and training programmes for project stakeholders on uptake and interpretation of weather advisories;
9. Support DOM to set up a system for continuous delivery of short and long term weather advisories for agriculture planning and water management for project beneficiaries in the 7 project districts.

Results/ Outputs of the Consultancy

1. Provide specifications and install agro- met equipment, central server and related facilities as proposed by the project;
2. Develop TOR’s for trainers and organizing 3 training programmes for DOM staff; seasonal weather forecasting and numerical weather forecasting and GIS;
3. Develop guideline and conduct trainings on operation and maintenance of the meteorological equipment;
4. Set up a system for continuous delivery of weather advisories from DOM as required by project stakeholders/beneficiaries in 7 project districts for agriculture planning and water management;
5. Assist conducting TOT and training programmes for uptake and use of weather advisors in project locations.

Competencies

Competencies

The Consultant should have following competencies.

• Strong expertise and knowledge on meteorology and weather forecasting system in Sri Lanka;
• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of National Institutions;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with analytical capacity and ability to synthesize relevant data and information;
• Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with colleagues;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications

Education: 

• Advanced university degree in Science, Agriculture, Geography or any other related field.  

Experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of working experience in the meteorology/ climatology field;
• At least 5 years of experience in conducting training programmes on meteorology or climatology;
• Previous work experience with related government agency will be an added advantage;
• Knowledge of the Sri Lanka country context and government systems essential;
• Language: English is essential, Proficiency in Sinhala or Tamil.

Timeframe

The envisaged time period of the Consultancy is one year from 20 March 2018 to 19 March 2019.

How to apply 

To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org .

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position;

• Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar assignments, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR and contact details of 2 professional referees who can certify your competencies;

• Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combination of factors including CV, interview and financial proposal, and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP will be selected;

• Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: procurement.lk@undp.org  stating the vacancy number/position in the subject line.

Financial Proposal

All Inclusive lump sum Fee: LKR

Amount in words:(Rs)

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on carrying out the training programme i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee/Daily Fee” financial proposal including his/her consultancy and professional fee, honorarium, communication cost such as telephone/internet usage, printing cost, return travel from home to office, ad-hoc costs, stationery costs, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant.  UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is of 62 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts.

Payment for Services

Payments will be based on milestones certified by the Technical Advisor, UNDP. Payment milestones will be as follows.

• 20% of the total payment will be made upon submission of a comprehensive work plan for the assigned tasks specified under Duties and Responsibilities;
• 20% of the total payment will be made upon submission of the report on successful delivery of the 3 specified training programmes for DoM staff;
• 20% of the total payment will be made upon submission of the report on successful installation of agro-met stations, train officers/stakeholders on operation and maintenance of the equipment;
• 20% of the total payment will be made upon installation of central servers and related equipment in DOM;
• 20% of the total payment will be made upon submission of the report on conducting training on uptake of advisories and establishment of a system for continuous supply of short and long-term weather advisories for agriculture and water management for project beneficiaries in the 7 project districts.