UNDP Jobs - 57025- International Consultant

International Consultant - GIS/Remote Sensing

Location :

Dili, Timor Leste

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

17-Jun-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

40 days including travel

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

40 days including travel

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Dili-Ainaro Road Development Corridor project, is aimed at strengthening the resilience of communities living in the Dili-Ainaro Road Development Corridor to climate-induced disasters such as floods and landslides and to reduce the risk of damage to road infrastructure.

The Dili to Ainaro Road comprises a joint investment by the Government of Timor-Leste and the World Bank aiming to upgrade the road infrastructure linking Dili to the district capitals of Aileu and Ainaro. This road infrastructure and the communities living in the Dili-Ainaro Road Development Corridor (DARDC) are at risk to climate-induced natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

Damage to road infrastructure is expensive to repair and restricts:

i) Economic development;
ii) Market access;
iii) Access to services such as education and health care;
iv) Evacuation during natural disasters; and
v) Provision of disaster relief.

Furthermore, the risk of damage to road infrastructure is exacerbated because of ecosystem degradation resulting from existing land-use practices such as: i) timber logging; ii) slash-and-burn agriculture; iii) overharvesting of fuel wood; and iv) burning for hunting and fodder production.

The “Dili-Ainaro Project”, which is financed through the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) and implemented by the Ministry of Social Solidarity (MSS) with support from UNDP, seeks to address the expected increase in climate-induced natural disasters due to climate change and reduce the potential risks and damages to the Dili-Ainaro road infrastructure and the communities in the DARDC. The project aims to achieve this by strengthening capacities and providing investments for disaster risk management (DRM) measures using ecosystem-based approaches.

Duties and Responsibilities

The GIS and Remote Sensing (RS/GIS) consultant will conduct the following tasks:

Identify and analyse existing GIS data and remote-sensing imagery on geographical, geological and land-use characteristics of Timor-Leste, with specific reference to the DARDC. The analysis needs to incorporate meteorological time series data made available through domestic, external and proxy sources;
Collate existing data (including from the WB-BCDRP, UNDP-SDRM and MAF-ALGIS) as well as remote-sensing imagery to develop a GIS-based database of geographical, geological, land use and major geo-hazard characteristics and climate risks in the DARDC;
Undertake data collection, analysis, storage and retrieval through a variety of techniques, including use of available GIS, ensuring the full involvement of local stakeholders from the outset;
Undertake field visit for proper ground truthing and validation of the GIS data particularly those related to land-use change pattern and geo-hazards;
Integrate existing GIS data with remote-sensing imagery to develop a GIS-based database of geographical, geological and land use characteristics and landuse pattern of the DARDC;
Support the development of watershed management plans by using GIS to include current land-use, topography, geology, hydrology/drainage, hazards and natural disaster risk, access to land/land tenure and livelihood activities based on available information;
Integrate the GIS-based data with the CVCAs and CAPs (from Output 2.1) to develop watershed hazard and risk maps identifying risk areas posing a threat to road infrastructure as well as economic and livelihood assets;
Prepare vulnerability maps and work with team members to verify and assess the results;
Document methodologies and best practices to develop a manual/guide on use of the database to inform inter alia Strategic District Plans and the PDID process;
Provide trainings to the courses to the key government stakeholders on usage of GIS and RS maps as decision making tools.
Assess MAF’s capacity and equipment needs in the area of GIS and remote sensing and propose steps to address these needs.

Please refer to Annex 1 – ToR for more details

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

Ability to communicate effectively to varied audiences;
Great presentation skills; and
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Hold a bachelor degree in engineering, rural development planning, natural resource management, GIS or related discipline.

Experience:

At least 5 years practical experience in GIS and Remote Sensing and its application to rural planning and development.
Strong demonstrated understanding of civil society involvement in local government and planning;
Demonstrated experience in training varied stakeholders – including government officials and community members;
Familiarity with land-use practices relating to forestry, agriculture and other rural livelihood activities;
Demonstrated experience in development and management of GIS databases;
Demonstrated ability to combine remote sensing imagery and GIS data into informative maps;
Experience with developing land-use/watershed management plans based on GIS/remote sensing data.

Language:

Excellent English writing and speaking skills

Application documents can be downloaded from this link http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=22738