UNDP Sudan developed a country programme for 2018-21 with the aim to promote democratic governance and rule of law, community stabilization, addressing vulnerability to climate change and promoting equitable access to basic services in consultation with the development partners. UNDP supports its technical assistance to the area of adaption to climate change, renewable energy, employment creation and equitable access to natural resources in rural areas under the Sustainable Livelihood Unit. The unit focuses on strengthening capacities at local, regional and national level to manage and utilize natural resources in a sustainable way, to enhance resilience and adaptive capacity to long-term climate change including variability impacts and to reduce the associated risk of natural disasters.

One of the ongoing projects under climate change adaptation portfolio is Climate Risk Finance project (2014-18) and the fund was provided by the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF). The aim of the project is to avail financial services are available to the high-risk population to provide them capital for resilient-building activities by supporting the development of a range of financial mechanisms to incentivize investments in climate change adaptation and risk reduction measures in 6 vulnerable agro-ecological regions of Sudan. The project supports efficient, robust collection and interpretation of weather/climate information for risk mapping, rainfall forecasting and drought early warning. In 2017, the project developed Sudan’s first Weather Index Insurance products, which is strategically combined with microfinance services supporting adaptation-oriented agricultural and livestock practices.

• Strengthen institutional and technical capacity for climate observation, forecasting and early warning at national and local levels
• Address residual climate risk to rural livelihoods in the states of greatest rainfall variability through parametric insurance products
• Improve access of vulnerable farmers and pastoralists to financial services for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

Funded by GEF, the project was started in 2014 and implemented by the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources (HCENR). At the community level, the project works in 58 communities of the 6 states targeting total population of 43,000 people.

Under the overall supervision of the National Project Manager and the technical supervision of the programme specialist,  and the Team Leader of the Sustainable Livelihoods Unit of UNDP, and in close collaboration with the Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources and UNDP Regional Technical Advisor, the international consultant on (Satellite based crop and drought monitoring) will be responsible for completing the following tasks over a period of 30 working days starting the first week of July 2018. Specific tasks include:

• Review the current conventional and satellite based climate and crop data collection practices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Center and RS/GIS section from Food Security Working Group and University of Khartoum
• A draft report including recommendations and concrete strategies to improve the satellite based climate and crop data collection practices to address climate data and capacity gaps
• Develop a design for a satellite based crop monitoring and yield forecasting facility within Higher Council/Ministry of Agriculture/University of Khartoum including identify specification for procuring necessary computing systems, calibrating the data base and models and assessing and validating model outputs
• Develop a training package for the satellite based crop monitoring and yield forecasting
• Conduct hands on training on satellite based crop monitoring and yield forecasting for key stakeholders including project staff, RS/GIS Department from University of Khartoum
• A national level training and
• A state level training programmes and offer training to front line extension staff on data collection (climate impacts, damage to infrastructure, loss to production, etc.) according to the improved climate risk management related information and satellite based crop monitoring and yield forecasting
• Final report including recommendation for setting up a system to put in place institutional arrangements and system to ensure sustainable operation and maintenance of the facility for satellite based crop monitoring and yield forecasting in consultation with relevant units such Ministry of Agriculture, Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, Food Security Working Group and University of Khartoum etc.

Corporate Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• 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 favoritism;
• Ability to work with a multi-cultural and diverse team.

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated experience in technical issues related to media and communications to climate change
• Demonstrated ability to analyze large amounts of complex and diversified data related to climate change adaptation in least developed countries.
• Demonstrated strong coordination and facilitation skills;
• Proved strong interpersonal skills and the ability to initiate discussions about climate change adaptation and reliance issues specifically in the water and agricultural sectors.

Qualification

• Master degree in Remote Sensing and GIS, agro-meteorology, meteorology, agronomy or related subject.

Experience

• minimum of 7 years of international experiences in environment and/or climate change sector;

• Demonstrated experience in crop data collection, satellite based crop monitoring and crop yield forecasting models;

• Demonstrated knowledge in developing strategies for improving satellite based climate and crop monitoring;

• Experiences on formulation and design of satellite based drought and crop monitoring and yield forecasting facilities;

• Ability to develop a training package for the satellite based crop monitoring and yield forecasting;

• Demonstrated experience in conducting training and Excellent communication skills.

Language

• English language.