Consultancy Service for Data Collection and Facilitation of Capacity Assessment Activities in Lao PDR

Purpose and Objectives:

With increases in frequency of weather extremes, countries in the Lower Mekong such as Lao PDR and Cambodia demand more accurate, timely and effective weather forecasts and their impact information in order to take actions to minimize the impact to lives and properties. The national hydrological and meteorological services (or hydro-met agencies) play a key role in meeting such a demand.

Impact-based forecasting takes the traditional forecasting of hydro-meteorological events such as floods or droughts and extends it into estimating the extent, location, and severity of the impact from those events. The impact-based forecasting will make emergency preparedness and early response more effective since the efforts will be targeted to the potential impacted areas.

To implement successful impact-based forecasting, countries such as Lao PDR and Cambodia need to enhance their capacity. Hydro-met agencies need to strengthen their capacity to monitor hydro-meteorological parameters, improving their existing communication system for data transmission and dissemination of forecasts information including high speed computing system for data assimilation and ensemble forecasting. National Disaster Management Offices (NDMO) will need to be able to receive such forecast information, understand it and be able to use it for emergency preparedness and early response actions. Institutional capacity building is needed.

To support the project activities in Lao PDR, ADPC intends to assess the capacity of relevant hydro-met agencies and the NDMO of Lao PDR on impact-based forecasting for drought and flood. While the assessment will be done mostly remotely through online questionnaires, there is need for in-country coordination and facilitation of in-person interviews, as needed.

Expected Outputs:

The following outputs are expected from the consultant.

• Relevant hydro-met agencies of Lao PDR identified and contact information of key persons obtained
• Contact information of the NDMO’s key persons obtained
• Communications with hydro-met agencies and the NDMO initiated and maintained
• On-site facilitation of briefing meetings with the identified agencies provided
• Coordination and facilitation of the online questionnaire by the national agencies completed
• Individual interviews conducted, as needed

Responsibilities and Tasks:

It is expected that the Consultant will work closely with the ADPC’s implementation team throughout the assignment. The Consultant is required to attend all the technical meetings/online meetings within the team and will present specific outputs to the WFP as required by ADPC.

Working Principles:

· The Consultant will report to Dr. Rishiraj Dutta, Capacity Development Lead of the Geospatial Information (GEO) Department

· Work closely with the GEO and Climate Resilience (CLR) team members

Qualifications:

· The consultant should have an academic background in meteorology, hydrology, water resources, or disaster management.

· Candidates who have experience related to hydrological and meteorological forecasting systems, mechanisms, and policies in Lao PDR will be considered favorably.

· Candidates with demonstrated working experience or engagement with Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) will be considered favorably.

· Strong interpersonal skills are desirable.

· Strong English communication skill is required for coordinating with the ADPC team.

· Only Laos nationals will be considered. The consultant is expect to visit the identified national departments for the capacity assessment.

Duty Station:

Home-based, but traveling locally to visit national agencies will be required.

Duration:

The duration of the Consultant will be 2 months on a part-time basis, staring on 15 October 2021 and ending on 14 December 2021

Condition of payment:

The Consultant will be paid in 2 monthly installments, upon submission of the timesheet and associated outputs.