Appel à manifestation d’intérêt : Recrutement d’un.e Consultant.e en cartographie des catastrophes et des risques au Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND

Sri Lanka, as an island and developing nation, is highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Occurrences of natural disasters due to extreme weather conditions such as prolonged droughts, flash floods and landslides deprive lives and livelihoods of people. Building resilience of vulnerable communities and ecosystems over climate change effects within a broader framework of sustainable development remains the country’s priority. Thus, in line with broad set of guidelines set forth by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for the development of national adaptation plans to build resilience, the country prepared the National Adaptation Plan for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka (NAP) 2016-2025.

The NAP covers adaptation needs at two levels; adaptation needs of vulnerable sectors and cross-cutting national needs of adaptation. Nine vulnerable sectors have been recognized to improve resilience: food security, water, coastal, health, human settlements, biodiversity, tourism and recreation, export development, and industry-energy-transportation. The NAP 2016-2025 identifies adaptation needs of these vulnerable sectors based on projections, vulnerabilities, impacts and socio-economic outcomes. Impacts of climate vulnerabilities are to be assessed and addressed at national and sub-national scale across the 09 sectors to improve resilience. Standardized Vulnerability Impact Assessment (VIA) and adaptation appraisal methodology and tools for undertaking a comprehensive vulnerability assessment of all 09 sectors will enhance adaptation options and thereby resilience to climate change.

Among the 09 vulnerable sectors identified in the NAP2016-2025, agriculture of the food security sector is a mainstay of economy and the livelihood of a significant population of the country. Studies have shown that food security of the nation will be adversely affected due to climate change impacts of agriculture. The Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) published in 2014 by the CCS identifies crop diversification as a priority adaptation measures for the sector.

Crop diversification returns farming with returns for complementary marketing opportunities while increasing the nutritional security by balancing food demand in lieu of increasing food security, while it helps to build resilience by increasing crop diversity and enhancing the capacity of crops to withstand climate-related shocks. The crops varieties are spatially distributed across the three major climatic zones across 46 agro-ecological regions (DOA, 2003).

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The assignment shall involve the consultant engaging in crop hazard mapping exercise through:

  • Gathering relevant data and information, VIAs, sector reports, publications by scientific and research institutions, universities, international and national organizations at the national and sub-national levels;
  • Define scope and develop a validated standardized methodology for crop hazard vulnerability map preparation;
  • Carry out consultations with national and subnational stakeholders to prepare draft hazard vulnerability maps;
  • Validate and publish hazard vulnerability maps for crops of Sri Lanka.
QUALIFICATIONS

a) Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in the national and sub-national context with an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in environmental science, engineering, remote sensing, geography, agriculture or any other pertinent degree or area directly related to this project scope;

b) Demonstrated past working experience in GIS, surveying and mapping, disaster and hazard mapping, climate change and government stakeholder engagement at a national and subnational level an appreciation of key concepts in climate change adaptations is highly desirable;

c) Experience in undertaking research and report writing in an area directly related to this project scope;

d) Ability to work/deliver independently with minimal supervision;

e) Good interpersonal skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds;

f) Excellent English communication skills in the field of local governance, climate change adaptations, or related areas;

g) Ability to clearly communicate in English (both written and spoken) as well as national languages used in the province/s is required;

h) Proficiency in standard Microsoft Office;

i) Experience in International Organizations, development agencies, government, private sector or non-profit sector.

More details & application process

Deadline : May 17th, 2023