Description
International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, seeks applications from suitably qualified candidates to undertake a consultancy assignment under the project “Addressing Climate Vulnerability in Nepal through Resilient Inclusive WASH Systems (RES-WASH)” project.
The National Consultant (Hydrology and WASH) will work on biophysical research aspects of hydrological analysis for the climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) project in Dailekh and Sarlahi. Like in many developing countries, WASH sector is adversely affected by climate variability and changes. Climate variability and its impacts are contextual and vary across ecological regions and people’s socio-economic and political status. Vulnerability and risk are impacted by intersectional inequalities and there is extremely poor evidence of these complexities – not scientifically assessed and there is a clear gap on contextual information linking it to the local context. The project aims to address resilient and inclusive WASH systems under climate variability and change. The project is supported by the Water for Women Fund.
The National Consultant will have the opportunity to work with the senior water resources management specialist and water resources and climate change specialist at IWMI Nepal. She/he will support data collection, analysis, research report preparation, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based capacity building activities in local level in collaboration with the project partners and stakeholders. The consultant will also have an opportunity to develop her/his research skills and enhance their knowledge on climate change, vulnerabilities and risks, and WASH in Nepal. The project will be implemented in two mid-hills municipalities of Dailekh district in Karnali Province and in two terai municipalities of Saptari district in Madhesh Province. This will be good opportunity to engage in action research to implement the WASH activities and evaluate the research impact at local level.
Scope of Work
- Review literature on the climate change vulnerability and risk assessment, WASH related policy and programs, vulnerability, and risk assessment framework.
- Data and information acquisition related to WASH sectors, climate vulnerability and other relevant indicators.
- Develop a comprehensive database of disasters/hazards; and indicators of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity components for WASH-related risk assessments.
- Participate in workshops, training, seminars and field visits, and support to prepare event reports and meeting notes, and to present research findings.
- Support in implementation of updated climate risk informed rural water supply strategy in the project municipalities.
- Engage in technical capacity building of stakeholders (Municipalities and WASH-CC) on climate change and WASH.
- Coordinate with partners and project staffs for the successful implementation of the project.
- Contribute to drafting a technical report of vulnerability and risk assessment, journal articles and other knowledge products.
Expected outcome
- Review report on policies, vulnerability and risks related to the WASH sector
- Comprehensive database of disasters/hazards; and indicators of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity (lack of coping capacity) components for WASH-related risk assessments
- Vulnerability and risk assessment technical report
- Maps, figures, and tables related to vulnerability and risk assessment of WASH
- Report of technical capacity building of stakeholders (Municipalities and WASH-CC) on climate change and WASH
- Implementation of model water supply schemes considering the inclusive climate resilience WASH interventions
Duration: Initially a period of one (01) year
Your application must include a copy of your curriculum vitae, a cover letter that addresses IWMI’s requirements stated above, and contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.
This is a nationally recruited position and only citizens of Nepal are eligible to apply. Applicants from diverse backgrounds, including from Madhesh and Karnali provinces are encouraged to apply.
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Requirements
Qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities required:
- Master’s degree in water resources engineering, water supply and sanitation engineering, water resources management, environmental sciences, climate change and disaster risk management.
- One-to-two-year experience after master’s degree on water resources management fields.
- Good understanding of water and climate induced hazards and disasters.
- Good knowledge on hydrology, hydraulics, and hydrodynamics.
- Good command in programming languages, such as R, Python and Google Earth Engine for data processing and developing a maps and figures.
- Willing to participate in and learn from research on climate change and WASH with consideration of disability, equity, gender, and inclusion.
- Good written and oral communication skills in English and Nepali.
