Sand and Dust Storm Consultant

Result of Service
Development and implementation of sand and dust storm programme.
Work Location
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Expected duration
‎12 months
Duties and Responsibilities
Organizational Setting, Purpose, and Objective:

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global
environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes
the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable
development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative
advocate for the global environment. The West Asia Office delivers advisory
services and capacity building support to countries to achieve environment and
sustainable development objectives. This consultancy is established at the
West Asia Office within the framework of the Strategic Cooperation Agreement
between UNEP and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager in UNEP West Asia Office
and in coordination with National Centre for Meteorology and the respective
department in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Consultant will carry-out, inter alia, the
following duties and responsibilities:

‎1. Technical advice in the implementation of the operating Sand and Dust
Storm Warning Advisory and Assessment System (SDS-WAS) centre and verification
of validity of the centre's outputs.
‎2. Technical guidance to the SDS-WAS Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) team
and staff management, including performance review, mentoring, wellbeing, and
involvement in recruitment.
‎3. Provide technical inputs and represent SDS-WAS at external events,
providing informative presentations and networking to support the centre
mission.
‎4. Technical advice on the Unified Model partners and promoting
collaborations for key NWP system development at SDS-WAS.
‎5. Technical inputs on stakeholder engagements and collaborations with local
universities and international groups active in the field of tropical
weather/climate modelling and prediction.
‎6. Design and review scientific research in the field of dust storms,
reports, and available data on historical and future changes in dust storms.
‎7. Technical contributions in the development of climate modelling at the
centre and the climate projection operations.
‎8. Technical assessment of the current situation regarding infrastructure and
applications based on the organization's direction.
‎9. Design training courses and prepare training plan and workshops for the
employees of the Sand and Dust Storm Centre.

Expected outputs and deliverables:

‎1. Provide advise and guidance on the operation of the Sand and Dust Storm
Centre.
‎2. Guide the implementation program for Sand and Dust Storm Warning Advisory
and Assessment System (SDS-WAS) center.
‎3. Develop and conduct training courses for sand and dust storms staff.
‎4. Design and guide the implementation of a capacity building programme on
sand and dust storms for different stakeholders.
‎5. Monthly progress reports.
‎6. A final report on sand and dust storm.
Qualifications/special skills
Master's degree in atmospheric sciences, meteorology, sand and dust storm,
mathematics or physical sciences is required. PHD is an asset.
A minimum of ‎10 years professional experience in sand and dust storm and
meteorology is required.
Experience in Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-chem) modelling is
desirable.
Demonstrated research experience in sand and dust, meteorology modelling is
desirable.
Languages
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is
desirable.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT
PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED
NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS' BANK ACCOUNTS.