Climate Scientist Consultant

The impacts of climate change, particularly sea-level rise (SLR) and pronounced droughts have severe consequences on water and sanitation in the Solomon Islands. Due to SLR, low-lying islands, atolls and flat deltaic regions are faced with salt water intrusion, affecting the groundwater resources and limiting access to freshwater supply. Droughts have severely damaged crops and livelihoods, as well as affecting water supplies; during the 1997/1998 droughts freshwater availability in Honiara decreased by around 30-40%.Climate-related impacts on the quality and quantity of water also has a gender dimension; in the context of ethnic tensions, the safety and security of women and girls is compromised as they need to travel further to collect water, leading to less time for other activities.

In this context, Government of the Solomon Islands, Ministries of Mines, Energy, and Rural Electrification (MMERE), in partnership with Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Ministry of Health and Medical Services – Environmental Health Division, Ministry of Development, Planning, and Aid Coordination (MDPAC), and UNDP is embarking on the Solomon Islands Water Sector Adaptation Project (SIWSAP) through support from Global Environment Facility (GEF) Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF).  The project objective is to improve the resilience of water resources to the impacts climate change and improve health, sanitation and quality of life, so that livelihoods can be enhanced and sustained in the targeted vulnerable areas in 6 provinces.  SIWSAP will work with partners to achieve this objective through 1) formulating, integrating, and mainstreaming water sector-climate change adaptation response plans into water-related sectors as well as broader policy and development frameworks, 2) increasing the reliability and improving the quality of water supply in targeted areas, 3) investing in cost-effective and adaptive water management interventions and technology transfer, and 4) improving governance and knowledge management for climate change adaptation in the water sector at the local and national levels.

The Climate Scientist (CS) will provide the most relevant and updated information on climate change impacts with a particular focus on the water sector, relevant to Solomon Islands and the 6 pilot sites.  The CS, utilizing his/her extensive experience and knowledge will provide existing climate change projections, impact assessments, and exposure information utilizing a wide selection of climate models and scenarios (including downscaled scenarios and projections of SLR). The relevance for both the national and provincial / community scales will be evaluated for each data source and the likelihood/confidence of change will be presented in each case.

Based on a desktop literature review, using available online resources, and through available original research outputs (e.g. from downscaling or other experiments), the CS will prepare and present (at the national kick-off meeting) expected climate change impacts. These will be focused on the water sector and be relevant to the V&A and WS-CCA plans.

Based on feedback, inputs and requests received during the kick-off meeting, the CS will refine the methodology and data, and in collaboration with the TL, GIS specialist, and Water specialist, the CS will draft the climate science chapter of the V&A assessment, which will serve as the basis for further developing and analyzing the climate change impacts for water sector in the Solomon Islands (including social, environmental, and economic impacts) at the provincial and national levels.  The format and details of the specific data / information on the climate science required for the V&A will be further discussed, developed, and agreed at the kick-off meeting. Where climate scenarios and data are produced and evaluated (including any derived products), these data will be made available to the project team in easily accessible formats for ingestion into GIS databases used by the project in the future.

• Demonstrates integrity by demonstrating positive values and ethical standards through his/her actions;
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of SIWSAP project;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Ability to assess community capacity, and formulate proposals to foster positive change;
• Analytical judgment, results-orientation and efficiency in a multi-tasking environment;
• Shares information, knowledge and experience through effective and frequent communication;
• Ability to plan and prioritize work effectively in order to keep deadlines;
• Ability to engage various partners and stakeholders and builds strong relationships with clients and other stakeholders;
• Ability to work in an organized and systematic manner and demonstrate professionalism with high level of integrity in the day-to-day performance of duty;
• Good inter-personal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, ability to work in multicultural environment;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities;
• Demonstrates strong commitment and patience to deal with competing deadlines, demands, and interests;
• Ability to build consensus and garner support under complex situations;
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure;
• Exudes a friendly atmosphere where colleagues/counterparts can easily ask questions and seek assistance.

Education:

• Minimum Master’s degree and above in climate science, geoscience, geology, computer science, hydrology, or relevant field.

Experience:

• At least 7years of experience working on climate change impact assessment in Asia or in the Pacific region;
• At least 3 demonstrated successful experience in applying climate science to CCA, in the water sector, DRM policy making and/or planning process at the national and or community level;
• Experience of producing high quality climate change impact assessments – the candidates will be assessed through previous work submitted in support of their proposal;
• Experience and technical understanding on development context and issues in the Pacific/Solomon Islands/LDCs with a particular focus on water and sanitation and/or climate change adaptation;
• Demonstrated experience working on climate change vulnerability assessments in an international development context.

Language:

• Fluent in English.