Consultancy Services for Establishment for national Hydro-Meteorological Monitoring, Forecasting and Early Warning Centre

Background

Somalia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate variability and change leading to disasters which has significant human and socio-economic impacts. The country experiences recurrent droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events, which severely undermine development and humanitarian efforts. An effective early warning system can reduce the impacts of disasters and help save lives. On the other hand, an operational early warning system relies on a network of hydrometeorological data collection stations, timely acquisition of observed and forecasted data and modelling capacities to produce forecasts.

Currently, Somalia lacks a functional national hydro-meteorological monitoring, forecasting, and early warning system (HMFEW system) hinders effective preparedness and response to these hazards.

This concept note proposes the establishment of a National Hydro-Meteorological Monitoring, Forecasting and Early Warning Centre (HM FEW Centre) under the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS). In this context, the Ministry has initiated several activities aimed at realizing an operational hydrometeorological monitoring and forecasting and early warning centre by procuring and installing rainfall and water level sensors at several appropriate location to collect real time data. Further the Ministry has also procured hardware and software for hydrological forecasting system and set up a river forecast system. With these critical aspects implemented the remaining steps to operationalize the centre is to procure the remaining audio-visual equipment, ensure uninterrupted communication and power supply and train the staff to efficiently operate the centre.

An operational hydrometeorological observing, forecasting and early warning centre will support sustainable water management, provide drought, and flood early warning to support Somalia’s sustainable development efforts. The establishment of this centre would enable robust coordination and the development of an effective plan that timely action is taken to mitigate the impacts of these events.

Justification

A well-functioning HMFEW Centre will provide timely and accurate weather and hydrological forecasts, enabling early warnings for droughts, floods, and other natural hazards. This will allow communities and authorities to take proactive measures and mitigate potential impacts. The Centre will collect and analyse data on water resources, enabling better planning for irrigation and water supply. The Centre also will monitor climate trends and provide information for climate change adaptation strategies. Finally, the stakeholders and decision-makers at all levels will have access to reliable and up-to-date hydro-meteorological information to support informed decisions related to disaster preparedness, water resource management, and agricultural planning.

Objective

The Main objectives of the centre are:

1. To collect archive, process and disseminate hydrometeorological observed and forecasted data and information to support various sectors and users in the country.
2. Provide accurate and timely flood and drought advisories and early warning information.
3. To analyse the hydromet data and produce Somalia’s annual state of the Water resources and climate report.

Centre Functions

The Centre will perform the following activities:

1. Monitoring and observation: the centre will closely monitor hydro-meteorological conditions across the country through an automated observation network of weather and hydrological stations.
2. Data Collection and Management: Establish and maintain a network of hydro-meteorological stations across Somalia.
3. Data collection and analysis: The centre will collect and analyse data from various sources, including automatic weather and water level stations, satellite imagery, and remote sensing technologies. This data will be used to develop and improve weather forecasting models, early warning systems, and hydrological models.
4. Forecasting: Produce short and medium-range weather and streamflow forecasts, advisories on climate hazards such as droughts and floods, and agro-climatic advisories, and issue early warnings.
5. Information Dissemination: Disseminate forecasts and early warnings and advisories to relevant state government officials, communities including government and non- government agencies, (farmers and pastoralist), disaster risk management agencies, humanitarian organizations, development partners and the public through relevant channels such as radio, television, and social media.
6. Support national development Objectives: through research in water resources management, climate change impact and adaptation.
7. Capacity Building: Provide training programs for staff of MoEWR and other relevant institutions on hydro-meteorological monitoring, forecasting, and early warning systems.
8. Collaboration and Partnerships: Collaborate with regional and international organizations for knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and resource mobilization.
9. Collect User feedback and products needs to improve the centres activities produce relevant products and use appropriate dissemination means to reach the target users.

IWRM Project are now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing this Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services on the Establishment Similar center: The requirements/Qualifications are as follows:

1. Core business of the firm and at least 10 years of cumulative experience of delivering services in such areas as Hydromet system development, Early Warning services, Hydro informatic development, Hydraulic Modelling and decision tools system.
2. Experience of relevant services in an environment similar to that of Somalia; and
3. The technical and Financial Proposal and managerial organization of the firm.