R&D Advisor – Air Quality

Purpose and Objectives:

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1986 as a technical capacity building center, ADPC has grown and expanded its role to be for scientific, educational, developmental and humanitarian purposes. ADPC employs a wide range of professional expertise typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) in an effective manner.

ADPC develops and implements cross-sectoral projects/programs on the strategic themes of risk governance, urban resilience, climate resilience, health risk management, preparedness for response and resilient recovery. Our strategic themes are complemented and underpinned by the cross-cutting themes of gender and diversity, regional and transboundary cooperation as well as poverty and livelihoods.

Through its work, ADPC supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Urban Agenda, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the agenda defined at the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016, and other relevant international frameworks

For details, please refer to ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

The Geospatial Information (GEO) Department supports stakeholders to increase their uses of geospatial technology, data, and information for supporting decision making related to disaster risk management and climate resilience. The department supports all thematic areas of focus of ADPC to achieve their goals, mainly through:

• Increased accessibility and technical capacity to develop, maintain, and use geospatial information including disaster and climate risk maps, forecasted and real-time disaster data for early warning, and damage data for post-disaster assessment and recovery planning,
• Increased awareness by decision makers on applications of geospatial information in disaster risk management and climate resilience decision making, and
• Geospatial solutions, such as maps, tools, models, and data, customized to the demands of stakeholders

SERVIR Southeast Asia (SERVIR SEA) is a 5-year project, co-created by USAID, NASA, and ADPC, to address disaster and climate resilience as well as environmental issues in the region. SERVIR SEA’s objective is Expanded and Scaled Climate Actions by using Satellite Data and Geospatial Information in Decision Making. Air quality monitoring has become a critical environmental problem for the region that requires scientific evidence to support decision making to manage the problem.

ADPC and the GEO Department are seeking a qualified R&D Advisor – Air Quality to lead all the scientific aspect of air quality monitoring of the SERVIR SEA project.

Expected Outputs:

The following outputs are expected from the assignment:

1. Calibrated and validated air quality data, derived from satellite observations and/or models
2. Technical documents such as manuals, specifications, and reports
3. Delivery of training and workshop sessions

Scope of Work:

The consultant will:

• Use his/her expertise to develop and maintain SERVIR SEA geospatial tools such as the Mekong Air Quality Explorer and its related web and mobile applications
• Document properly and professionally all the methodologies, procedures and processes developed under the project
• Conduct training and other capacity development activities as well as facilitate workshops related to the geospatial tools and applications developed for the project
• Provide inputs to the project’s reports such as the quarterly progress reports, annual reports, and annual work plans
• Co-author peer-reviewed publications related to the work done under SERVIR SEA
• Participate in meetings related to SERVIR SEA objectives, especially science and capacity-building functions
• Contribute to the development of communications products relevant to SERVIR SEA’s air quality and health theme
• Supervise scientists and interns working under the air quality and health theme of SERVIR SEA
• Coordinate with the NASA Applied Science Team(s)
• Support the supervisor to pursue new and maintain existing relationships with partner organizations

Working Principles:

The Consultant will report to the Chief of Party for the SERVIR SEA project, while working closely with other members of the project.

Qualifications:

The Consultant is expected to possess the following qualifications.

• Doctoral degree in Science, Geo-informatics, or related fields
• At least 6 years of research/professional experience focusing on satellite remote sensing or geospatial science required, at least 3 years must be related to air quality monitoring
• Demonstrated computer literacy with high level of experience working with Remote Sensing data
• Experience in developing geospatial tools and applications essential
• Proven record of productive engagement with stakeholders or other clients/users of geospatial tools and applications
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Work experience in Southeast Asian countries desired
• Willingness to commit to further training and development as required.

Duty Station: home-based in Thailand, with periodic in-person meetings with the supervisor and the SERVIR SEA teams at the ADPC headquarters

Duration: The duration of this assignment will be for 12 months. The duration may be extendable subjected to satisfactory completion of the assignment and subjected to the needs and fund availability.

Itinerary: The assignment may require travels to project sites in Southeast Asia. ADPC will bear the cost of those travels, subject to approvals of the supervisor.

Condition of payment: The consultant fee will be paid a daily rate. Payments will be made monthly upon approvals of the monthly timesheets by the supervisor.