Hydrologist/Flood Early Warning Systems Expert at Songwe River Basin Commission
Songwe River Basin Commission
The Governments of the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Malawi are jointly implementing the Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP), which is managed by the Secretariat of the Joint Songwe River Basin Commission (S-SRBC) with offices located at Kyela, Tanzania. The Songwe River Basin (SRB) covers an area of 4,243 km2 in seven districts of: Karonga and Chitipa (in Malawi); and Kyela, Mbeya Rural, Ileje, Mbozi and Momba (in Tanzania). The basin is part of the wider Zambezi River basin. The river forms part of the border between Malawi and Tanzania. Increasing competition for space, water and natural resources is degrading the Songwe River Basin.
Both riparian countries in 2017 ratified the Convention on the Establishment of the Joint Songwe River Basin Commission (SRBC) to sustainably manage the basin natural resources and implement the Songwe River Basin Development Programme (SRBDP). The Convention came into force on 1st July, 2018. The SRBDP is a multipurpose transboundary Programme under which the challenges and opportunities resulting from the behaviour of the Songwe River are planned to be worked on through various projects. The projects are to cover construction of dams for flood control and hydropower productions, development of irrigated agriculture, water supply, fisheries and tourism to mention a few including non-structural measures.
The Strengthening Transboundary Cooperation and Integrated Natural Resource Management in the Songwe River Basin (STCINRM-SRB) Project as one of the non-structural measures has been established to prepare the ground for the implementation of the SRBDP by addressing the problem of environmental degradation. Specifically, the Project objective is to enhance basin protection, livelihoods and integrated water resources management through improved transboundary cooperation and sustained ecosystem services. The Project will be implemented for a period of four years.
The Secretariat of the Joint Songwe River Basin, therefore, seeks to use part of the proceeds of the grant package to recruit individual consultants to fill the positions of the Hydrologist/FEWS Expert; a Financing Mobilisation/M&E Expert; an Environmental/Agro/Forestry Management Expert; an ICT/GIS/MIS Expert; and a Procurement Expert to provide services in the Project at the S-SRBC headquarters in Kyela, Tanzania.
Position Title: Hydrologist/Flood Early Warning Systems Expert
Reporting to: The Acting Executive Secretary for the Songwe River Basin Commission.
Reference Number: SRBC/STCINRMSRBP/FEWS/1
Publication date: 25th February, 2020
Closing date: 10th March, 2020
Place of duty: S-SRBC Offices in Kyela, Tanzania
Terms of Appointment: Four (4) year contractual appointment renewable every year based on performance.
Functions and Responsibilities
The Hydrologist/FEWS Expert functions and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
2.1. Preparation phase (1 year):
- Plan, coordinate, monitor and supervise the FEWS programme;
- Supervise FEWS Implementation Consultant, and provide assistance like providing data, arranging meetings with stakeholders, arranging site visits, approving the FEWS and its testing;
- Visit and liaise with the two partners states governments where the focal and secondary sub-basins are located to review current approaches and discuss with stakeholders their needs for flood management;
- Compile information and preliminary hydrometric data, a GIS, and other databases for the Songwe basin
- Review ongoing national initiatives for climate and hydrological information and warning systems and prepare proposals for strengthening and improving the quality and availability of flood warning outputs;
- Preparing agreements on operation, maintenance and real-time data sharing of the measurement stations with Malawi and Tanzania stakeholders: Tanzania Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Malawi Ministry of Agriculture,
Irrigation and Water Development (MOAIWD), Tanzania Metrological Agency (TMA) (Tanzania), Malawi Department of Climate change and meteorological services (DCCMS), Lake Nyasa Basin Water Board
(Tanzania);
- Support the districts in preparing flood response plan for flood prone communities, describing the warning system (who warns who) and which non-structural and structural actions shall be taken;
- Arranging the development of non-structural and structural measures such as draft communication messages, creation of mounds and evacuation roads. These measures will be designed by the implementation Consultant.
FEWS officer responsible to arrange contractor or equipment, communication with communities;
- Gain full understanding of the FEWS system, including its hydrologic and hydraulic models, dashboard software and measurement stations;
- Train 2 other officers from the SRBC to ensure a 24/7 service during the rainy season for the management of the FEWS;
- Assistance to Acting Executive Secretary of the SRBC in providing data, arranging meetings with stakeholders, arranging site visits, approving the FEWS and its testing;
Operational phase:
- Plan, coordinate, monitor and supervise the FEWS programme;
- Providing timely and accurate warnings to flood prone communities, districts and inform ministries during rainy season;
- Operation and maintenance of the FEWS system (with support from Consultant): evaluate and update the model and dashboard regularly;
- Coordinate Operation and maintenance of weather and gauging stations by ministries, including regular updating of Q-h curves;
- Organize, originate and/or participate in the production of knowledge management and dissemination of information related to water resources activities;
- Evaluate and update Flood response plans every three years;
- Coordination with Malawi and Tanzania stakeholders (ministries, water board, districts);
- Assist the ICT/GIS/MIS officer; and
- Participate in Zambezi River basin program.
Qualifications and Experience
- The Flood Risk Management Specialist will have a Master’s degree in river/water resources/irrigation/hydroinformatics/hydraulics engineering, or hydrology and at least 10 years’ experience in flood/drought risk management and have a demonstrated ability to create a strong working relationship with the executing and implementing agencies;
- At least 5 years of experience involving manipulation, quality assurance and control of hydro-meteorological information, use of remote sensing and GIS in Water resources planning and development projects;
- In depth knowledge in one or more WRM subtopics such as: hydro meteorological monitoring, exposure and vulnerability to floods and droughts, hydrological modeling, reservoir operations, and/ management of risk resulting from climate variability and change;
- Demonstrated experience to successfully coordinate complex programmes;
- Good management skills, including ability to provide strategic guidance, technical oversight, prepare work plans, and manage budgets and project expenditures;
- Experience in designing and implementing community programs is preferred;
- Analytical skills and ability to understand and solve water resources management problems in a professional manner;
- Practical experience in programming; and
- Fluency in spoken and written English language.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, copies of academic certificates, professional certificates and Curriculum Vitae (not exceeding four pages) with names and contact information of three traceable referees to: The Secretariat of the Joint Songwe River Basin Commission P.O. Box 300, Kyela, TANZANIA. Contact name: Eng. Gabriel M. Kalinga Email:
To reach him not later than 10th March, 2020, 17:00 Hours Local time (EAT). Please mention the title of the position you are applying for in your email or Post. Only shortlisted candidate will be contacted.
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