CONSULTANCY - Diagnostic Assessment and Implementation Planning of Hydrometeorological, Climate and Early Warning Services in the Dominican Republic - SSA-2026-PDMU-DPPD-16

Background

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is supporting the strengthening of climate and hydrometeorological services and multi-hazard early warning systems in the Dominican Republic through the Climate Risk and Early Warning System (CREWS) Dominican Republic project. This is done in coordination and synergies with other projects or initiatives contributing to the modernization of institutional and operational hydrological services.

The CREWS Dominican Republic project aims to strengthen governance and institutional coordination, disaster risk knowledge, observation and forecasting capacities, and warning dissemination and response mechanisms. Given the involvement of multiple national institutions and the complementarities between ongoing initiatives, a coordinated approach is required to ensure coherence, maximize synergies and support efficient implementation.

The purpose of this consultancy is to establish an updated baseline and undertake an integrated assessment of the institutional, organizational, operational, technical and technological capacities relevant to hydrological and meteorological services, climate services and multi-hazard early warning systems in the Dominican Republic. The assignment will support the development of an integrated implementation strategy, action plan and priority activities, strengthen coordination among key national stakeholders, and provide the basis for subsequent technical assistance, capacity development and system modernization activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant(s) shall:

1. Review available institutional and organizational documentation, operational capacities, information systems, coordination mechanisms and technical infrastructure related to climate, meteorological, hydrological and multi-hazard early warning services through consultations with the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INDRHI), the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (INDOMET), the Emergency Operations Center (COE), Civil Defense (DC), the National Geological Survey (SGN) and other relevant stakeholders, to establish a baseline and diagnostic assessment, highlighting the current status, needs and priorities for service improvement.

2. Assess institutional, operational and technical capacities, identify gaps, challenges and opportunities for collaboration, and analyse complementarities across ongoing initiatives supporting hydrological, meteorological and early warning services.

3. Develop an integrated implementation strategy and action plan to strengthen climate, meteorological, hydrological and multi-hazard early warning services under the CREWS Dominican Republic project, building on ongoing activities, identified requirements and synergies with related projects, programmes and initiatives. The strategy should include implementation priorities, institutional responsibilities, milestones, coordination arrangements and proposed monitoring mechanisms.

4. Prepare recommendations and high-level Terms of Reference and/or technical specifications to support service improvements, including the enhancement of climatological, meteorological and hydrological systems, as well as related operational capacity-development plans.

Evaluation tools will be provided by WMO coordination team as support for the diagnostic.

Deliverables

1. Inception report, including a plan for country consultation, stakeholder mapping, and matrix with references on programmes, projects, initiatives supporting climate, meteorological, hydrological and warning services.

2. Diagnostic Report updated baseline, description of conditions of existing institutional, operational and technical capacities, key gaps, needs and requirements, and recommendations for priority actions.

3. Integrated Implementation Strategy and plans, including implementation priorities, sequencing, institutional responsibilities, milestones and monitoring mechanisms.

4. Final Report, incorporating a brief of validated diagnostic report, and implementation plan, as well as developed high-level Terms of Reference and/or technical specifications for subsequent priority activities.

Planned travels

Between 2 and 3 missions are expected during the contract period, including travel to Santo Domingo and/or other locations in the Dominican Republic as required for consultations with national institutions, field validation activities and participation in coordination, consultation and validation workshops.

Required Skills and Experience

Education: Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in hydrology, meteorology, water resources management, climate science, disaster risk management, environmental sciences, engineering, or a related field.

Experience:

• At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in hydrometeorology, climate services, disaster risk reduction and early warning systems institutional strengthening or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience in institutional and organizational assessments, capacity and gap analyses, and the development of implementation strategies, work plans and action plans.
• Experience working with national hydrometeorological services, hydrological services, water resources, disaster risk management or related institutions, preferably in developing countries and/or Small Island Developing States.
• Experience in stakeholder consultations, institutional coordination and facilitating multi-institutional processes.
• Proven ability to develop technical reports, implementation frameworks and Terms of Reference and/or technical specifications for technical assistance activities and projects.
• Experience supporting internationally funded development projects is an advantage.

Other Requirements:

• Strong understanding of hydrological and meteorological services, climate services, observation and monitoring networks, forecasting systems and multi-hazard early warning systems.
• Demonstrated analytical, coordination and facilitation skills, with the ability to translate technical and institutional findings into practical recommendations and prioritized actions.
• Ability to work effectively with government institutions, technical agencies and national and international stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the institutional and hydrometeorological context of the Dominican Republic or the wider Caribbean region is an advantage.
• Excellent report-writing, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple inputs and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed deadlines.

Languages: Fluency in Spanish is required, given the need for consultations and coordination with national institutions in the Dominican Republic. Knowledge of English is highly desirable. (Note: The official languages of WMO are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.)

Salary and Allowances: Payband D (USD 620.- / 750.-)

Duration: 100 days over a period of 5 months

Focal point : Maxime Zufferey mzufferey@wmo.int

Applications:

Applications should be made online through the WMO e-recruitment system.

Do not send your application via multiple routes. WMO no longer accepts applications via post or email. Only applicants for whom WMO has a further interest will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit a written test and/or an interview.

Statements:

WMO is committed to achieving diversity and a balanced workforce. Applications are welcome from qualified women and men, including those with disabilities. The statutory retirement age is 65. Pursuant to WMO Standing Instructions, the minimum age to be eligible for consideration for vacant positions is 18, and the maximum age must enable the candidate to serve for at least the term of the contract before reaching mandatory age of separation.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

WMO does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

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