Climate Monitoring and Prediction Expert at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position of:

Job Title: Climate Monitoring and Prediction Expert

Requisition ID: 482
Location: Douala, Cameroun
Reports to: Project Coordinator, ECCAS Unit
Directorate/Department : Sustainable Environment & Blue Economy
Division: Sustainable Environment
Job Grade: P2

Purpose of Job

• The African Union Commission (AUC) has secured funding from the European Union for the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) through the Intra-ACP Climate Services and Related Application (ClimSA) programme.
• The programme addresses the issue of climate information throughout the entire supply chain of climate services covering generation and provision of climate services, access to information, user interface platforms, and capacity enhancement of critical players including, but not limited to, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of Member States, and Regional Climate Centres (RCCs). It aims to enable Member States to develop and incorporate science-based climate information and prediction into development planning and decision-making at all levels, and to better manage risks of climate variability and change, Furthermore, it enhances policy and decision-making at continental, regional, national, community, and individual levels.
• The AUC is responsible for the overall continental coordination of the programme implementation, which includes the development and application of weather and climate information services; facilitation of capacity building for RECs and Member States; fostering sharing of best practices and coordinating knowledge management; procurement and supply of equipment for Member States and Regional Climate Centres; establishing and operationalization of the continental monitoring and reporting framework; facilitation of preparation of Africa State of Climate Reports and Outlooks; prudent management of financial resources; and monitoring and evaluation. The AUC is also directly responsible for the management and implementation of the project in the ECCAS region.
• The Climate Monitoring and Prediction Expert is a high level professional specializing in climate monitoring, prediction and forecasting. S/he is well conversant with handling and processing climate data and information at all levels.

Main Functions

• Long-range climate forecasting (with emphasis on seasonal forecasting), climate monitoring, climate data rescue and management,  projections, scenarios, vulnerability, risk and impact assessments, and climate change adaptation planning, provision of knowledge from climate services produced for better planning in Agriculture Health and DRM sectors, provide guideline on climate information, bulletins and statements or briefs for planning, policy and decision making for Agriculture Health and DRM sectors.

Specific Responsibilities

• Under the supervision of the ClimSA/GFCS Project Coordinator and in close collaboration with the Weather Modeling Scientist and Forecaster, the Climate Monitoring and Prediction Expert will be responsible for the:
• Collect, process and analyze data to generate and disseminate products and climate services (climate monitoring);
• Production of Long-Range climate forecasting (with emphasis on seasonal forecasting) to contribute to Climate Services Information System (CSIS),
• Support the establishment and effective functioning of sectoral User Interface Platforms (UIPs), regional Climate Services Information Systems (CSIS), Climate Data Management Systems (CDMS), infrastructure and other systems.
• Access and process data disseminated through Climate services station and other historical climate datasets (Copernicus, ECMWF, EUMETSAT…) for seasonal forecasts and climate impact assessments and monitoring
• Planning and Organizing Regional Climate Outlook Fora (RCOF) for Central Africa
• Planning, organizing and servicing conferences, seminars and training workshops.
• Conduct the process to establish of climate data rescue and climate data management system (CDMS)
• Provide climate change assessment summaries (impacts) for policy and decision makers
• Conduct climate application on Agriculture, DRR and Health sectors to strengthen and promote the use of regional and national User Interface Platforms (UIP) in ECCAS region.
• Contribute to capacity building on climate monitoring and Long range forecast for policy and decision makers and improve Climate Services in ECCAS States
• Monitor climate variability, vulnerability, risk and impact assessments, and climate change adaptation planning;
• Provide technical assistance and trainings to participants on attachment /secondment /internship programs/job training
• Liaise with relevant working groups on climate and related extreme events, such as CEOS Climate Working Group, ESA CCI, EUMETSAT Climate SAF, SCOPE-CM, WMO SDS-WAS, AEMET, BSC-CNS, WMO Expert team on extended to long range forecasts, WMO/GFCS expert team on climate services information system,
• Write and publish scientific articles on Long range forecast and climate change; and contribute to state of Africa climate report
• provide guideline on climate information, bulletins and statements or briefs for planning, policy and decision making for Agriculture Health and DRM sectors.
• Performs any other duties related to the program as may be assigned by supervisors;
• Perform any other duties related to the programme as may be assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Candidates must have a minimum of a University Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Sciences, Meteorology, Atmospheric Physics, Climatology, or related qualification.
• A higher academic qualification will be an added advantage.
• Have a higher level training in atmospheric sciences and statistics
• At least three (3) years of relevant professional experience of which at least two (2) years should be at an equivalent or higher level at an international level. Experience working in the fields of meteorology, climatology, climate change, environment, atmospheric modeling, environmental assessment, geography and disaster risk reduction

Required Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Sound planning and organizational skills;
• Advanced knowledge of climate change and meteorology technical processes;
• Knowledge of the use of data from regional and global climate models for climate simulations and predictions at the level of the sub-region, countries, watersheds, impacts, and forecasts of risks and disasters linked to climates;
• Proven knowledge and practice of policy development and analysis;
• Experience in the ECCAS region is an added advantage.
• Good knowledge of LINUX and Window operating systems and Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher).Proficiency in one of the AU working languages (Arabic, English, French Portuguese, Spanish) is a requirement; fluency in more languages is an added advantage;

Desired skills:

• Have additional training and experience in project management;
• Have excellent teamwork skills and the ability to interact with a range of people;
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be able to communicate specialized information to non-specialists;
• Be able to work flexibly for hours and under pressure, and have multitasking capabilities;
• Have a high attention to detail and precision in the work

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Insight.
• Developing others.
• Change Management.
• Managing Risk.

Core Competencies:

• Building Relationship.
• Foster Accountability Culture.
• Learning Orientation.
• Communicating with Influence.

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking.
• Job Knowledge and information sharing.
• Drive for result.
• Continuous improvement orientation.

Tenure Of Appointment
The Appointment will be made on a fixed term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming
The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration
The salary attached to the position is an annual lump-sum of US$ 80,801.70 (P2 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$  65,992.92  inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

Application Closing Date
1st July, 2021.