Call for Experts: DRRS Kazakhstan - Flood Risk Management

Context
Early April 2024 large floodings have taken place in both Russia and downstream Kazakhstan, after fast-melting snow swelled the Ural River, Europe’s third-longest, causing it to burst its banks and flood cities and towns along its path. The Dutch government has been asked to support the Kazakh government in their response. DRRS has visited Kazakhstan from April 15-18 to provide advice provide the Kazakh government with guidance during the immediate emergency phase, make an analysis of how the Dutch government and water sector can assist during this response phase and after this flood disaster. As a result of this visit, two MoUs on water management have been signed between the Kazakh Ministry on Water Resources and Irrigation and IHE Delft, and between the Kazakh Ministry on Water Resources and Irrigation and the Dutch Ministry on Foreign Affairs.

RVO, in collaboration with IHE and the Netherlands Embassy in Astana are currently preparing for a knowledge exchange collaboration between Kazakhstan and The Netherlands on Flood Risk Management (FRM) technologies as follow up on the DRRS visit in April this year.

Approach and goal of the support
The general approach of the collaboration week is to have lectures, discussions and hands-on exercises in information technologies for diverse aspects in Flood Risk Management (FRM), covering the entire cycle in prevention, preparation, response, recovery and adaptation. The collaboration is primarily aimed at technicians from the relevant Kazakh-authorities. However, the general lectures and discussions are also prepared to be useful for policy makers and managers. That way, during these parts, authorities are invited to engage in discussions and provide specific input on the needs and requirements in Kazakhstan. Points from these exchanges will be used to align exercises, and to inform the programme of a follow-up collaboration week, to be held at a later moment in 2024. 

Requirements
The team leader for this assignment has been selected. This expert has experience with flood risk management (technologies), and a good understanding of the national and institutional context.

To complete the DRRS team for Kazakhstan, we are looking for the following expertise:

A local access specialist: 
-    Strong knowledge of the local working context;
-    A broad institutional network;
-    A relevant local network in Kazakhstan to be utilized;
-    Speaking Russian and/or other relevant local languages.

A data / flood modelling specialist: 
-    Expertise on hydrological/flood modelling including use of open-source data tools (e.g. Delft FEWS);
-    Expertise on interpolation and extrapolation of hydrological data.

A data / early warning and early action specialist:
-    Expertise on early warning, forecasting systems and data tools;
-    Expertise on Earth Observation Technologies.

A flood technology implementation specialist:
-    Expertise on the implementation of flood prevention, response and adaptation tools;
-    Ability to adapt (international) flood prevention tools to the local context where applicable.

Overall requirements for this multi-disciplinary expert team:
-    Able to rapidly assess situations and data and provide conceptual and practical solutions;
-    Experience in and knowledge of the local/regional context;
-    Ability to be a relevant sparring partner for the local officials and to provide feedback on the existing plans and ideas, as well as provide input for suitable alternatives; 
-    Excellent presentation and reporting skills in English;
-    Good communication skills in English;
-    Familiarity and practical experience with complex (governance) systems;
-    Experience with International Financial Institutions (IFIs) is an asset.
-    Expertise on stakeholder participation.

Planning
The knowledge exchange collaboration is scheduled in the week of August 26th. Preparation for the visit has started.

Interested? Kindly share a short motivation and an updated CV to drrs@rvo.nl by Friday, July 19th at the latest.