A. Organization Introduction

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/.

B. Department Introduction

The Risk Analytics and Climate Services (ACS) Department at ADPC is a multi-disciplinary team of experts committed to providing innovative, science-based solutions for actions to adapt to climate change and mitigate the impacts of disasters. The innovations include uses of geospatial technology, satellite data, numerical models, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence for assessing vulnerability and risk, generating climate data, developing early warning systems, forecasting possible climate impacts, and informing anticipatory actions. These lead to risk-informed developments in sectors such as agriculture, transportation, water resources, energy, communications and health.

The department also applies advanced geoinformatics and climate analytics to address water and food security issues by assessing water availability and water-use efficiency, groundwater monitoring, assessing drought risks, and optimizing agricultural productivity, hence ensuring sustainable water and food systems in vulnerable regions. The department promotes Nature-Based Solutions by leveraging ecosystem services such as wetland restoration, agroforestry, and green-gray infrastructure to reduce disaster risks and build climate resilience. Lastly, the department produces risk analytics and integrates them into urban plans and engineering designs of critical infrastructures, hence improving their resilience to disasters and climate change.

With a commitment to a science-based approach, the department envisions empowering stakeholders to reduce risks, adapt to climate change, and build more resilient communities and ecosystems.

C. Statement of Intent

ADPC is supporting the Department of Meteorology (DOM), Sri Lanka as the Systems Integrator (SI) for modernizing its services and functions under the “Climate Resilience Multi-Phase Programmatic Approach” (CResMPA) project funded by the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) with the support of the World Bank. The goal of the project is to strengthen the capability of DOM in managing the impacts of weather-related phenomena and climate change thus providing safer living conditions, reduce economic losses, prevent loss of lives, and improve overall preparedness for disaster management. The improved meteorological infrastructure will contribute to the sustainable development of the overall economic activities in Sri Lanka.

As part of the implementation project, ADPC intends to hire a GIS & Database Management Expert (National Consultant) on a time-based contract related to GIS and Database Management for modernizing DOM’s services and functions.

D. Scope of Work

The scope of work covers the assessment of existing GIS and remote sensing related services and weather, climate and impact database management services and design integration of numerous GIS and database management systems and sub-systems to strengthen and modernize DOM’s services and functions.

E. Expected Outputs:

The following outputs are expected to be delivered by the GIS and Database Management Expert:

Output 1: Comprehensive assessment report(s) of existing GIS and remote sensing related services and weather, climate and impact database management services which utilize DOM’s services and functions.

Output 2: Technical specifications for Terms of Reference (ToRs) and bidding documents to procure the equipment and services required under the project.

Outputs 3: Machine-readable meteorological database (digitized historical meteorological data), using an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Output 4: Digital graphs of historical Thermographs, Pluviographs and heliographs using available software at DOM.

Output 5: Inputs to the quarterly, annual and final reports of the project.

Output 6: Inputs to the training and capacity building activities.

F. Responsibilities and Tasks:

The GIS and Database Management Expert will be responsible for:

Task 1: Provide written technical inputs to the assessment report of the phase-1 of the project in close consultation with Team Leader, project team and the DOM staff members (onsite).

Task 2: Provide technical support in converting handwritten meteorological data into machine-readable formats (digitizing meteorological observed data) using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software, in close collaboration with Climate Data Division of DOM (onsite).

Task 3: Provide technical support in converting Thermographs, Pluviographs and heliographs into digital graphs using available software at DOM (onsite).

Task 4: Provide inputs to prepare technical specifications for Terms of Reference (ToRs) and bidding documents to procure the services and equipment required under the project related to GIS and database management services and functions.

Task 5: Provide technical assistance, supervision and oversight for the implementation of GIS and database management services.

Task 6: Provide oversight and support to the Integration of various elements of the modernization packages.

Task 7: Inputs to the quarterly, annual, and final report of the project

Task 8: Inputs into the training and capacity building activities.

G. Working Principles:

The GIS and Database Management Expert (National Consultant) for contractual provisions will report to the Program Lead, Climate Services of ACS department and will maintain close coordination with the project Team Leader. In addition, he/she will communicate with the project team members, focal points and other relevant staff members of DOM to ensure the production of outputs and their delivery in compliance with project workplan and schedule.

H. Qualifications:

The candidate should at least have:

• Master’s or higher degree in - Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Computer Science, Data Science, Geography, Environmental Science, or a related field
• 10 years’ experience in spatial data analysis and mapping, database management, programming & automation, data visualization & reporting
• Skills and experience in handling optical character recognition (OCR) packages to convert handwritten data into machine-readable formats are an advantage
• Skills and experience in converting paper-based graphs/plots into digital graphs are an advantage
• Expertise in developing web-based online interactive GIS dashboards for data visualization and analytical purposes.
• Prior experience in working/collaborating with government institutions in Sri Lanka as an GIS expert or database management specialist is a strong advantage
• Excellent command of written and spoken English

I. Duty Station: Department of Meteorology, Colombo, Sri Lanka

J. Duration:

The consultant's assignment will commence on July 20, 2025, for 180 days and conclude on July 14, 2026. The contract duration may be extended or amended to accommodate the remaining period of the project, until December 31, 2026.

K. Itinerary:

The contract is expected to commence on July 15, 2025, and conclude on July 14, 2026. Any official travel required during the contract period must be approved in advance by the Director of ACS. Approved travel expenses will be covered by ADPC in accordance with its travel policy and will be reimbursed separately from the consultant’s remuneration.

L. Condition of payment:

Payments will be made on the monthly timesheet and will be credited to the consultant’s designated bank account. No additional compensation will be provided unless prior written approval for extra expenses is obtained from the designated authority. The consultant is responsible for bearing any associated bank charges. All payments are inclusive of income tax and VAT, which the consultant is solely responsible for declaring and settling

M. Selection Method:

The candidate will be selected in accordance with ADPC’s recruitment process and policy guidelines