FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Terms of Reference for NPP /PSA.NAT
Job Title: WEAP – MODFLOW specialist National Consultant, Sana’a Water Basin Project
Division/Department: FNYAR
Programme/Project Number: TFNL110014325 (GCP/YEM/036/NET)
Location: Sana’a, Yemen
Expected Start Date of Assignment: 01 July 2015 Duration: 6 Months
Reports to: Name: TBC Title: WEAP-MODFLOW Specialist, Sana’a Water Basin Project
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TASK(S) AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED
Under the overall supervision of the FAO representative in Yemen and direct technical guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor, the Consultant on MODFLOW and WEAP will concentrate her/his attention on the development of MODFLOW and WEAP model based on the gathered and available data by the NWRA,NIP and NHRRS teams. Satellite data will be purchased and presented as GIS layers (DEM “Digital Elevation Model” on themes such as soil and land use, location of rainfall and weather stations, stream and direction of flow, and topography).The available surface-and groundwater flow data will be used in these tools as main hydrological input. Rainfall data will be used to estimate amount of runoff, net evaporation from sub basins, groundwater recharge and inter-annual variation in irrigation demand. This exercise shall also use data from previous studies, whenever considered useful. The available water resources shall be modelled with WEAP, taken a pre-set base year. This analysis shall include also non-conventional water resources, such as wastewater generated by the city of Sana’a. The water resources shall also be described in terms water quality and in terms of estimated surface and groundwater outflow.
Satellite data will be purchased and presented as GIS layers (DEM “Digital Elevation Model” on themes such as soil and land use, location of rainfall and weather stations, stream and direction of flow, and topography).The available surface- and groundwater flow data will be used in these tools as main hydrological input. Rainfall data will be used to estimate amount of runoff, net evaporation from sub basins, groundwater recharge and inter-annual variation in irrigation demand. This exercise shall also use data from previous studies, whenever considered useful. The available water resources shall be modelled with WEAP, taken a pre-set base year. This analysis shall include also non-conventional water resources, such as wastewater generated by the city of Sana’a. The water resources shall also be described in terms of water quality and in terms of estimated surface and groundwater flow.
The Sana’a Basin Project covers communities in four sub-basins of the Sana’a Basin, viz. wadi Bani Hawat (nr 9), wadi Zahr/al Ghay (nr 14), Wadi Hamdan (nr 15) and wadi Ghayman (nr 19). In these four sub-basins, 27 WUAs were established in the past and about 15 will be created by this Project. The overall aim of the Project is to improve the livelihood conditions by developing sustainable (agricultural) production systems which will be based, among others, on sustainable water resources management principles within the sub-basins.
The sustainable IWRM plan, as one of the project components, will consider proper management of wastewater in sub-basin 9, which require careful training and regulation of farmers of safe reuse of effluent from the treatment plant. The plans will include an assessment whether additional water resources development projects may be feasible, such as optimization of dams, water retention capacities, or temporary groundwater recharge options. The projected water balance shall again be included in the WEAP model.
In addition to the activities directly related to the process of community mobilization, NWRA-SB will start with the improvement and expansion of the monitoring system. Together with the Project team, the system of data collection will be defined as to ensure that sufficient and qualitative data will be collected on the subjects of weather, surface and groundwater in principle. Further processing of these data to ensure that the MODFLOW and WEAP models will be fully operational in the first year.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The WEAP – MODFLOW) – GIS specialist, will work under the direct supervision of the Project’s Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and in close consultation with the national consultant (Water Resources Monitoring Consultant) on the same topic
The incumbent will carry out the following duties:
• Collect together with NWRA-SB, NIP and NHRRS teams the water resources-related data, such as well survey, spatial information, water use, and other data required for the development and running of the water models (MODFLOW and WEAP) using GIS.
• In close cooperation with NWRA-SB Team the consultant shall conduct the processing of the data collected to ensure that the MODFLOW and WEAP models will be fully operational.
• Develop the different water management scenarios using WEAP to account for possible changes in the evolution of the water demands, groundwater abstraction, water conservation programs and infrastructural development.
• In close consultation with the water monitoring specialist, include the projected water balance in the WEAP, MODFLOW model.
• Using the WEAP model, a reliable assessment of the monthly and annual water demands in the four sub-basins shall be obtained.
• Provide to the WUAs/ FAs operational and useful information through MODFLOW and WEAP models.
• Assess the training needs and provide training and support to the NWRA-SB, NIP and NHRRS staffs as well as WUAs/FAs heads in using WEAP and MODFLOW software.
• Develop indicators on integrating WEAP and MODFLOW in developing and implementing the WUAs/FAs strategic and implementation plans and monitor tools;
• Inform the national and international consultants about the most effective way to include the modelled data in their approach, advice and operations;
• Plans and budget: Prepare and manage detailed work plans and budget for the Modelling component of the Project, thereby including the main implementing government agencies.
• Monitoring: Define and apply clear indicators for monitoring whether the future water management scenarios of WUAs/FAs and service providers are applied effectively;
• Communication and Reporting: Create an effective communication between the members of the WUAs in the sub-basin and make sure water management scenarios are understood in the Sana’a basin Committee meetings. Report regularly to the WUA leaders on the modelling component. Co-operate with the CTA in preparing the (semi-) annual and Project completion reports. Present the results and findings of the good practices and success stories, including policy processes, and a concise set of policy considerations derived from the experience.
• Perform any other related tasks/duties as may be required.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
• University degree in water resources engineering or a related field.
• At least 5 years of Experience with water modelling such as WEAP, MODFLOW models and GIS.
• Knowledge of IWRM issues and international cooperation.
• Ability to work within a team of professional staff from diverse technical and cultural backgrounds.
• Fluent in English and Arabic with excellent communication skills at all levels of society.
EXPECTED OUTPUT
• The development of MODFLOW and WEAP model based on the gathered and available data by the NWRA,NIP and NHRRS teams;
• Participate in the projected water balance in the WEAP, MODFLOW model.
• Raise the awareness the WUAs/FAs water management scenarios derived from WEAP.
• End-of-mission report following the end of assignment that includes the activities as well as the lessons learned from this experience and recommendations on the way forward
Topic "FAO Job Posting: "WEAP–MODFLOW Specialist" in Yemen"
