Background
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are core principles at UNDP: we value diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate, we foster inclusion as a way of ensuring all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, and we ensure equity and fairness in all our actions. Taking a ‘leave no one behind’ approach to our diversity efforts means increasing representation of underserved populations. People who identify as belonging to marginalized or excluded populations are strongly encouraged to apply. Learn more about working at UNDP including our values and inspiring stories. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development. Together with the Government of India and development partners, we have worked towards eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, strengthening local governance, enhancing community resilience, protecting the environment, supporting policy initiatives and institutional reforms, and accelerating sustainable development for all.
With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to supporting the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerating the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.
UNDP India’s new Country Programme (2023-2027) builds on our prior work and aims to provide an integrated approach to development solutions in three strategic portfolios:
- Strong, accountable and evidence-led institutions for accelerated achievement of the SDGs.
- Enhanced economic opportunities and social protection to reduce inequality, with a focus on the marginalized.
- Climate-smart solutions, sustainable ecosystems and resilient development for reduced vulnerability.
South-South cooperation, gender equality and social inclusion are promoted across the pillars. The programme is supported by a framework of renewed partnerships and blended finance solutions, strategic innovation and accelerator labs, and data and digital architecture.
You are invited to join a team of future-smart development professionals to support India in achieving the national and globally agreed goals. As part of the UNDP team, your focus will be to work with diverse stakeholders to find country-specific solutions that lead to sustainable development and reach those furthest behind first.
The Government of India’s flagship schemes Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and KCC/MISS have become important tools to strengthen the resilience of Indian farmers. The schemes ensure maximum benefits for the farmers by providing financial risk protection against natural calamities and catastrophic events including pests, climate uncertainties and environmental shocks. Apart from providing comprehensive risk coverage for the entire crop cycle, PMFBY also enables direct claim transfer into farmers’ accounts through e-remittance. Additionally, to address agrarian distress, Kisan Credit Card/ Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) was introduced by the Government of India to provide cheap and hassle-free credit for millions of farmers and to ensure continued investment into agriculture to bring in mechanization, modernize agriculture practices and eventually enhance productivity.
UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2023-2027) intended Outcome 2 states that “By 2027, people will benefit from and contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth through higher productivity, competitiveness and diversification in economic activities that create decent work, livelihoods, and income particularly for youth and women”. UNDP leverages its expertise in systems strengthening to support the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare (MoA&FW) through setting up of a Central Program Management Unit (CPMU) for the implementation of PMFBY and KCC, to improve institutional and programme responsiveness, increase coverage and better access among marginalised and excluded farm households, offering innovative measures and support mechanisms for Agri-value chain financing, risk management and reduced crop loss for the rural population in India. The PMU will also focus on providing Capacity Building and Training support to participating state-level government departments involved in PMFBY and KCC and advancing the scheme among new states for improved uptake.
Within the overall framework of UNDP’s ongoing programme with MoA&FW, institutional strengthening support is extended to MNCFC by setting up a TIC (Technology Implementation Cell) which will provide Remote Sensing and Geospatial support to MNCFC for the successful implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). This will involve carrying out operational activities and R&D activities for using satellite and other collateral data and models and GIS tools for the national crop insurance programme. MNCFC has been assigned with the responsibility of mainstreaming the geospatial technology solutions under PMFBY’s national initiatives i.e. YES-TECH, WINDS and CROPIC and support other tech interventions like a) Smart sampling locations to States, b) Yield dispute resolution, c) Area discrepancy analysis, d) Crop situation assessment etc.
Direct Reporting To: Remote Sensing Analyst, NPSA 9
Duties and Responsibilities
The Agrometeorology Associate – Technical Implementation Cell will work under the overall guidance and supervision of the Director, MNCFC. The Agrometeorology Associate will be responsible for all development and maintenance activities of desktop and web applications related to PMFBY, in addition to creating a visualization and analysis platform for a wide range of data.
Ensure Data Analysis and Implementation of Technology Solutions
- Analysing, pre-processing, and preparing reports on weather data, weather forecasting, hydrometeorology and application of weather information system on Agriculture, disaster risk management and climatic risk reduction and mitigation.
- Ground truth data collection, supervision and monitoring collection and dissemination of weather data from AWS/ARGs, validation of data loggers and standard specifications of siting and sensors of AWS/ARGs.
- Generation of weather data surfaces through interpolation
- Comparison of multi-source weather datasets and develop techniques for bias correction.
Research & Development and Knowledge Management
- Weather data analytics, weather forecasting, agrometeorology based advisories, agriculture risk propensity mapping of areas, weather parametric solutions for climatic risk and agriculture risk protection.
- Prepare report on weather data discrepancies, periodic weather forecasting, periodic hydro-meteorology reports, agro-advisories etc.
Support in Training, Capacity Building and Partnerships
- Provide inputs to training on the application of weather data, weather forecasting and hydrometeorology and mobile technology for weather information dissemination as and when required and necessary.
- Foster partnerships with key National, State government departments, State Remote Sensing Application Centre and relevant technical institutions on technology solution for Weather data collation and analysis, forecasting and agriculture risk advisories.
Provision of effective project support
- Provide timely inputs for the timely submission of all progress reports and presentations as may be required.
Perform any other tasks consistent with the level of the post and/ or assigned by the Remote Sensing & Geo-Spatial Specialist and Remote Sensing Tech. The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Competencies
Core competencies:
- Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline
- Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
- Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
- Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
- Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
- Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Digital & Innovation
- Geospatial analysis: Skilled in techniques which study entities using their topological, geometric, or geographic properties
- Data collection: Being skilled in Data Sorting, Data Cleaning, Survey Administration, Presentation and Reporting including collection of Real-Time Data (e.g., mobile data, satellite data, sensor data).
- Data engineering: Ability in programming languages such as SQL, Python, and R, be adept at finding warehousing solutions, and using ETL (Extract, Transfer, Load) tools, and understanding basic machine learning and algorithms.
- Data governance: Knowledge of data science, skills to develop data management tools, organize and maintain databases and operate data visualization technologies.
Business Management
- Monitoring: Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme performance and results
- Evaluation: Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks – Ability to anticipate client’s upcoming needs and concerns
Information Management & Technology
- IT Research and Development: Regular following new technologies and technical trends, research the technologies that are applicable and beneficial to the organization and develop the systems
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary education is required.
- A University (Bachelor’s) degree in Agrometeorology/ Meteorology/ Agriculture Physics/ Agronomy/ from a recognized university or related field will be given due consideration. but it is not a requirement.
Experience:
- Minimum of 7 years (with High school diploma) or 4 years (with bachelor’s degree) of relevant demonstrable experience at the national or international level in large weather data handling / weather data quality control / long term weather data analysis/spatial data analysis is required.
- At least 4 years of expertise in GIS based analysis using weather and various other dataset.
- Proficiency in computer programming for handling large weather data/weather-based risk analysis/assessment of crop/yield losses due to extreme weather events
- Experience in project Management practices and ability to formulate and manage budgets,
- Experience and broad-based knowledge across cross cutting thematic areas such climate risk management.
- Prior experience in strategic planning, result – based management and reporting.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Hands-on experience in design, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of projects,
- Demonstrated ability to guide the Project Management Unit in implementing and achieving project outcomes
- At least 2 years of demonstrable experience in relevant role with government project related to weather data analysis (spatial/gridded and station data) / Crop Yield Modelling.
- Working experience in computer language Python, Esri’s ArcGIS and associated extensions, and ERDAS IMAGINE; knowledge of other GIS and remote sensing software such as ENVI, QGIS, SNAP, GRASS, R computer language R etc.,
- In-depth knowledge and experience of weather data analysis/Quality control, Remote Sensing and GIS application in Agriculture/Forestry/Agro-Forestry and related field.
- Experience in crop loss modelling or agricultural statistics.
- Demonstrated ability to lead consultative meeting and provide training at National and state level with partners and senior stakeholders to identify priorities and manage the timely delivery of project activities.
- Experience of working with Central and/or State Governments/ National/ International / Public private agencies/on similar assignments
Language Requirement:
- Fluency in oral and writing skills in English and Hindi is required.
Disclaimer
Under US immigration law, acceptance of a staff position with UNDP, an international organization, may have significant implications for US Permanent Residents. UNDP advises applicants for all professional level posts that they must relinquish their US Permanent Resident status and accept a G-4 visa, or have submitted a valid application for US citizenship prior to commencement of employment.
UNDP is not in a position to provide advice or assistance on applying for US citizenship and therefore applicants are advised to seek the advice of competent immigration lawyers regarding any applications.
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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