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The Horn of Africa (HoA) stands out as one of the world's most fragile regions, facing intricate development issues such as Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV), alongside food crises and challenging socio-political and economic conditions. The borderlands within the HoA suffer from high poverty rates. Famine pockets, notably in places like Somalia, perpetuate food insecurity across the region. The primary drivers of food crises in the HoA are armed conflict, ethnic violence, economic instabilities, macroeconomic hurdles, as well as climate change-induced irregular or insufficient rainfall and the menace of desert locusts. Additionally, the region's population is rapidly growing and projected to reach 250 million by 2030. 

Climate-induced shocks in the HoA are escalating tensions over scarce natural resources, particularly regarding water and land. This contributes to food insecurity and poses heightened risks to public health. Changes in rainfall and temperature will significantly affect the water cycle, water resources, drought frequency, erratic floods, and consequently exacerbate conflicts such as disputes between farmers and pastoralists or host communities and refugees, particularly in water-scarce areas. Alterations in pasture and water availability due to climate changes could intensify disputes over land and water resources, worsening cases of gender-based violence. 

These challenges significantly impact the HoA’s borderlands, which have long been associated with economic hardship and chronic poverty, but also offer economic potential and trade opportunities. Situated at the fringes of state authority, these borderlands often grapple with low agricultural productivity, environmental deterioration, food insecurity, conflict, and involuntary displacements. Largely devoid of public policies and investments, they lack basic services and formal institutions. However, these regions also present economic prospects linked to both formal and informal trade, including cross-border price differences, as well as pastoralism, a vital source of local livelihoods. 

Groundwater holds a crucial role in fortifying climate resilience in the HoA's borderlands. Unfortunately, this resource remains largely overlooked and underutilized. In a region where surface water is scarce due to high temperatures and evapotranspiration rates, groundwater stands as the most dependable source to ensure consistent water supplies for domestic, agricultural, and livestock usage. It acts as a natural reservoir during droughts, aiding in adapting to unpredictable climate changes and shocks. Despite its substantial potential, groundwater exploitation remains largely untapped in the HoA. 

The Horn of Africa Groundwater for Resilience Program (GW4R) addresses these challenges at the regional level. The Program builds on existing institutional efforts across the region to reduce vulnerability and build resilience. Its objective is to “increase the sustainable access and management of groundwater in the Horn of Africa’s borderlands”. 

The first of the three pillars of GW4R focuses on the Enhancement of the HoA GW Data Hub.

The Pillar aims at enhancing groundwater data sharing in the Horn of Africa (HoA) by promoting collaboration and helping to establish an integrated data hub (I.e., IGAD Groundwater Information System, GWIS). This involves working in close collaboration with IGAD and engaging stakeholders to identify diverse data types and sources, both through direct discussions and collaborative sessions. Further, support updating, maintaining, validating, and sharing comprehensive records of regional data and continuously improve the new/existing data management system with data insights and open data.

1. Quality assessment and harmonization of the HoA aquifer data groundwater-potential map layers provided by the World Bank.
2. User needs analysis and presentation of the needed features of a Collaborative Platform on Shared Data Management among IGAD Member States.
3. Engage stakeholders in discussions aiming for groundwater data standardization to facilitate collaborative data understanding, targeting georeferenced formats and a common Coordinate Reference System (CRS).
4. Develop a Data Quality Assessment and Improvement plan to ensure the accuracy and reliability of collected data.
5. Report on Global Practices in Incorporating Big Data, Citizen Science, and Machine Learning in Data Management.
6. Facilitate data-based decision-making by assessing the integration of analytical tools into IGAD’s Groundwater Information System.
7. Create a comprehensive guide to facilitate the integration of data from the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme's Water Information Network System (IHP WINS) into the Groundwater Information System (GWIS) of IGAD.
8. Conduct training sessions for IGAD member states and prepare documentation capturing the collaborative insights and knowledge accumulated.
9. Conduct research for developing a Geographic Information System (GIS) tool for predicting borehole successful siting using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) involving a comprehensive review of existing methodologies and technologies.

• Advanced university degree (Masters or equivalent) in Geospatial Science, Data Science, Hydrogeology, Geology (with GIS experience), or related disciplines.

• Expertise in hydrogeological data analysis, proficiency in GIS software, and experience with groundwater mapping.
• Excellent skills in GIS and knowledge of Multi-Criteria Design Analysis methodologies; familiarity with database management.
• Experience in user needs analysis, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience in data quality assessment, data management, quality assurance methodologies and data integration.
• Experience in supporting and implementing projects in the IGAD Region is highly desirable.
• Previous experience working in the UN Common System is desirable.

• Capacity to produce high-quality analytical reports.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (English Language).
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel. 
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

• Nairobi with travel to the IGAD Region when necessary

• Starts: 1 September 2024
• Ends: 30 July 2025

• Please send your CV to nairobi.recruitment@unesco.org and copy to a.makarigakis@unesco.org before 26 August 2024 (midnight Nairobi time).

Note: UNESCO DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.