Title: Springshed Management Associate (project position for Nepali nationals only)

Thematic Area: Water and Air

Water and Air

ICIMOD’s Water and Air Thematic Area houses competencies related to water and atmospheric issues. It fosters regional and transboundary exchange and dialogue to promote integrated water and land management and air quality monitoring. These competencies are applied in ICIMOD’s six Regional Programmes to foster inter and transdisciplinary research and development activities, thereby delivering a positive impact in the HKH. 

From physical, ecological, and social perspectives, the Water and Air Thematic Area analyses the demand and future availability of water from mountains; cryosphere dynamics; rivers, springs, and watersheds; water-related hazards including floods and droughts; the potential impacts of climate and anthropogenic changes; hydropower development; and the role of hill and mountain irrigation in providing food security. The Thematic Area also focuses on improving quantitative understanding of atmospheric transport, chemicals and microphysical processes, emission sources within and up-wind of the region, and the impacts of atmospheric change on the health of poor communities and on the cryosphere. It focuses on developing solutions at a variety of scales, from community to national policy levels, and fostering regional cooperation. It also addresses transboundary issues, especially within the water–food–energy nexus, including benefit-sharing and building community resilience. Regional cooperation on atmospheric monitoring, data sharing, and mitigation is an important component of the thematic work.

Mountain springs are the primary source of water for millions of people in the mid-hills of the HKH. Both rural and urban communities depend on springs for meeting their drinking, domestic, and agricultural water needs. Springs also contribute to the base flows of rivers in this region. There is increasing evidence of drying springs, reducing spring discharge, and deteriorating spring water quality in many parts of the HKH. As a result, communities are facing unprecedented water stress causing much hardship to local people and greater drudgery for women and children, who are traditionally responsible for fetching water for household use. The exact extent of this problem is not well-known given that sufficient data on this problem has not been gathered. The drying of springs is a regional phenomenon, its consequences felt across the HKH – from Afghanistan to Myanmar. Few local, national, and international organizations have started scientific studies and policy advocacy on gender-responsive springshed management, but more needs to be done, especially given the regional nature of the problem.

The Springshed Management Associate is a project-based position for the Resilient Mountain Solutions Initiative to support the implementation of action research, pilots, and capacity-building activities and to contribute to the reporting and administrative tasks of a project coordinated by ICIMOD entitled “Building water security and resilience in the Himalayas through springshed management”.  

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Senior Specialist (Water and Air) and with guidance from the Programme Coordinator (Resilient Mountain Solutions Initiative), the Springshed Management Associate will be responsible for the following:

• Contribute to research, pilots, and capacity building 
• Help in field-level data collection and analysis  
• Conduct desk research on new and relevant policy/scientific information useful for the project
• Review partners report and contribute to progress report writing and scientific publications 
• Keep track of all the deliverables and timely reporting 
• Prepare for interactions and workshops with partners and all other stakeholders
• Prepare short notes and information sheets
• Support the Senior Specialist and Programme Coordinator with partner-level information and management of the project to ensure timeliness and quality of the deliverables 

Minimum qualifications 

• A master’s degree, preferably in physical sciences, hydrology, geology, geography, or related fields, with at least one year of relevant work experience is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the more advanced university degree. 
• Minimum of one year experience in water resource management specific to the Himalaya region (specific knowledge of springshed management would be preferable)
• Experience in organizing events and training courses
• Experience in writing journal papers and research and technical reports

Competencies

• Teamwork and Cooperation: Works collaboratively in a team, seeking opinions and feedback to find solutions and meet team objectives
• Results Orientation: Takes responsibility of fulfilling challenging goals set in line with organizational processes
• Cross-Cultural Impact: Adjusts to cultural differences to ensure broad participation
• Analytical Thinking: Seeks out information that will support decision making and help achieve objectives
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Seeks to improve work processes by implementing new practices and technologies
• Self-Development: Displays a positive attitude towards learning and professional development
• Developing Others: Provides feedback on the performance or output of others to smoothen working relations and operational workflow

Duration

This is a project position for up to December, 2022, with a probation period of three months, starting as early as possible.

Starting date : As soon as possible. 

Remuneration : Salaries and benefits at ICIMOD are competitive as compared to other regional organizations; remunerations is commensurate with experience and qualifications. 

Duty station : The duty station is Kathmandu. Frequent travel and field work will be required.

Gender and Equity Policy 

Qualified and eligible women candidates and those from disadvantaged backgrounds are highly encouraged to apply. ICIMOD implements a gender equity policy and is supportive of working women. It operates a day-care centre at the campus and is committed to the integration of gender issues at organizational and programmatic levels.