Consultant – Early Warning Scoping – Remote – Remote

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

The Research and Learning Team at Mercy Corps has been testing how remittances can be used as a tool for anticipatory action to mitigate the impacts of tropical cyclones in Central America. In partnership with a financial service provider, Mercy Corps has designed a service through which individuals in the United States, who routinely send remittances to Central America, receive early warning messages and a small incentive to send money to friends and family in the projected storm path before the storm impacts the area. This model calls on diaspora networks and cross-boundary households to help vulnerable households prepare for climate disasters by sending well-timed remittances.

Purpose / Project Description:

Decisions on anticipatory action depend on timely and accessible early warning information. For tropical cyclones in the Western Hemisphere, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the leading authority on weather data and forecasts. The trigger for anticipatory action in this project is based on NHC forecast monitoring, which the team has automated to send emails at defined pre-trigger and trigger thresholds. These emails contain relevant weather data and forecasts, with links to original sources, to inform project decisions and ultimately determine when to send messages to project participants. In the third year of the study, we are planning to build upon this automated forecast monitoring to not only include the most up-to-date forecast information, but also local impacts. This is intended to serve the Remittances for Anticipatory Action project, as well as other Mercy Corps teams working in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Consultant Objectives:

To improve this project’s monitoring and support future anticipatory action and early action initiatives in the region, we are looking for an early warning system expert to:

1. Provide an overview of (a) existing sources of early warning information for tropical cyclones in the Caribbean Basin and Eastern Pacific regions and (b) reliable information sources on local impacts from local and international actors.
2. Identify gaps in existing early warning products based on analysis of a rubric with the following criteria: timing, format, access, audience, language, ability to access historical data, level of geographical data, and data sharing and interoperability. Key questions under each criterion include:
   1. Timing: When is data available in relation to the (expected) impacts of the tropical cyclone? When is data first available in the pre-impact phase, and how does this align with the lead time required for anticipatory action?
   2. Format: Is information in the form of a dashboard, an excel sheet, an email subscription, a tweet, etc.? How user-friendly is the format?
   3. Access: Is the data open access?
   4. Source: Where does the product’s data come from?
   5. Audience: Who is this product intended for?
   6. Language: What language is the data in?
   7. Ability to access historical data: Can historical data be pulled? What is the granularity of historical data?
   8. Level of geographic data: What level of geographical detail does the data provide: national, departmental, municipal, etc.? Does the product provide sufficient granularity to address the localized nature of impacts?
   9. Data sharing and interoperability: Is the data in a format that can be pulled automatically into a new early warning product? Will it require cleaning?
3. Provide recommendations for the creation of a new early warning product for humanitarian actors to receive information on forecasts and impacts sooner and more easily.
4. Co-draft the list of specifications for this new early warning product with the Remittances for Anticipatory Action study team.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will:

• Coordinate with the Remittances for Anticipatory Action study team.
• Conduct a desk review of existing early warning products and information sources on impacts of tropical cyclones in the region.
• Conduct interviews with relevant stakeholders and information providers in the region to supplement findings from the desk review as needed.
• Present findings in a scoping report, list of specifications, and internal presentation.

Consultant Deliverables:

The Consultant will:

1. Complete a scoping report (maximum 20 pages; corresponding to objectives 1-3 above). The consultant should expect one round of review from the study team and other key stakeholders.
2. Co-draft the list of specifications for this new early warning product with the Remittances for Anticipatory Action study team (corresponding to objective 4 above).
3. Present findings to the study team.

Timeframe / Schedule:

• January 9 – February 22: desk review and key informant interviews
• February 23: First draft of scoping report due
• February 23 – March 1: Mercy Corps study team reviews
• March 1 – 8: Consultant incorporates comments into final draft
• March 8: Final draft of scoping report due
• March 8: Final presentation of findings and recommendations to study team
• March 15: List of specifications due (co-created with study team)

The Consultant will report to:

Research Officer

The Consultant will work closely with:

Remittances for Anticipatory Action study team

Required Experience & Skills:

• Regional Expertise: Possess a minimum of 5 years of practical experience, specifically working with early warning systems, preferably in the Caribbean Basin and Eastern Pacific regions, with a focus on tropical cyclones.
• Language Proficiency: Proficient in both English and Spanish, with the ability to interpret and analyze early warning information, including emails, reports, and forecasts, to facilitate effective communication within the project team.
• Analytical Expertise: Strong analytical and synthesis skills to evaluate existing early warning products based on specified criteria such as timing, format, access, audience, language, historical data access, geographical data level, and data sharing/interoperability.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills to facilitate collaboration with the Remittances for Anticipatory Action study team, conduct interviews with stakeholders, and present findings in a clear and concise manner (required).
• Understanding of Humanitarian Context: Preferred experience working with humanitarian organizations, showcasing an understanding of the unique challenges and requirements in the context of anticipatory action and early action initiatives.
• Research and Reporting: Proven ability to conduct a comprehensive desk review of existing early warning products and information sources, as well as the capability to synthesize findings into a scoping report (maximum 20 pages).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated experience in conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders and information providers in the region to supplement desk review findings, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the local landscape.
• Collaborative Approach: Ability to coordinate effectively with the Remittances for Anticipatory Action study team, contributing to the co-drafting of specifications for the new early warning product.

To apply:

Please submit the following materials as part of your application:

1. CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Writing example (English)
4. Estimated LOE for this consultancy and daily rate

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

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Equal Employment Opportunity
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Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.