This position is a fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension based on performance and project requirements. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission for the country office designated. WRI is not able to sponsor work authorization for this position.
Consultant Position Title:
Air Quality Data and Engagement Consultant
Manager/Point of Contact:
Beatriz Cardenas
Consultancy Type:
Fixed Price
Consultancy Term:
12/15/2023
Through
8/15/2024
Location:
Colombia, Mexico, Kenya, Uganda[BC1]
Dept/Program/Center:
Cities Program
Consultant Location:
Mexico
(Optional) Other Info & Comments:
Summary
The WRI Air Quality Program intends to award a consultant an eight-month fixed price contract to evaluate the performance of our NASA Air Quality (AQ) Forecast tool in four cities - Bogota, Kampala, Nairobi, and Monterrey - as well as to engage policymakers in Monterrey and Bogota around the use of the AQ forecast tool. This is an essential component of the teamโs CanAIRy Alert project, which aims to deliver air quality monitoring tools for cities in low- and middle-income countries.
Program Overview
WRIโs air quality team applies a data-to-action approach to addressing these bottlenecks, working directly with city governments in LMICs worldwide on a range of projects (USAID-funded Clean Air Catalyst, U.S. State Dept.-funded South-East Asia Community of practice, etc.). WRIโs strategy focuses on translating existing, already-paid for science into decision-relevant, action-provoking and locally relevant tools.
Scope of Work and Deliverables/Outputs
- Conduct a literature review of AQ forecast model evaluation performance. Use findings to contribute to internal WRI reports generated as part of CanAIRy Alert phase I, proposing a methodology to evaluate model performance for Nairobi, Kampala, Bogota and Monterrey.
- Review and provide an analysis of the functionality of the bias-corrected air quality forecast, as well as an accompanying methodology[SW2], available in CanAIRy alert
- Conduct evaluation[SW3] of the bias-corrected AQ forecast [BC4]model for the cities of Bogota, Monterrey, Kampala and Nairobi with NASA and city-level data provided by WRI, producing a report synthesizing the modelโs performance in each city. [SW5]
- Contribute analyses to final report on the evaluation performance model for Bogota[SW6], Nairobi, Monterrey and Kampala. The report will include a section with recommendation of options for potential to operationalize the process.
- Design and prepare content for a training session to air quality practitioners from Nairobi, Kampala, Monterrey and Bogota on air quality forecast model performance evaluation.
- Participate as trainer in 4 [SW7][BC8][BC9]virtual sessions on AQ performance evaluation to AQ practitioners.
- Review Pollution Insights pilot tool, delivering short report on recommendations and proposed options to operationalize and make it available as a tool.
- Contribute to developing a Data Protocol for environmental municipal policymakers and data providers that could assist in utilizing the AQ forecast evaluation.[SW10][BC11]
- Participate in periodical meetings (frequency biweekly, half an hour).
Consultant Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in physics, engineering, or atmospheric sciences
- MS or PhD, ideally in data analytics
- 3 years of experience of analyses of environmental and/or health analyses
- Intermediate to Advanced Matlab
- Intermediate to Advanced Python
- Intermediate to Advanced SQL (Structured Query Language)
- Intermediate-level English, Advanced-level Spanish
Evaluation and Selection
The following elements will be the primary considerations in evaluating all applications submitted in response to this posting;
- The extent to which the applicantโs proposal fulfills WRIโs stated requirements and ability to carry out the activities and deliverables as set out in this posting
- Demonstrated expertise and experience with similar projects
- Overall cost of the applicantโs proposal
- Sustainability โ WRI values sustainability and all other factors being equal, will favor a proposal that can more sustainably perform the work.