Mekong River Commission The role of MRC is to promote and coordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being MRC Secretariat is now recruiting a highly qualified consultant for the following consultancy International / Regional Consultant On Significance of Waterways for Navigation and GIS Navigation Programme (NAP), Operations Division Maximum of 70 working days starting from November 2011, based at the Office of the MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with travels to MRC Member Countries The Term of Reference and other information can be obtained at MRC websitehttp://www.mrcmekong.org. Women are encouraged to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be notified
Application procedures: The application should include (i) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets therequirements of the position, (ii) a detailed CV, and (iii) MRC Personal History Form. The position title and division/section must be indicated in the cover letter.The application should be sent to: Mekong River Commission Secretariat
P.O. Box 6101
Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org Closing date for applications: 28 October 2011
TERMS OF REFERENCE 1. Project Title: A Multivariate Approach to Determining Navigational Significance pertaining to Tributaries of the Mekong River System (Phase 2) & Ancillary Information Services 2. Title: International Consultant on Significance of Waterways for Navigation and GIS 3. Duty station: For this project the consultant is required to be working at Office Secretariat in Phnom Penh (OSP) with travels to MRC Member Countries 4. Duration: 70 working days from November 2011 5. Purpose and Objective: The Draft Scoping Report, 'A Multivariate Approach to Defining ‘Significance’ in regard to the Tributaries of the Mekong River System' presented at the 29th MRC Joint Committee in March 2009 focuses on water resources related developments on tributaries. The Report builds on an earlier preliminary study and further develops the concept of a multivariate analysis showing how ‘significance’ may be evaluated in terms of hydrology as well as other criteria, including water-quality, aquatic ecosystems, fisheries and navigation. The report also proposes a methodology allowing for a consistent assessment of cumulative impacts based on the topology and connectivity of the entire river network. Phase 1 of the Navigation Component of determining the significance of tributaries across the basin was finalized in April 2010 resulting in the production of a framework criteria for identifying significant tributaries, using basin wide datasets that were collected through desk studies and field data surveys. This work produced a comprehensive output, consisting of spatial datasets, thematic mapping and an evaluation report documenting the significance of approximately 80% of tributaries in the basin. In order to finalise this work it is therefore necessary to collect navigation related data on the remaining tributaries in Thailand and Viet Nam, and update the spatial datasets to provide 100% coverage of tributaries in the Mekong Basin. Furthermore, the existing report on Significant Navigable tributaries will require updating. In addition to the aforementioned tasks, data collected from stage 1 of the project must be combined with other spatial datasets including the updated digital hydrographic atlas to provide a resource of handheld devices containing a universal navigation dataset of the basin for use in future projects and research. As a final contribution, the expert will need to assist writing the project proposal on how to provide Low Water Navigation Alerts for the Upper Mekong stretches.
6. Outputs:
The consultant shall be required to deliver the following outputs: (i) Comprehensive assessment report on the significance of tributaries for navigation including updating of the phase 1 report on significant navigable tributaries; (ii) ArcGIS 9.x shapefiles, fully attributed with appropriate metadata indicating navigable stretches (wet and dry season average depth and tonnage), port locations, significant navigable tributaries based on the output of a multi-criteria analysis; (iii) Updated thematic maps displaying the content of the shapefiles specified in section 6(ii); (iv) ArcExplorer based desktop mapping system including the data specified in section 6(ii) combined with hydrographic and topographic data contained in the Updated Hydrographic Atlas, plus any additional layers stipulated by the Navigation Coordinator; (v) Garmin Custom map files to display the thematic data collected during the significance project integrated with the data contained in the Updated Hydrographic Atlas provisioned to five GPS units; (vi) Assist writing the project proposal on how to provide Low Water Navigation Alerts for the Upper Mekong stretches. (vii) Additional tasks as specified by the Navigation Coordinator or Chief Technical Advisor during the period of the contract. 7. Responsibilities and Task: The tasks by the consultant shall be performed directly under the supervision by the NAP Coordinator and the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) who the consultant should report to. 8. Itinerary: The consultancy services shall commence no later than 01 November 2011. All satisfactory outputs shall be delivered within the specified period of 70 working days. 9. Working Principle/Reporting Line: The consultant will report to the NAP Coordinator and Chief Technical Advisor (CTA). 10. Qualifications/Requirement: - Degrees in Geography and Information Technology are a requirement of this position. In addition to this mandatory requirement, possession of Masters level or higher qualifications in a development related field will be considered favourably; - A minimum of 5 years relevant working experience, including Spatial Data Management, Multi-Criteria Analysis, Stakeholder Consultation and knowledge if the geographical characteristics of Mekong Waterways; - Prior experience in the evaluation and assessment of waterway significance; - Expertise in ArcGIS v3, v9 and v10 including integrating data from multiple formats and map projections; - Good verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational, coordination skills including work in a cross-cultural international context; - Must be able to perform in a small team of local motivated experts and able to clearly present his ideas in a concise matter; - Exceptional skills in written and spoken English including good drafting and report writing/editing skills and the use of document layout software. - Experience with MRC and experience in the Mekong Region is beneficial. 11. Condition of payment: Travel costs and subsistence allowance for working outside the consultant’s duty station will be reimbursed and provided according to MRC rules. | 
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