Job Description

E T Consultant

Job #: req38623 Organization: World Bank Sector: Disaster Risk Management Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Vienna,Austria Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 10/9/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/ibrd

Background

Central Asia is highly exposed to natural hazards and the growing impacts of climate change, including floods, droughts, extreme temperatures, landslides, mudflows, avalanches, and earthquakes. Climate change is altering precipitation patterns, accelerating glacier and snowpack changes, and increasing uncertainty around the availability and management of water resources. These risks affect lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, agriculture, energy production, transport, and other climate-sensitive sectors across the region.

Reliable hydrometeorological information, forecasting, and early warning services are therefore essential to strengthening disaster preparedness, climate resilience, water-resources management, and sustainable economic development. However, national hydrometeorological services in Central Asia continue to face constraints related to aging observation infrastructure, gaps in data collection and exchange, limited forecasting capabilities, institutional capacity, and the delivery of actionable services to governments, communities, and economic sectors.

The World Bank has supported the modernization of hydrometeorological services and regional cooperation in Central Asia for more than a decade. The Central Asia Hydrometeorology Modernization Project strengthened national and regional hydrometeorological capabilities, including observation networks, forecasting systems, service delivery, and regional cooperation. Building on these achievements, the World Bank is continuing its engagement through national investments and regional technical assistance aimed at strengthening hydrometeorological services, early warning systems, data exchange, institutional capacity, and cooperation among the countries of Central Asia.

In the Kyrgyz Republic, the World Bank is preparing the Kyrgyz Hydrometeorology Modernization and Early Warning Project (KHMET). The project is expected to support the modernization of the country’s hydrometeorological observation infrastructure, data-management and forecasting systems, early warning services, institutional capacity, and services for communities and climate-sensitive sectors. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, with Kyrgyzhydromet responsible for technical implementation.

The World Bank is also implementing regional analytical, advisory, capacity-building, and coordination activities under grants supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP). These activities support regional dialogue and cooperation among national hydrometeorological services and other relevant institutions in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The World Bank seeks an Extended-Term Consultant (ETC) to support the preparation and implementation of KHMET, the implementation of the regional Central Asia Hydromet program, and other disaster risk management activities in Europe and Central Asia. The ETC will work as part of multidisciplinary World Bank task teams and maintain regular contact with government counterparts, technical institutions, consultants, development partners, and other stakeholders.

The ETC will also work on the urban development and tourism programs both on the operational and analytical side This is in particular focus on the preparation of the new Albania Tourism Development Operation and associated activities on tourism in ECA, and in conjunction with the global unit. The ETC will also work with the team in delivering knowledge sharing activities organized by the unit including assisting with the arrangements, running of the event, and reporting on the event. This could be a knowledge sharing event organized under the Vienna Knowledge Center and/or under the unit’s cities and climate change program or other activity organized by the unit in Vienna.

Roles and Responsibilities

The ETC will provide operational, analytical, coordination, and technical support across the assigned portfolio. A substantial part of the ETC’s work program will focus on the Central Asia Hydromet program and KHMET, with additional work focused on providing support on the Albania Tourism engagement and also knowledge sharing activities provided by the unit. The ETC will also support other disaster risk management operations and analytical activities, as agreed with the relevant task team leaders and reflected in the annual work program.

A. Central Asia Hydromet Program and KHMET

The ETC will undertake the following responsibilities:

• Support the preparation and implementation of KHMET, working closely with the World Bank task team, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, Kyrgyzhydromet, the Project Implementation Unit, and other participating institutions.
• Support project planning and monitoring, including maintaining work plans, schedules, action trackers, and records of key decisions; monitoring milestones, results indicators, procurement activities, consultant assignments, and implementation risks; and following up on agreed actions.
• Contribute to the preparation and review of project documents, implementation plans, Aide Memoires, management letters, progress reports, briefing notes, presentations, and other operational materials.
• Support preparation and implementation-support missions, including coordinating meetings, preparing agendas and briefing materials, documenting discussions and agreements, and following up on mission recommendations.
• Prepare Terms of Reference and support consultant selection and management, including reviewing technical reports and consultant deliverables for quality, completeness, and consistency with agreed requirements.
• Facilitate coordination among World Bank specialists, government counterparts, national hydrometeorological services, consultants, sector institutions, and development partners, including across technical, fiduciary, environmental and social, monitoring, and communications workstreams.
• Support implementation of the regional Central Asia Hydromet grants financed by GFDRR and CAWEP, including activity planning, technical review, consultant management, monitoring, reporting, and coordination with participating countries and partners.
• Conduct research and analysis on hydrometeorological modernization, early warning systems, disaster and climate risks, regional cooperation, and relevant international experience.
• Support the preparation of donor and grant reports, funding proposals, work programs, budgets, results updates, and other materials required for trust-fund administration.
• Contribute to outreach, workshops, consultations, training, and regional knowledge exchange, including preparing communications materials and documenting conclusions and follow-up actions.
• Contribute to communications and outreach support for KHMET and the regional Central Asia Hydromet program, including developing communications plans and preparing web content, results stories, presentations, talking points, event materials, and other products for technical and non-technical audiences.

B. Other Disaster Risk Management Operations and Analytical Activities

The ETC will support other disaster risk management operations, technical-assistance activities, and analytical work in Europe and Central Asia as needed. Responsibilities may include:

• Providing operational and analytical support for the preparation and implementation of investment projects, technical-assistance activities, and trust-funded programs.
• Undertaking research and contributing to analytical work related to disaster risk management, climate resilience, resilient infrastructure, urban resilience, preparedness, and early warning systems.
• Supporting the preparation and review of project documentation, terms of reference, consultant deliverables, progress reports, briefing materials, and knowledge products.
• Supporting client engagement, stakeholder consultations, missions, workshops, and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Coordinating with World Bank teams, consultants, and following up on agreed actions.

C. Urban Development, Albania Toursim, and Knowledge Sharing

The ETC will also provide support to the broader urban development, Albania tourism, and knowledge sharing agenda for the unit.

• Support the preparation of the proposed new Albania Tourism operation, and associated work on the Western Balkans Tourism MPA.
• Support the development of the ECA Tourism Strategy and related work in support of implementing the Tourism agenda in the ECA region.
• Support the preparation and implementation of knowledge sharing events organized by the unit, including under the Vienna Development Knowledge Sharing Center (VDKC).
• Any other assignments, as agreed with the TTL(s).

Working Arrangements

The assignment is expected to last two years. The ETC will work under the overall supervision of Peter Ellis, Practice Manager, and the day-to-day guidance of the relevant Task Team Leaders, including Henrike Brecht, Sr. DRM Specialist, and Axel Baeumler, Sr Urban Specialist.

The ETC will be expected to manage multiple assignments, exercise sound judgment, work proactively, and deliver high-quality outputs within agreed deadlines. The position will require close collaboration with multidisciplinary and geographically dispersed teams. Travel to Central Asia and other countries in Europe and Central Asia may be required.

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in urban or disaster risk management, climate change, international development, communications, public policy, environmental studies, urban development, or another relevant field.
• Minimum 5 years professional experience, which may include internships, academic research, or project-based work related to international development, disaster risk management, climate resilience, communications, or project coordination.
• Strong research, analytical, and writing skills, with the ability to synthesize technical information and present it clearly to different audiences.
• Experience preparing communications materials, presentations, web content, briefs, reports, or other knowledge and outreach products.
• Good organizational skills and the ability to coordinate multiple activities, manage deadlines, and follow up systematically on agreed actions.
• Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams, government counterparts, consultants, development partners, and other stakeholders in a multicultural environment.
• Initiative, attention to detail, sound judgment, and willingness to learn about World Bank operations and hydrometeorological and disaster risk management programs.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Familiarity with Central Asia, World Bank operations, hydrometeorological services, or disaster risk management would be an advantage.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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