International Consultant – Hydrogeological Modelling

UNESCO's Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) is seeking a highly qualified International Consultant to provide high-level technical leadership and specialised expertise in hydrogeological modelling across UNESCO groundwater initiatives. This strategic consultancy supports sustainable groundwater assessment, resource planning, climate resilience, drought preparedness, and evidence-based decision-making through innovative modelling tools and decision-support systems.

Working under the overall supervision of the Head of the Natural Sciences Sector, UNESCO ROEA, and in close collaboration with UNESCO Headquarters, project partners and national counterparts, the Consultant will lead the development and application of conceptual and numerical groundwater models, forecasting tools, climate scenario analyses, decision support systems (DSS) and groundwater early warning systems (EWS).

The consultancy is for a 24-month period, supporting at least two key initiatives: 'Ensuring a Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Water Supply in the Northern Part of Mauritius' and the 'Groundwater Drought Early Warning System (EWS) for Southern Madagascar' project. Additional assignments may be added as required.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Job Type: Contract
Deadline: 14 August 2026
Languages: Fluent English and French required

All deliverables, reports and datasets produced under this consultancy become the property of UNESCO. Applications should be submitted through UNESCO's careers portal at careers.unesco.org or by email to [email protected].

Requirements

• PhD in Hydrogeology or a closely related discipline.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience in groundwater studies and hydrogeological modelling.
• Demonstrated experience in the development and application of conceptual and numerical groundwater models.
• Proven experience integrating hydrogeological, hydroclimatic, hydrogeochemical, remote sensing and groundwater monitoring datasets into modelling workflows.
• Research expertise in climate change and drought impacts on groundwater systems.
• Experience developing Decision Support Systems (DSS), groundwater forecasting models and/or Groundwater Early Warning Systems (EWS).
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, capacity development and knowledge transfer skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English and French.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, refinement and application of conceptual and numerical groundwater models across UNESCO groundwater initiatives.
• Integrate hydrogeological, hydroclimatic, hydrogeochemical, remote sensing and groundwater monitoring datasets into advanced modelling frameworks.
• Develop, calibrate, validate and operationalize groundwater forecasting models, climate scenario analyses, Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Groundwater Early Warning Systems (EWS).
• Prepare detailed work plans, methodologies, implementation schedules, technical reports, modelling documentation and scientific recommendations.
• Support stakeholder engagement, technical meetings, validation workshops, field missions, technology transfer and strategic technical advice to UNESCO and project partners.
• Contribute to technical capacity development and knowledge transfer for national counterparts and project teams.
• Deliver outputs for at least two designated groundwater initiatives – in Northern Mauritius and Southern Madagascar – and additional assignments as required.
• Submit all deliverables in electronic format in accordance with agreed work plans and reporting timelines.

Compensation: Not specified