Drought Forecasting Expert

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the UN that focuses on leading global efforts to eradicate hunger and achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union, FAO operates in over 130 countries worldwide. In Sri Lanka, FAO has been active since 1979, with its country representation based in Colombo, working to support national development priorities in agriculture, food security, nutrition, and resilience. FAO's work aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on transforming agri-food systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, encapsulated in its framework of the “Four Betters”: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life, ensuring that no one is left behind. Since 2025, FAO Sri Lanka has initiated drought-related anticipatory actions, addressing the critical gap in operational drought prediction to reduce agricultural and livelihood losses through reliable, science-based forecasting.

Job Overview:
The Drought Forecasting Expert will play a crucial role in supporting the Government of Sri Lanka, particularly the Department of Agriculture, Department of Meteorology, and Disaster Management Centre, in developing and institutionalizing an advanced drought prediction system. This position is part of the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP/SRL/4102) and is expected to run through December 202

• The expert will provide technical support to strengthen drought prediction capabilities, develop context-specific drought indices, and operationalize drought forecasts within agricultural decision-making systems. The role requires collaboration with various stakeholders, including government institutions and FAO teams, to enhance national capacities and promote long-term institutional sustainability through technical assistance and capacity-building activities. The incumbent will also be responsible for developing methodologies for anticipatory action and ensuring that the FAO's initiatives are effectively integrated into existing frameworks.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Drought Forecasting Expert will be responsible for several key tasks: 1) Provide technical support to strengthen drought prediction capabilities and develop context-specific drought indices for FAO programming and analysis. This includes compiling and quality-controlling climate, crop, and hydrological datasets, developing the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) at multiple time scales, designing AI/ML-based Composite Drought Index (CDI), and defining drought severity thresholds. 2) Support the operationalization and application of drought forecasts within FAO-supported agricultural decision-making systems, translating forecasts into crop-specific technical advisories, and preparing district-level drought outlook products. 3) Assist in the development and implementation of anticipatory action triggers and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), aligning methodologies with existing frameworks, and supporting the pilot implementation of anticipatory actions in drought-prone districts. 4) Enhance national capacities through technical training programs, develop user guidelines and knowledge products, and document lessons learned to support knowledge management and scaling up of anticipatory action initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree in agrometeorology, meteorology, climate science, agronomy, or environmental studies. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in meteorology, with a strong background in climate/weather data, monitoring, and forecasts, is required. Candidates should also have experience in setting up climate information systems that connect providers and users in the agricultural sector. Additionally, candidates must be nationals of Sri Lanka and possess a working knowledge (level C) of English and Sinhala/Tamil.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced degree in a relevant field such as agrometeorology, meteorology, climate science, agronomy, or environmental studies. This advanced education is essential to ensure that the candidate has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively contribute to the development of drought forecasting systems and anticipatory action frameworks.

Experience:
The position requires at least 5 years of relevant experience in the public or private sectors, specifically in meteorology. Candidates should have a sufficient background in climate and weather data, monitoring, and forecasts, as well as experience in establishing climate information systems that link climate information providers with users in the agricultural sector. This level of experience is crucial for the candidate to effectively support the development and operationalization of drought prediction capabilities and anticipatory action systems.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge (level C) of English and either Sinhala or Tamil. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication with various stakeholders, including government institutions and local communities, as well as for the preparation of technical documents and reports. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. It is important to note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment will be subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. This position is expected to be full-time and may involve collaboration with international partners.