Early Warning Expert

About the role

The Early Warning Expert will design and maintain hazard monitoring models, disaster risk alerts and climate impact assessments for the IGAD region. Working under the DRM Program Head, the role focuses on integrating vulnerability data into early warning systems and delivering decision‑support services.

Key responsibilities

• Integrate exposure and vulnerability data and methodologies into ICPAC early warning systems and develop value‑added services for stakeholders.
• Continuously update and improve ICPAC systems, automate workflows, maintain reproducible code, and add new functionalities based on user feedback.
• Support collection, aggregation and analysis of socio‑economic vulnerability indicators and integrate them into the IGAD geo‑portal.
• Provide technical guidance on system improvement, workflow automation and capacity‑building for users of early warning information.
• Downscale regional early warning platforms into national instances such as the East Africa Drought Watch for Kenya.
• Lead assigned projects, coordinate partners, track activities, manage stakeholder engagement and report progress.

Required profile

• University degree in Computer Science, Geo‑Informatics, Computer Engineering, Information Technology or related field.
• At least four years of experience in geo‑application design and development, with proven web and geospatial application projects.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Python scripting for geoprocessing automation.
• Experience with backend development using Django, Go or NodeJS, containerisation with Docker and cloud deployment.

Required skills

• Python, Django, Go, NodeJS
• Docker, cloud infrastructure
• Front‑end technologies: React, Mapbox GL, Leaflet, Carto
• Geospatial servers: GeoServer, MapServer, GDAL
• SQL, PostGIS, REST API development, micro‑services architecture
• OGC standards (WMS, WFS, WCS, WPS)
• Version control/GitHub (sample code required)