Short Term Consultant (STC)
Terms of Reference
Project: Digital Elevation Models for Resilience
Job Title: ResearchEconomist
Unit: Global Unit for Disaster and Climate Risk Management
Location: Washington DC or remote location
Days: 40 days
Starting Date: September, 2024
Language: English
Digital Elevation Models for Resilience
The proposed activity aims to develop a White Paper outlining a strategy for acquiring Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) to enhance disaster risk, climate risk and other analytics at the World Bank.
DEMs are geospatial datasets that provide 3D representations of terrain and underlying objects. Recent technological advancements in sensors and processing have significantly improved DEM quality and availability. Higher-resolution DEMs from global space-based sources now enable a broader range of disaster risk analytics. Transitioning to more detailed, standardized DEM products offers advantages such as centralized acquisition and more efficient data reuse across sectors.
The White Paper will examine these technological advancements and propose streamlined processes for acquiring DEMs essential for Disaster Risk Management (DRM), urban planning, and other applications. It will review current DEM use, demand, and sharing practices within the World Bank, assess the commercial availability of DEM data, and consider the potential of generating new DEM data through Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and other innovative technologies.
The Paper will also gather evidence on recurring DEM use in sectors like Urban/DRM, Water, Transport, Environment, and Agriculture to identify opportunities for more efficient data acquisition. The model will emphasize data reuse, sharing, and optimal delivery workflows to support developing countries.
Given current technological and market opportunities, the World Bank must rethink its DEM procurement strategy. A robust acquisition strategy will help the Bank address recommendations from the Sendai mid-term review to improve risk data access. The resulting White Paper will highlight the importance of DEMs for World Bank-financed projects, both for analytics and risk-informed development planning.
Global Unit for Disaster and Climate Risk Management
The project is executed by the Digital Earth team within the Global Unit for Disaster and Climate Risk Management at the World Bank. The Digital Earth team aims to enhance the resilience of vulnerable countries and communities to climate change and natural hazard disasters through greater access to and adoption of frontier earth observation tools & services. This is achieved by developing and transferring global knowledge, mobilizing key partnerships, and providing operational support to client-executed and Bank activities in the production and use of earth observation for resilience. The initial key partner of Digital Earth is the European Space Agency (ESA) through a cooperation framework linked to the ESA Global Development Assistance (GDA) program.
Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery
This project is supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) through the GFDRR Japan-World Bank Program for Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in Developing Countries for Global Resilience. GFDRR is a global partnership program established on September 29, 2006, to support developing countries on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. The facility is administered by the World Bank and governed by a Consultative Group including several other international organizations and countries. GFDRR was initially launched to support the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (HFA) approved during the Second World Conference on Disaster Reduction in 2005. On March 18, 2015, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 (Sendai Framework) was adopted. GFDRR now supports the implementation of this framework.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Research Economist
The Research Economist will support the different activities of the project that will be summarized in a strategic White Paper on Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) to enhance disaster risk, climate risk and other analytics at the World Bank. The work involves conducting economic analysis, cost-benefit assessments, and providing strategic recommendations to optimize the acquisition, use, and sharing of DEMs across various sectors within the Bank.
Specific tasks
1. Economic Cost-Benefit Analysis:
· Develop a comprehensive economic cost-benefit analysis of adopting a centralized approach to DEM acquisition and sharing within the World Bank.
· Estimate potential cost savings and societal benefits from increased access to high-quality DEM datasets.
· Provide strategic recommendations based on the analysis to inform the World Bank's DEM procurement strategy.
2. Support to portfolio Review Analysis:
· Help quantify and categorize DEM data generated by World Bank projects, including costs per data volume/surface, licenses, and other useful economical and technical indicators;
· Identify opportunities for cost-effective data sharing and reuse within the Bank's investments and analytics.
3. Use Case and Requirements Assessment:
· Help assess the cost implications of different DEM models and resolutions on the effectiveness of disaster risk management and climate resilience analytics.
4. Report and Documentation:
· Prepare detailed reports summarizing findings from the portfolio review, use case assessment, and economic analysis.
· Contribute to the drafting of the strategic White Paper, providing economic insights and recommendations.
5. Stakeholder Engagement:
· Engage with World Bank staff and consultant including project task teams, procurement specialists, data scientists and IT teams.
· Engage with external organizations producing, working with or benefitting from digital elevation models including private companies, government organizations including space agencies, and NGOs
· Present findings and recommendations to senior management and relevant colleagues within the World Bank and elsewhere.
Location and duration
The consultant will be based in Washington, D.C or in a remote location for a 40-day part-time assignment beginning in September 2024 and finishing in June 2025.
Rate
Proportionate to selection criteria and experience levels.
Selection Criteria
Key qualifications required for this assignment include:
Educational Background:
· Degree: Master’s degree or Ph.D. in Economics, Public Policy, Information Management, or a related field.
· Specialization: Focus on data economics, cost-benefit assessments, public procurement, public policy.
Experience:
· Years of Experience: at least 3 years of professional experience in economic research, policy analysis, or related fields.
· Demonstrated experience in conducting economic cost-benefit analyses, preferably in the context of disaster risk management, climate resilience, or development projects.
· Research experience on some of the following topics: geospatial technologies, digital public goods, digital commons, open data, and open-source software.
· Experience within or for a multilateral development bank, international organization, government, or similar institution is an advantage.
Skills and Competencies:
· Analytical Skills: Strong quantitative and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and provide actionable insights.
· Research and Writing: Proven ability to conduct rigorous research and produce high-quality reports and documentation.
· Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with geospatial data, particularly DEMs, and their application in disaster risk and climate resilience analytics.
· Communication: Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex economic concepts to non-technical audiences.
· Collaboration: Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
Other Requirements:
· Software Proficiency: Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., Stata, R) and GIS tools is desirable.
· Languages: Proficiency in English is required; knowledge of other World Bank working languages (e.g., French, Spanish) is an asset.
How to apply:
Please send your CV and letter of motivation by Thursday, September 19, 2024, to Pierre Chrzanowski, Disaster Risk Management Specialist, pchrzanowski@worldbank.org and with email's subject: Research Economist - Digital Elevation Models for Resilience.