National Expert on Groundwater Monitoring - Viet Nam

OVERVIEW

Parent Sector: Natural Sciences Unit, UNESCO Hanoi Office

Duty Station: Hanoi, Vietnam

Type of contract: Non-staff

Duration of contract: 11 months (with the possibility of extension of 4-7 months, subject to performance and project needs)

Recruitment open to: Vietnamese National only

Application Deadline (Midnight Duty Station Time): 06 JUNE 2025

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

DESCRIPTION OF THE POST

I. BACKGROUND

The lower section of the Mekong River Basin is underlain by a major transboundary aquifer system, shared by Cambodia and Viet Nam, the Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Aquifer (CMDA). This transboundary aquifer connects two ecosystems of global environmental significance and socio-economic importance, namely the Tonle Sap area and the Mekong Delta, and includes major urban areas, including the cities of Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh. Around 35 million people live in the CMDA recharge zone, and the vast majority of households depend on groundwater for drinking or for irrigation. However, groundwater management is hindered by over-extraction, loss of recharge zones, climate change, pollution, salinity intrusion and land subsidence. In this context, transboundary solutions are paramount to address the mounting challenges.

UNESCO is an Executing Agency for the project "Enhancing sustainability of the Transboundary Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Aquifer", funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), implemented by The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Within the umbrella of the project, and as defined in the UN to UN Transfer Agreement, UNESCO's activities expect to contribute to the following outcomes:  

1) Consensus among countries on key transboundary and national concerns affecting the aquifer, reached through joint fact finding, opening pathways to concerted remedial actions;  

3) Agreed improvements of transboundary cooperation improve aquifer transboundary governance;  

4) Commitment reached among countries on implementing priority legal, institutional and policy reforms and investments for the protection and equitable utilization of the shared aquifer and its' dependent ecosystem; and 

5) Implementation of project mechanisms for monitoring, improved stakeholder consultation, gender mainstreaming, dissemination, coordination and monitoring progress enhance long-term sustainability of achievements.

Long Description

The activities proposed herewith are a direct contribution to the achievement of such outcomes, mostly through the UNESCO-led Component 1 "Joint science-based diagnostic for groundwater dynamics (recharge and extraction) and effects on ecosystems (e.g. fish, wetlands) and livelihoods", and Component 3 "Transboundary cooperation mechanisms". Under component 1, UNESCO-IHP is tasked to perform a joint transboundary assessment of the hydrological state of groundwater resources, recharge and extraction dynamics (Output 1.1). These scientific assessment activities will constitute the basis for the agreed Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) between the two beneficiary countries of Viet Nam and Cambodia. Such activities shall be developed in close collaboration with selected National Experts from the two beneficiary countries, and with the support of UNESCO National Offices in Hanoi and Phnom Penh. 

UNESCO Country Office in Vietnam is looking for national expert to undertake the assignment below

II. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY

Within the framework of the UNESCO-led component 3 on Transboundary Cooperation Mechanisms of the CMDA project, the Consultant will provide technical support for the following outputs:

Output 3.1: Harmonized design of groundwater monitoring networks and protocols.

Output 3.2: Agreement on groundwater data exchange mechanisms and procedures.

Under the overall responsibility of the Head of the UNESCO Hanoi Office, the technical supervision of CMDA regional coordinator with technical guidance and support from UNESCO Headquarters, the direct supervision of the Chief of the Natural Sciences Unit of UNESCO Hanoi Office, the consultant will perform the following tasks related to Viet Nam. The consultant shall work in close cooperation with other Vietnamese and Cambodian national experts and institutions, international experts and scientific partners participating in the project.

Long Description

III. TASKS

• Collect and analyze available up-to-date data and information (identifying data gaps) and prepare an initial assessment of existing groundwater monitoring networks (piezometers and wells) and their performance (status), and aquifer system compaction monitoring networks on the Vietnamese side of the CMDA. This activity may include, if necessary, field missions and interviews with relevant stakeholders to assess the status of the piezometers and wells. The information will be compiled in a GIS-based map. (Output 3.1)
• Based on the analysis of existing monitoring data and information carried out in Task 1, prepare a proposal for the design of a multi-purpose joint monitoring network across the two country segments of the aquifer (focusing on the Vietnamese side of the CMDA) including a monitoring network plan for piezometric level, land subsidence, salinization and shallow-deep aquifer-system compaction. The proposal will include harmonized information about positioning, analytical methodologies, instrumentation, data transmission, collection and custodian protocols. (Output 3.1)

• Develop harmonized protocols for groundwater monitoring including data collection on groundwater extraction rates and quality, meteorological and hydro(geo)logical data, aquifer recharge, and wetland condition for the Vietnamese side of the CMDA. The protocols will be validated by Joint Technical Committees (JTCs). (Output 3.1)

• Develop a comparative analysis and assessment of available groundwater networks and identification of parameters (quantity and quality) to be collected by the new multi-purpose monitoring networks, shared by the two countries (focusing on the Vietnamese side of the CMDA). (Output 3.2)
• Contribute to the collaborative definition and harmonization of the parameters to be monitored as proposed in the monitoring protocols developed in Output 3.1 to inform the development of a data sharing protocol (MoU) between the two countries (focusing on the Vietnamese side of the CMDA). (Output 3.2)
• Contribute to the collaborative identification of the benefits of data sharing and the role of government agencies in jointly managing the data sharing mechanism (focusing on the Vietnamese side of the CMDA). (Output 3.2)

Besides the main tasks described, the expert will be asked to participate in and provide inputs for internal and external meetings and workshops, as required.

IV. CONTRACT DURATION

The contract duration is 11 months, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 4 to 7 months, subject to performance and project needs. The expert's total engagement shall not exceed 11 person-months across the entire contract period, including any extension.

Payments will be made upon acceptance of UNESCO of the deliverables agreed with the expert.

The expert may be required to undertake missions, in such case, the related expenses will be covered in accordance with the regulations of UNESCO and EU-UN cost norms in Viet Nam.

V. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

• A graduate degree (MSc.) in hydrogeology, hydrology, water resource management or related environmental or engineering sciences;

Professional Experiences and Skills

• At least 10 years of qualifying work and/or combined with research experience in the field of groundwater monitoring, groundwater management in the context of water resource management in Viet Nam.
• Experience working with ministries, government agencies at national and provincial levels on the topics related to water resource management/monitoring.
• Proven expertise in the use of GIS-based applications (e.g., ArcGIS, MapInfo), hydro-geology software (e.g., AquiferTest, AquaChem), and groundwater modeling tools (e.g., Visual MODFLOW, Groundwater Vista, GMS Aquaveo, FEFLOW) for effective groundwater management;
• Proficiency of office software applications particularly MS Excel, MS Word, MS Power Point;

Languages

• Excellent language skills in English and Vietnamese (writing, speaking and reading);

VI. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• PhD. in hydrogeology, hydrology, water resource management or related environmental or engineering sciences;
• 15 years or more of experience in the field of groundwater monitoring, groundwater management in the context of water resource management in Viet Nam;

• Proven experience in the field of water resources management in the Mekong Delta region
• Previous experience with UN projects in the field of groundwater monitoring, groundwater management in the context of water resource management in Viet Nam;
• Project management skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams and engage with both local and international stakeholders are necessary;
• Previous experience in collaborating with international organizations, including working with Cambodian specialists on Mekong River Commission (MRC) projects, is highly valued.

VII. COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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VIII. APPLICATION PROCESS

IX. SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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