Meteorology station specialist
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Summary
A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer is needed to serve as a Meteorology Station Specialist for the Centro de Proteccion para Desastres (CEPRODE). The Center is a nongovernmental organization that has been working in El Salvador since 1991. Their work focuses on supporting disaster preparedness at the community level as well as strengthening the capacity of government organizations working in the field. Currently, the organization is focusing much of their work in the area of San Vicente, which was affected by a low pressure system caused by Tropical Storm Ida in November of 2009. When the storm hit, it resulted in more than 300 millimeters of rain. In less than 24 hours, more than 200 people lost their lives. As a result, many international NGOs and government agencies began to focus their work in reconstruction and preparation for future disasters. CEPRODE is now a part of USAID’s program to reduce vulnerability and promote sustainable management of risks.
An RPCV with a background in meteorology is needed to aid the government’s responsibilities regarding disaster preparedness and response. The Volunteer’s work will focus on training local technicians on how to use weather monitoring systems as well as creating manuals for their proper functionality. The Meteorology Station Specialist will help with the installation of five Davis meteorological stations being donated to the municipalities. The Response Volunteer will also help with monitoring stations, training members of the affected communities on proper use of fluviometrics, and supporting the development of an effective technique for measuring water levels in rivers and watersheds. Most importantly, the Volunteer will create a manual in Spanish on how to properly use all of the weather stations. The work of the Volunteer will be crucial in El Salvador, given that 88.7 percent of the country is susceptible to disasters and is ranked globally as number one in vulnerability to natural disasters.
Qualifications
Mandatory:
- Degree in agronomist engineering, or studies related to climatology or meteorology
- High level of written and spoken Spanish
- Experience with the use of weather stations (Davis brand preferably) and ability to analyze their results
- Ability to organize trainings on a low budget
- Minimum of three years of experience in meteorology
Desired:
- Experience in watershed study
- Previous service in a Latin American country