Consultant: Software Development Data Integration Digital Twin Project Lead

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center is seeking an innovative & multi skilled highly skilled consultant to lead the development and integration of data pathways and APIs for the LIMCOM Digital Twin Work Package 3, ensuring the delivery of high-quality software solutions that enable the utilization and visualization of citizen science data.

The Enable Project aims to enhance water resource management in the Limpopo River Basin through an innovative and participatory citizen science approach. This initiative focuses on integrating community-driven data collection into a Digital Twin for the basin, promoting inclusive and transparent decision-making. By leveraging digital tools, blockchain technology, and AI-driven solutions, the project empowers citizens to monitor and contribute real-time data on water quality and quantity. This data feeds into the LIMCOM Digital Twin, enabling more effective, real-time water resource management to address the complexities of climate change, water scarcity, and transboundary water governance.

The project adopts a multi-stakeholder approach, collaborating with organizations such as LIMCOM, CGIAR-IWMI, UNICEF YOMA, and local communities across Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. By fostering local engagement and democratizing data collection, the Enable Project aims to establish a citizen science model that is scalable, inclusive, and sustainable. This model not only builds technical capacity within communities but also enhances transparency and accountability in water management, supporting sustainable development and climate resilience goals.

The Limpopo River Basin (LRB) is a region of immense environmental, socio-economic significance, extending across Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. It encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and savannahs, supporting a rich variety of flora and fauna. The river and its tributaries provide essential water resources for agriculture, livestock, and fisheries, supporting millions of livelihoods. Despite these invaluable resources, the LRB faces challenges such as hydro-climatic extremes, land degradation, poor water quality, urbanization, and population growth, which threaten biodiversity and weaken local communities' resilience to climate change. The basin also faces increasing competition for access to limited water resources and arable land, with women and youth disproportionately affected.

To address these pressing challenges, IWMI’s digital solution is a comprehensive platform designed to enhance water resource management in the Limpopo River Basin by integrating citizen science and advanced digital tools: MiniSASS, Clarity Tube and Additional Apparatus, and AI-Driven Stream Flow Monitoring. This approach democratizes data collection, allowing local communities to actively participate in water resource management.

The Enabel Project aims to enhance water resource management through the integration of citizen science data into the LIMCOM Digital Twin. This initiative focuses on leveraging F.A.I.R (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles to ensure the effective collection, integration, and visualization of water-related data. The project emphasizes the development of data pathways and API monitoring modules, facilitating seamless data integration and real-time decision-making for stakeholders.

The consultant will oversee the technical implementation of activities related to data collection, API development, and integration with the Digital Twin, ensuring the alignment with LIMCOM’s operational requirements and strategic objectives.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Activity 1.1: Model Design - Design and document the citizen science model, including website, apps and data collection protocols.

• Activity 1.2: Training Development - Develop and distribute comprehensive training materials in multiple languages: training manual for citizens to participate that includes details of incentives, training manual for use of websites, training manual for use of apps, enable distribution of training material once community of citizens established.

• Activity 2.1: Development river discharge - Design a protocol incorporating mobile apps, low-cost sensors and AI to measure river discharge from gauge plates: design a protocol / app for measurement of discharge using gauge plate recognition, design a protocol for collection of river discharge using pressure sensors on rated sections.

• Activity 3.1: Data collection - Develop data collection and API shipment protocols for all citizen science data ensuring that the existing F.A.I.R based framework is utilized.

• Activity 3.2: Data API Monitoring Module - Develop API monitoring module that is integrated into the existing LIMCOM Operational Services Monitor.

• Activity 3.3: Use case for citizen science data - Work with LIMCOM and riparian governments to develop the use case for citizen science data.

• Activity 3.4: Entry to the Digital Twin - Digital Twin frontend integration with co-developed data visualizations driven by well-documented API endpoints.

• Activity 4.1: Data collection and assimilation - Operational collection of citizen scientist data into the Digital Twin.
• Activity 5.1: General publicity - Publicity of citizen science data.
• Activity 5.2: Report on Digital Twin Citizen Science - Reporting on the Limpopo Basin Digital Twin Citizen Science Water Monitoring Programme Results.
• Activity 5.3: Final reporting.

A detailed reference of the project background, objective of the assignments and deliverable details can be found via the following link:

TOR - Software Development Data Integration Digital Twin Project Lead.docx

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES REQUIRED: 

• Proven experience in developing and managing software solutions for data integration and API development.
• Demonstrated expertise in F.A.I.R.-based data frameworks and principles.
• Experience working with citizen science data and environmental monitoring systems.
• Prior experience with Digital Twin technology is highly desirable.
• Strong track record in leading cross-functional technical teams.
• Proficiency in API development and integration, including RESTful APIs, JSON, and XML.
• Strong knowledge of database design and data storage solutions.
• Familiarity with monitoring tools and modules for operational services.
• Expertise in data visualization tools and platforms.
• Excellent project management and coordination skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Proven capacity to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.

LANGUAGE PROFICINECY: 

• Excellent oral and written language skills in English, including effective listening and strong verbal and written communication abilities. 

Benefits

This is an Internationally hired consultancy; therefore, firms with relevant abilities are encouraged to apply. The payment for services will be based on deliverables. The duration of the contract will be for a period of Seventeen and a half (17.5) months. 

HOW TO APPLY: Apply for the position by following the application instructions at www.iwmi.org/jobs. We will be accepting applications through 24:00 (IST) on February 08, 2025 (applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis). Your application must include Team CVs, a financial and technical proposal, estimated budget, and three (3) references which may be contacted if you are shortlisted. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted. 

IWMI believes that diversity powers our innovation, contributes to our excellence, and is critical for our mission. We offer a multi-cultural, multi-color, multi-generational and multi-disciplinary working environment. We are consciously creating an inclusive organization that reflects our global character and our commitment to gender equity. We, therefore, encourage applicants from all cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientations, and gender identities.