Regional Climate and Anticipatory Modeling Specialist

Action Against Hunger USA is hiring a Regional Climate and Anticipatory Modeling Specialist in Nairobi, Kenya. The role involves providing technical leadership in climate science and hydrometeorological modeling for disaster preparedness across the Greater Horn of Africa. Responsibilities include developing multi-hazard models, analyzing climate data, and enhancing early-warning systems. Ideal candidates are experienced in translating climate analysis into humanitarian actions in vulnerable contexts.
About Us
Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We develop innovative solutions, advocate for lasting change, and reach 24 million people every year through proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. Operating in more than 50 countries, our teams partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequality, and emergencies.


Action Against Hunger USA is part of the Action Against Hunger International network and currently manages operations in Kenya, South Sudan, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zambia, and Haiti.


In partnership with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre, Action Against Hunger is implementing a DG ECHO-funded Regional Disaster Preparedness Program across Ethiopia, Somalia, and Djibouti. The program also provides climate and malnutrition predictive-modelling support to South Sudan through a FAO-led DG ECHO consortium.


We are seeking a
Regional Climate and Anticipatory Modeling Specialist
to provide technical leadership in climate science, hydrometeorological modelling, environmental-risk analysis, and anticipatory-action trigger development across the Greater Horn of Africa.


About The Role
The
Regional Climate and Anticipatory Modeling Specialist
will serve as the consortium's technical authority for climate science, environmental risk, hydrometeorological modelling, early-warning systems, and anticipatory-action trigger development.


Reporting to the Regional Consortium Coordinator, this role will translate climate intelligence from ICPAC, national meteorological agencies, and global modelling platforms into operational trigger matrices, Early Action Protocols, contingency plans, and preparedness decisions across Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and South Sudan.


The Specialist will lead the calibration and validation of multi-hazard models, strengthen cross-border trigger systems, support climate-informed malnutrition modelling in South Sudan, and oversee the integration of DG ECHO Minimum Environmental Requirements throughout program delivery.


This position is ideal for an experienced climate scientist or hydrometeorological modelling specialist who can translate advanced technical analysis into practical humanitarian decision-making in fragile and climate-vulnerable contexts.


Key Responsibilities

Lead the development, calibration, and validation of multi-hazard climate and hydrometeorological models supporting anticipatory action across Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and South Sudan
Analyze and integrate global, regional, and national climate datasets, including ERA5, MERRA-2, CHIRPS, NDVI, MODIS, IRI, ECMWF, GFS, and ICPAC seasonal forecasts
Apply drought, flood, heat, and climate-projection models—including SPI, SPEI, HBV, SWAT, and VIC—to produce decision-ready risk information for pastoral, agricultural, urban, and cross-border contexts
Assess shared river-basin risks, seasonal migration corridors, urban flash flooding, heat exposure, drought conditions, and climate impacts affecting vulnerable communities
Review existing early-warning systems and identify opportunities to strengthen interoperability between ICPAC, FEWS NET, IGAD PREPARE, national EWARS and IDSR systems, and operational anticipatory-action platforms
Produce accessible climate-risk bulletins, seasonal forecast summaries, technical reports, scientific briefs, and decision-support products for program teams, governments, donors, and regional partners
Lead the development and validation of multi-hazard trigger matrices integrating climate, hydrological, epidemiological, food-security, displacement, and conflict-sensitivity indicators
Conduct cross-border trigger-validation exercises across the Ethiopia-Somalia, Somalia-Djibouti, and Ethiopia-Djibouti corridors
Ensure trigger methodologies align with the SCALAA harmonization framework, the IGAD Anticipatory Action Roadmap, national disaster-risk management systems, and other ECHO-funded Crisis Modifier programs
Analyze trigger performance following simulations, pilot activations, and Crisis Modifier responses, including accuracy, false-alarm rates, lead times, operational reliability, and decision quality
Develop technical guidance, standard operating procedures, and training materials for trigger verification, activation decisions, risk interpretation, and Early Action Protocol development
Lead climate-informed malnutrition modelling for South Sudan by integrating drought, flood, seasonal forecast, livelihood, nutrition, SMART survey, MUAC, IPC, and INFORM data
Develop and validate predictive models that identify potential nutrition deterioration before crises emerge and s