Project: Bridging Data and Action: AI-Powered Mapping of Multidimensional Vulnerability for Climate-Resilient Communities

The Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) is an autonomous international organization established for scientific, educational, developmental, and humanitarian purposes with a vision of safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific.

Established in 1986 as a technical capacity-building center, ADPC has grown and diversified its expertise across social and physical sciences, envisioning safer communities and sustainable development through disaster risk reduction. Being an autonomous international organization governed by the Board of Trustees. It supports sustainable solutions for disaster risk reduction across a broad range of specialist areas, with a wide range of professional expertise from atmospheric scientists to social scientists with experiences from all levels of engagement typically required for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Resilience (CR) effectively. ADPC’s Strategy 2030 guides the organization in providing comprehensive risk reduction support to countries and communities in Asia and the Pacific with various programs being implemented under 15 strategic themes by three departments, namely the Preparedness and Climate Actions, Risk Analytics and Climate Services, and Risk Governance and Financing. In addition to these, ADPC also works on three cross-cutting themes: Gender and Diversity, Innovation, and Regional and Transboundary Cooperation through permanent working committees. These activities are supported by proactive individual departments of Finance, Human Resources and Administration. ADPC recognizes the importance of examining the linkages between disaster risk management, poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability, rights-based approaches, climate change, and regional cooperation.

For details, please refer to the ADPC website at http://www.adpc.net/

The Risk Analytics and Climate Services Department of ADPC is a multi-disciplinary team of experts committed to providing innovative, science-based solutions to address climate risks and enhance resilience to climate change. Addressing climate change adaptation is the primary goal of the department with a focus on climate data integration, early warning systems, impact-based forecasting leading to anticipatory action into agricultural planning and water resource management for water and food security. The department applies advanced geoinformatics and climate analytics to address water and food security by assessing water availability, water use efficiency, groundwater management, monitoring drought risks, and optimizing agricultural productivity, ensuring sustainable resource use and food systems in vulnerable regions. The department promotes Nature-Based Solutions by leveraging ecosystem services such as wetland restoration, agroforestry, and green-gray infrastructure to reduce disaster risks and build climate resilience. To enhance the climate and disaster resilience of urban settings and physical infrastructure, particularly critical infrastructure, the department promotes the integration of climate and disaster risk information into the urban plans and engineering design through comprehensive hazard, vulnerability, risk and criticality assessments that aims to develop risk-informed urban plans and also adaptive infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme climate events such as floods, heatwaves, and sea-level rise as well as geological hazards (e.g. earthquakes, landslides etc.). With a commitment to science-based approach, the department envisions empowering stakeholders to reduce risks, adapt to climate change, and build more resilient communities and ecosystems.

ADPC is partnering with Spatial Informatics Group – Natural Assets Laboratory (SIG-NAL) to co-develop a multidimensional vulnerability mapping platform that integrates real-time socio-economic and hazard data into an interactive AI-powered dashboard. The scope includes web development, AI/data science support, user outreach, and stakeholder capacity-building in the selected pilot countries.

For the development of the vulnerability assessment framework, ADPC will undertake technical analyses utilizing satellite imagery and geospatial datasets to assess land cover change across the ASEAN region, evaluate disaster vulnerability, for the AI-Powered mapping of multidimensional Vulnerability for Climate-Resilient Communities.

ADPC therefore seeks qualified technical consultants with strong expertise in remote sensing and geospatial analytics to conduct machine learning–based image processing for land cover classification and land cover change assessment in Southeast Asia, as well as to support the application of geospatial analysis in disaster vulnerability assessment.

Objectives: The objective of this assignment is to conduct regional land cover change analysis and validation for 11 countries in the ASEAN region, participate on land cover change assessment in Myanmar and associated impact by mining activities, and support the development of training materials on geospatial and AI technologies for disaster risk reduction in ASEAN.

Scope of work:

The consultant will undertake the following technical tasks:

• Conduct time-series land cover change analysis (2014–2025) for ASEAN countries using satellite imagery and existing RLCMS datasets.

• Perform accuracy assessment and uncertainty analysis for RLCMS land cover products and derived land cover change maps.

• Conduct land cover change assessment in Myanmar, focusing on environmental impacts associated with mining activities.

• Support the development of training materials and technical documentation related to geospatial technologies and AI applications for disaster risk reduction in the ASEAN region.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Output

Deliverables

Output 1:

Regional Land Cover Change Assessment

Time-series land cover change analysis (2014–2025) for 11 ASEAN countries using RLCMS and satellite datasets, including maps and summary statistics.

Timeline: End of Month 2

Output 2:

Accuracy and Uncertainty Assessment

Accuracy assessment of RLCMS products and land cover change outputs, including methodology, validation dataset, and uncertainty analysis report.

Timeline: End of Month 3

Output 3:

Myanmar Land Cover Change and Mining Impact Assessment

Results of land cover change analysis in Myanmar and assessment of environmental impacts associated with mining activities, including spatial datasets and maps.

Timeline: End of Month 6

Output 4:

Training Materials for Geospatial and AI Technologies

Development of training materials, presentation slides, and supporting documentation on geospatial and AI technologies for disaster risk reduction in ASEAN.

Timeline: End of Month 7

Working Principles:

The consultant will report to the Program Officer, Climate Mitigation and Carbon Monitoring. The contract will be managed by the Department of Risk Analytic Risk Analytics and Climate Services of ADPC.

Qualifications:

The consultant is expected to possess the following qualifications.

1. At least Bachelor degree in Geosciences, environmental management, agriculture development or related

2. At least 3 years’ experience working with application of remote sensing for land cover, forest cover mapping or natural resource management related field.

3. Strong programming skills, experience working with Google Earth Engine

4. Fluent English writing and communications skills

5. Knowledge of the development context of SEA region considered a plus;

6. Enthusiastic for research, good team work and a good collaborator.

Duty Station: Home-base, travels sometime within the ASEAN region to participate in the training as needed

Itinerary: All work-related travel costs (during the period of training and workshop in the ASEAN region only) will be covered by ADPC such as economy class flight ticket, land transportation, DSA and other related costs as applicable as per the ADPC policies.

Duration: This tentative assignment will be for 07 months, from April 2026 to September 2026.

Condition of payment: This assignment is output based; the payments will be made on the acceptance of the output(s) by ADPC.

Output: Deliverables

Output 1:

Regional Land Cover Change Assessment

Time-series land cover change analysis (2014–2025) for 11 ASEAN countries using RLCMS and satellite datasets, including maps and summary statistics.

Payment (%): 30%

Output 2:

Accuracy and Uncertainty Assessment

Accuracy assessment of RLCMS products and land cover change outputs, including methodology, validation dataset, and uncertainty analysis report.

Payment (%): 20%

Output 3:

Myanmar Land Cover Change and Mining Impact Assessment

Results of land cover change analysis in Myanmar and assessment of environmental impacts associated with mining activities, including spatial datasets and maps.

Payment (%): 30%

Output 4:

Training Materials for Geospatial and AI Technologies

Development of training materials, presentation slides, and supporting documentation on geospatial and AI technologies for disaster risk reduction in ASEAN.

Payment (%): 20%

Selection Method

The consultant will be selected in accordance with ADPC’s recruitment process.

How to apply

How to apply:

Interested individuals are invited to submit a completed ADPC application form (downloadable from www.adpc.net), along with a resume, copies of degrees/certificates, and a cover letter, to: procurement@adpc.net

The email subject should clearly indicate the position being applied for, for example:

[Remote Sensing Data Analyst, Name of Consultant]

Female applicants are especially encouraged to apply.

ADPC values diversity and fosters an inclusive work environment, welcoming applications from qualified candidates regardless of background.