Tel no. (66-2) 524-5056
Consultant
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1. Purpose Core details 1.1 Explain the requirement for a consultant The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is an international postgraduate institution based in Thailand, recognized for its research, education, and policy support in sustainable development, climate change, energy, and environmental management across Asia and beyond. Leveraging its strong network of experts and applied research capacity, AIT serves as an implementing partner to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). The Air Quality Management Exchange Platform (AQMx) is an online knowledge platform that was launched by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and its partners on International Clean Air Day 2024, responding to the mandate of the UN Environmental Assembly and its resolution UNEA-6/10 on the promotion of regional cooperation to improve air quality globally. AQMx is designed to be a ‘one stop shop’ for technical tools and models, data, and knowledge to build capacity among air quality managers worldwide – with a focus on air quality managers from Low- and Middle-Income Countries. It aims to serve as a trusted resource, providing guidance and resources to support governments, implementers and stakeholders on the path to meeting interim targets identified in the WHO Air Quality Guidelines. AIT is seeking a “AQMx Wildfire Management Expert” to support the development of Sectoral Guidance on the topic. The responsibility of the Consultant will be to draft Sectoral Guidance on wildfire management, providing concrete and actionable guidance to AQMx users. This will be prepared for the Better Air Quality, which will take place from 11 to 13 March 2026 at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand. |
The Sectoral Guidance on wildfire management will follow the template below:
- Provide an overview of the health, climate, ecosystem, and other impacts, of wildfire.
- List the type of data or information needed to support action on the matter, and where to find them.
- Break down into concrete and actionable steps the design, implementation, enforcement, monitoring and evaluation, of wildfire management programs.
- Investigate relevant business models and financing options available to national and/or local authorities, as appropriate.
- Consider issues of socio-economic equity, gender, and inclusion of vulnerable groups (including informal workers where relevant).
- Highlight successful initiatives, best practices, and case studies in wildfire management.
- Identify key partners, implementers, and donors active in that space, whom AQMx users could contact as they go about developing their wildfire management program.
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To produce the guidance, the Consultant should conduct consultations on the given topic with relevant stakeholders and implementers (to be determined with the supervisor) to make findings as accurate and grounded in research and latest knowledge in the sector as possible. |
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1.2. Work location Remote/no travel 1.3. Expected Duration 2 months part-time. 1.4. Ultimate result of services The “AQMx Wildfire Management Expert” will write a Sectoral Guidance paper of approximately 8,000 words and identify a minimum of 15 supporting resources (reports, scientific publications, databases, tools...) to be uploaded on the AQMx Resource Exchange Library. The Sectoral Guidance will cover: health, climate, ecosystems, and other impacts of wildfire, and type of data/information needed to support action on the issue; concrete and actionable steps policy makers can take to implement a wildfire management program, with a focus on alternatives to burning provided to farmers; relevant business models and financing options for such programs; gender and equity considerations; inspiring case-studies and success stories; and key donors, partners, and implementers active in that space. 1.5 Qualifications / special skills or knowledge Education Masters-level university degree in engineering, environmental management, technology, sciences or economics, or a related area. Experience |
- A minimum of 4 years of professional and/or scientific experience related to wildfire management is required and documented in the CV.
- A minimum of 2 years of experience in research or practical implementation or understanding of wildfire management methods in projects or in collaboration with governments and implementers is required.
- Demonstrated experience in preparing reports on wildfire management by providing a reference to one report authored or co-authored in the last 3 years.
- Demonstrated experience in preparing and delivering presentations is required.
Languages
- Fluency in English (written and oral) is required.
Special knowledge and skills:
- Expertise in wildfire management
- Experience working in and conducting research in developing countries and an understanding of a range of country contexts
- Demonstrated ability to produce clear, accessible and concise scientific and technical reports for policymakers
2. Funding
2.1 Indicative level of remuneration
Total amount will be approximately 10,000 USD. Payment will be made according to the tentative schedule below and the successful completion and approval of deliverables.
| Payment Number | Amount (USD) | Date to submit deliverables for payment | |
| 1 | 8,000 | Mid-February 2026 | For 1st deliverable |
| 2 | 2,000 | End of March 2026 | Launch of guidance at BAQ |
3. Work plan
3.1 Objectives, output expectations and performance indicators
Objectives:
- Develop Sectoral Guidance on wildfire management, providing concrete and actionable guidance to AQMx users.
- Conduct consultations with CCAC Clean Air Task Team and AQMx Technical Advisory Group, to gather their inputs and comments on the Sectoral Guidance.
- Identify a minimum of 15 relevant resources (reports, scientific publications, databases, tools...) to be approved by the Secretariat team to upload to the AQMx Resource Exchange Library.
- Work closely with Secretariat Team to deliver the Sectoral Guidance and prepare materials (PowerPoint presentation and key messages) for its launch at BAQ.
Output expectations:
- Sectoral Guidance paper of approximately 8,000 words (Word document to be submitted electronically). The Sectoral Guidance will consider impacts of wildfire on health, climate, and ecosystems, and will break down break down into concrete and actionable steps the design, implementation, enforcement, monitoring and evaluation, of a wildfire management program. It will investigate relevant business models and financing options available to national and/or local authorities, as appropriate. It will also consider issues of socio-economic equity, gender, and inclusion of vulnerable groups (including informal workers where relevant). The Sectoral Guidance will highlight successful initiatives, best practices, and case studies in wildfire management. It will also identify key partners, implementers, and donors active in that space, whom AQMx users could contact as they go about developing their wildfire management program.
- List of a minimum of 15 relevant resources (reports, scientific publications, databases, tools...) to be approved by the Secretariat team to expand the AQMx Resource Exchange Library.
- PowerPoint presentation including key messages to support the launch of the Sectoral Guidance pages at BAQ.
Performance indicators:
- Timely and high-quality delivery of the Sectoral Guidance, with reporting back in stages as per the schedule above.
- Engagement of the CCAC Clean Air Task Team and AQMx Technical Advisory Group.
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3.2 Specific tasks and responsibilities Original: Consultant would have regular (e.g. fortnightly) meetings of progress and provide brief monthly reports on work undertaken and outputs delivered. 1st deliverable: By end of January 2026, review draft of Sectoral Guidance and list of minimum 15 resources to upload in AQMx Resource Exchange Library. 2nd deliverable: 24th February 2026, final draft of Sectoral Guidance and materials (PowerPoint presentation, key messages) to launch the guidance at BAQ in March 2026. 3.3 Reporting lines (indicate to whom the consultant/ individual contractor is reporting and who will evaluate their outputs) The consultant will report to Ekbordin Winijkul, Associate Professor at the Asian Institute of Technology (ekbordinw@ait.asia). |