Overview
- Work Location: Mozambique - Maputo
- Application Close Date: 21 July, 2025
- Estimated Start date: 10th August, 2025
- Department: Open Mapping Hub -East and Southern Africa
- Reports to: Senior Project Associate ESA-Hub
- Terms: 3 months Consultancy
- Travel: Travel to Mozambique is expected if the consultant is based outside of Mozambique.
- Travel Reimbursement: Up to $3,600USD
- Level: Experienced
About the Role
The Open Mapping Hub – Eastern & Southern Africa (ESA Hub) supports open mapping communities and institutions across 23 countries to leverage OpenStreetMap (OSM) and geospatial data for humanitarian and development impact. In Mozambique, the Hub is working in partnership with Fundação para o Desenvolvimento da Comunidade (FDC) and the Instituto Nacional de Gestão e Redução do Risco de Desastres (INGD) through its National Emergency Operations Center (CENOE) to strengthen disaster risk preparedness through participatory mapping, open data, and local capacity building.
Mozambique is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate-related disasters such as floods, cyclones, and droughts. INGD, through its emergency operations arm CENOE, has increasingly incorporated drone imagery for disaster preparedness and response. However, as identified through the recent needs, challenges remain in processing, managing, and extracting actionable insights from drone data. Current workflows depend heavily on commercial photogrammetry software but limitations around processing capacity, high software costs, outdated hardware, and gaps in advanced photogrammetry skills hinder timely production of high-quality outputs such as orthomosaics, DEMs, and 3D models.
Given the strategic objective to strengthen community-based and government disaster preparedness, there is a clear need to build INGD’s internal capacity to manage the full drone data lifecycle from acquisition to processing, analysis, and integration into decision-making workflows.
Objective of the Assignment
The Technical Drone Imagery Processing Specialist will work closely with INGD and CENOE to strengthen drone imagery processing capabilities. The focus will be on:
- Modernising and optimising drone data processing workflows.
- Supporting the generation of actionable mapping outputs (e.g., orthomosaics, DEMs, point clouds, and derived risk maps).
- Building internal technical capacity for sustained use of drone technologies for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Anticipatory Action (AA).
Scope of Work
The specialist will undertake the following tasks:
a) Workflow Analysis and Recommendations
- Review the current drone imagery processing workflows in use by INGD/CENOE, including the software tools and hardware infrastructure involved, to assess their suitability, performance, and limitations in supporting efficient, high-quality image processing
- Assess existing gaps in relation to best practices for drone data management and processing.
- Recommend, test, and demonstrate updated workflows integrating open-source and/or cost-effective solutions (e.g., OpenDroneMap). This phase should result not only in recommendations but concrete examples of finished products derived from a representative sample of the project data.
b) Image Processing Support
- Process a batch of existing raw drone imagery datasets collected by INGD (approx. 120,000 hectares covered)
- Generate orthomosaics, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), 3D models, and point clouds suitable for use in disaster preparedness mapping and early warning analysis.
- Ensure outputs meet minimum standards for spatial resolution, georeferencing accuracy, and metadata documentation.
- Upload results to appropriate services for storage and delivery (i.e. OpenAerialMap).
c) Software and Hardware Optimisation
- Recommend and help set up an optimized processing environment for INGD/CENOE, considering use of local servers, cloud solutions, or hybrid approaches.
- Provide hands-on guidance for the installation, configuration, and usage of photogrammetry software ( open-source options).
d) Capacity Building and Training
- Design and deliver a training program for INGD and CENOE staff covering:
UAV data processing fundamentals.
- Advanced drone imagery processing (e.g., batch orthomosaic generation, orthophoto and Digital Elevation Model alignment, 3D modelling).
- Best practices for data quality assurance and metadata management.
- Integration of outputs into ArcGIS/QGIS workflows for DRR applications.
- Support the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for drone imagery handling.
e) Documentation and Handover
- Develop a comprehensive reference document tailored to INGD's technical environment for drone imagery processing and storage.
- Provide all processed outputs, metadata, and training materials to INGD/CENOE in editable formats.
Deliverables and Timelines
1. Inception Report
- Detailed work plan, methodology, needs confirmation
- 2 weeks after contract signing
2. Workflow Analysis Report
- Documentation of current gaps and optimized workflow recommendations
- 1 month after contract signing
3. Processed Imagery Outputs
- Batch processed orthomosaics, DEMs, 3D models from INGD archives
- 2 months after contract signing
4. Training Program
- Delivery of one technical workshop plus hands-on apprenticeship-style training for one or two relevant staff members.
- The apprenticeship will involve close collaboration with the consultant over several days to ensure practical understanding, skill transfer, and real-time problem solving.
- 2 months after contract signing
5. Final Report
- Consolidated report summarizing activities, outcomes, recommendations
- 3 months after contract signing
Reporting Line
The Technical Drone Mapping Specialist will report to HOT Project Management Team and closely coordinate with INGD/CENOE technical leads. The consultant should identify a principal point of contact for the project's duration and will be expected to be available during project implementation. The consultant is encouraged to appoint an additional contact person who can be consulted competently on this undertaking. The consultant shall be responsible for all aspects of the performance of services as set forth in this TOR.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in UAV (drone) imagery processing and geospatial data management.
- Proven experience using drone data processing software: OpenDroneMap,
- Strong knowledge of disaster risk management and early warning systems are desirable.
- Experience with training and capacity building in resource-constrained environments.
- Prior experience working in Mozambique or in similar regional contexts (e.g., Southern or Eastern Africa) is highly desirable.
- Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of Portuguese is highly desirable.
Equal Opportunity
We seek to recruit persons that reflect the diversity of the communities we work with and further, to support their retention and advancement within the organization. HOT does not discriminate on the basis of ability, age, gender identity and expression, national origin, race and ethnicity, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation. Our staff includes people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds, lived experiences, and perspectives on the world. HOT is an equal opportunity employer. We seek to live our values and promote inclusivity in all locations. All of our staff work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of all is valued and respected.
HOT is committed to diversity within our team, and recognizes our role in closing the digital divide, including identifying obstacles that certain groups face in developing skills needed for roles in the humanitarian & technology sectors. Women, nationals of developing countries, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
To Apply
Please complete the application by 21st July, 2025. Your CV/resume should not exceed 2 pages.
The selection process will consist of the following steps:
- Online Application
- Panel Interview/s