Result of Service

Output 1 - Interpretation of Mining Activities in a Municipality of Bolivia Using Medium and Very High-Resolution Imagery. Application of the UNODC methodology for identifying mining activities, carrying out the following activities:

Identification of mining activities using medium-resolution imagery from the last five years
Application of identification criteria.
Use of key visual interpretation criteria.
Application of digitization parameters.
Delineation of polygons identified as mining activity using medium and very high-resolution imagery.
Internal delineation of polygons using very high-resolution imagery in areas with coverage.
Review and quality control process for the visual interpretation of mining activities.
Consolidation and quantification of areas at the municipal level. Deliverables
Shapefile or geographic database containing polygons with mining activity in the selected municipality for the last 5 years, processed, with quality control, and consolidated through quantification within Bolivian territory.
Project map by allocation zones using open-source geographic information system software.
Progress and objective achievement report Output 2 Validation of Information Through Field Missions to the Selected Municipality. Conduct two field missions to validate the databases developed during the visual interpretation process and ensure their accuracy through the following activities:
Facilitate the administrative preparation of the missions by creating a mission schedule, gathering identification documents, and holding preliminary meetings with municipal or local government personnel.
Prepare field information (maps, databases, and field work plan).
Gather information related to mining activities in the municipality, at least six items, using photographs, forms (where permitted), and drone imagery.
Prepare mission reports.
Adjust the database and methodology based on information collected during the field missions. Deliverables:
Project with intervention areas and interpretation adjustments.
Mission reports, progress reports, and objective achievement reports. Output 3 - Cross-referencing variables provided by the UNODC and quantifying adjusted results of mining activities. Prepare a database showing the geography of crime in the selected municipality by incorporating variables related to the presence of unauthorized mining, coca cultivation, and areas of intervention with comprehensive development, carrying out the following activities:
Development of a relational database.
Preparation of statistics showing variables analyzed within the UNODC framework
Final chronological quantification of the presence of mining activities.
Final spatial quantification of areas affected by mining activities in the selected municipality
Preparation of resulting maps.
Preparation of a final report evaluating the methodology and with recommendations for its improvement. Deliverables
Database with all the information provided by the UNODC and obtained during the interpretation processes for the selected municipality.
Database of images and photographs.
Map catalog.
Final report with evaluation of the methodology.

Work Location

Home-based, La Paz-Bolivia (on-site), with travel.

Expected duration

21.10.26 - 05.01.27

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the project coordinator, the Individual Contractor will carry out the following tasks: The scope of the consultancy is defined by three fundamental activities for interpretation. The first involves interpreting mining activities related to gold extraction in medium and high resolution satellite images, the second involves field visits to interpreted sectors for on-site validation of the preliminary interpretation and the third involves quantifying the interpreted areas chronologically, reflected in a report.. Interpretation The visual interpretation of mining activities will be carried out in a municipality in Bolivia using UNODC methodology and medium- and very-high-resolution satellite imagery (Sentinel and Pleiades). The project will provide all the necessary inputs for the visual interpretation process. For the identification of mining activities using medium-resolution imagery, a chronological calculation of up to five years will be performed to trace the development of this activity. Very-high-resolution imagery will be used to quantify the area affected by this activity. Validation All information obtained in the process of identifying mining activities must be verified through two field missions to sectors within the selected municipality in Bolivia. These visits will validate the accuracy of the calculations made through visual identification. Quantification Once the validation is complete, a cross-reference will be made with information provided by the UNODC related to projects in the municipality to quantify illegal activities, yielding the first statistics related to the geography of crime in the area, linking data on illegal mining, coca cultivation, and comprehensive development activities. All of this will be included in a comprehensive report with maps and explanatory statistics.

Qualifications/special skills

High school diploma or equivalent is required.

University degree (Bachelor´s degree) is desirable.
At least 5-years of relevant experience in Geographic Information Systems management and monitoring of mining activities and the use of satellite imagery is required.
At least one year of experience in the management, registration, control, and oversight of mining areas is desirable.
Experience in mineral prospecting and exploration are desirable.
Knowledge of QGiS or Arc Gis is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in Spanish, i.e. oral and written proficiency, is required. Knowledge of English is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

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