IT Trainee

Posiiton

IT Trainee

Description

WORKSITE LOCATION: Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Kathmandu with field visits as and when required.

LENGTH OF TRAINEESHIP

Until December 2026

ABOUT MERCY CORPS

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

Strengthening Anticipatory Action in Nepal (SAAN) is a 2-year project supporting communities most impacted by frequent flood disasters in Sudurpaschim and Madhesh Provinces by transforming disaster response systems to shift from a traditional reactive approach to a proactive disaster response (known as Anticipatory Action – AA). The program aims to enhance disaster preparedness and response by leveraging established models and flood resilience expertise to partner with communities to proactively mitigate the impact of riverine floods, offering a faster, more cost-effective, and dignified proactive approach compared to traditional reactive humanitarian responses.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a swift, cost-effective, and dignified alternative to traditional disaster preparedness, by fortifying communities in Madhesh and Sudurpaschim provinces, as well as local governments, with the necessary knowledge and infrastructure needed for early and timely action in the face of climate-induced floods and droughts. This will support at-risk communities to proactively mitigate the impacts of disasters, while concurrently enhancing the reliability of forecasting by fostering stakeholders’ confidence through more effective utilization of Department of Hydrology and Meteorological (DHM) forecasting systems and working closely with government and private sector partners.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY

The IT Trainee will support the technical development and ongoing maintenance of the Khaderi Monitoring and Guidance Tool; an innovative drought monitoring and forecasting platform developed by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) with technical support from Mercy Corps Nepal. Working closely with the Anticipatory Action Specialist and Meteorologists from DHM’s Agro-Met section, the trainee will support backend and/or frontend programming, bug management, API integration, and continuous system monitoring. This is a hands-on learning opportunity for a recent graduate who is eager to develop professional skills at the intersection of software development, climate science, and humanitarian technology.

As Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), governance, and environmental compliance are cross-cutting priorities of all Mercy Corps programs, the trainee will be expected to support the integration of these principles into relevant program activities and outputs.

LEARNING AREAS

1. Technical Development and Programming

Contribute to backend and/or frontend development of the Khaderi Monitoring and Guidance Tool using Python (Django) for the backend and Next.js for the frontend, as assigned.

Assist in implementing new features and upgrades, including SPI/SPEI drought severity maps, gridded drought monitoring layers, Reference Evapotranspiration (ET₀) calculations, and crop weather calendar functionalities.

Support database management tasks using PostgreSQL and assist in maintaining web services via Nginx/Caddy and process management via PM2.

Contribute to the development and testing of data pipelines and automated analysis modules for meteorological data from DHM stations.

2. Bug Management & Quality Assurance

Identify, document, and resolve software bugs and system errors in the Khaderi Tool in a timely and systematic manner.

Conduct regular testing of new and existing features to ensure system reliability, accuracy, and usability.

Support the implementation of QC (Quality Control) routines to flag missing data and outliers before analysis, following guidance from the Meteorologist team.

Maintain a clear bug log and communicate resolution status to the Meteorologist from DHM, Anticipatory Action Specialist and Senior Project Coordinator.

3. Weather API Monitoring & Integration

Monitor and maintain the integration between the Khaderi Monitoring Tool and DHM weather/climate API data sources to ensure uninterrupted data flow.

Troubleshoot API connectivity issues, data retrieval failures, and data formatting inconsistencies as they arise.

Support upgrades to data interpolation methods (e.g., from Ordinary Kriging to Universal Kriging with trend) and ensure smooth integration with the broader Climate Software platform.

Assist in setting up automated pipelines to process daily meteorological data from both automatic and manual stations.

4. Collaboration and Coordination

Work collaboratively with the Anticipatory Action Specialist and Meteorologists from DHM’s Agro-Met section on data interpretation, feature requirements, and technical design.

Participate in regular technical meetings with DHM staff, Mercy Corps Nepal team, and local implementing partners to discuss progress, challenges, and next steps.

Support documentation of technical processes, user manuals, and system design guidelines in both English and Nepali as required.

Coordinate with Finance, Compliance, and Operations team members as needed to support procurement or reporting processes related to IT activities.

5. Capacity Building and Learning

Actively engage in all learning and training opportunities offered by Mercy Corps Nepal and DHM, including workshops on anticipatory action tools, climate data analysis, and software development best practices.

Proactively build technical knowledge in areas relevant to the Khaderi Tool, including drought indices (SPI, SPEI, VHI), FAO Penman-Monteith ET₀ calculations, and agro-meteorological data systems.

Seek mentorship from the Anticipatory Action Specialist and Senior Project Coordinator to develop professional skills in humanitarian technology and climate-resilient programming.

Contribute to knowledge sharing within the team by documenting learnings, writing technical notes, and presenting progress updates as appropriate.

Reflect Mercy Corps’ values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all collaborative work, actively engaging with team members of diverse backgrounds and expertise.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Reports Directly to

Anticipatory Action Specialist

Works Directly with: Senior Project Coordinator, Anticipatory Action Specialist, other Mercy team, Meteorologist of DHM, Local implementing partner(s); programs, and Operations team members

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Fresh graduates who have completed bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Information Technology or a closely related technical field.

Strong willingness to learn, and professional growth.

Understanding of web application architecture (backend, frontend, database, web server) and software development life cycles.

Basic knowledge of meteorological/climate data

Proficiency in Nepali and English (both written and spoken); ability to document technical work clearly in both languages.

Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently as well as in a team.

Attention to detail and organizational skills.

Ability to work collaboratively within a government institutional setting.

Good written and verbal communication skills in Nepali and English.

Preference will be given to female, persons with disabilities and applicants from the marginalized communities.

PREFERRED/ADVANTAGEOUS

Internship or entry-level experience in software development is an advantage, particularly in tools or platforms related to climate, weather, anticipatory action, early warning systems, or related fields.

Hands-on experience or academic exposure to backend development (Python/Django preferred) and/or frontend development (JavaScript/Next.js or similar frameworks) is desirable.

Commitment to humanitarian values and Mercy Corps’ principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

SUCCESS FACTORS

The successful Trainee will be a proactive and motivated learner with a strong interest in applied meteorology, climate services, and disaster risk reduction. They will demonstrate initiative in using Python and data analysis tools to support forecasting, drought monitoring, and early warning activities, while communicating professionally within a government institutional setting.

The candidate should be able to work effectively both independently and within a multidisciplinary team in a dynamic environment, showing adaptability, accountability, and a willingness to learn. They are expected to contribute meaningfully to the technical operations of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) while upholding the professional standards and core values of Mercy Corps.

The most successful Mercy Corps team members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations. Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/short-term assignment to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

LIVING CONDITION /ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The position is based in Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), and it requires frequent travel to field to support country programs.

ONGOING LEARNING

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

SAFEGUARDING AND ETHICS

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme — SCHR. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members must complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and annually.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).

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Kathmandu