A. Sezin Tokar

About A. Sezin Tokar

Sezin Tokar is the Senior Hydrometeorological Hazard Advisor at USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA), the lead federal office responsible for coordinating the U.S. government’s response to international disasters. She provides technical expertise and guidance on how to mitigate and respond to climate, weather, and water-induced disasters. She has advised on numerous U.S. disaster responses, including the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. She oversees BHA’s programs on hydrometeorological early warning systems, such as drought and cyclone monitoring, flood forecasting, and community-based preparedness. She developed and has overseen the implementation of Global Flash Flood Guidance initiative that encourages cross-border cooperation and strengthen regional and national capacities to monitor flash floods and severe weather, issue warnings, and devise response strategies; Weather Ready Nations that advances impact-based forecasting, 3D-Printed Automated Weather Stations to improve hydrometeorological monitoring; RANET-Chatty Beetle that aids in dissemination and access of hydrometeorological warning in remote areas; and many other initiatives to improve capacity on hydrometeorlogical early warning, globally. She also serves as BHA’s technical lead on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and has represented the U.S. government in various global platforms and high-level working groups, including to advise on the development of frameworks, reports, guidelines and programs on hydrometeorology, climate and DRR. She was the chief of staff for the US delegation to the Third UN World Conference on DRR in Sendai, Japan, and she was the principal negotiator for the Sendai Framework on behalf of the US government. She represents USAID on the White House National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction and is the co-chair of International DRR Working Group. In addition, she serves on the World Meteorological Organization’s Commission on Climatology, the Consultative Group of the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Response and Recovery, and UNISDR’s Open Ended Intergovernmental Expert Group on Indicators and Targets. Prior to joining BHA, she was a hydrological advisor to the National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Experience

1. Lead Senior Hydrometeorological Hazards and Disaster Risk Reduction Advisor

   USAID

   Sep 2001 — Present · Washington, DC, US

Education

• University of Maryland College Park

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)