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Remote sensing, monitoring and/or management and sustainable livelihoods specialist - peatlands and mangroves

Multiple locations

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Multiple locations
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
    • Environment
    • Meteorology, Geology and Geography
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Monitoring and Evaluation
    • Mechanics and Electronics (Engineering)
    • Food Security, Livestock and Livelihoods
    • FOA
  • Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

The Forestry Policy and Resources Division (FOAD) of the Forestry Department, leads FAO’s work in promoting sustainable forest management and providing leadership on the environmental, social and economic dimensions of forestry; including its contributions to poverty reduction and food security and nutrition. It supports member countries, civil societies and the private sector on aspects ranging from development of effective forest policies to forest conservation and management issues, and strengthens the role of forests in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Division also collects, analyses and disseminates information on the world’s forest resources and on the production, trade and consumption of wood and non-wood forest products.

The FOA division through the National Forest Monitoring (NFM) Team opens this vacancy announcement with the objective of identifying and recruiting consultants for assignments in 2019–2021 in several duty stations to further develop its technical support globally; and specifically in the Global Peatland Initiative member countries\: Indonesia, Republic of the Congo, Peru and Democratic Republic of the Congo. FAO has several projects funded by various resource partners and in collaboration with FAO member countries and partner organizations, to support the integration of peatlands into land use monitoring systems, land use planning and improving their management.

FAO’s work on peatlands is coordinated through the NFM Team and comprises of activities undertaken also in FAO’s Regional and country offices. Since 2011, FAO supports countries in advancing sustainable peatland management through 1) Knowledge sharing and capacity development; 2) Policy guidance; and 3) Technical support at the national and field level, including monitoring, livelihood development; mapping and integrating activities into existing processes, frameworks and institutions.

FAO’s work on peatlands falls under Strategic Objective output 20402\: Capacities of institutions are strengthened to collect, analyse and report data for decision-making on sustainable production, climate change and environmental degradation, including relevant SDGs. The work contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)\: 15 Life on Land and 13 Climate Action, among others.

The Consultant(s) will be based in Rome (NFM Team), or in country offices located in Indonesia, Republic of the Congo, Peru and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Consultants may be hired for various lengths from 4 months up to 11 months with the potential to renew, depending on the project requirements.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader, NFM, FAO headquarters or under the FAO Representative in the country offices and under the technical guidance of Forestry Officer – SEPAL and Forestry Officer - Peatlands (FOA) and other unit members, the consultants will contribute to the operational success of FAO’s work on peatlands, mangroves and climate change.

Technical Focus

In particular, the work will focus on\: Contributing to technical work related to wetland and high-carbon ecosystem (especially peatlands and mangroves) through\: satellite data processing and field data analysis for monitoring, mapping, land use planning, management and/or livelihood development on peatlands in wet condition (paludiculture).

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the monitoring work stream\:

  • Data collection (remotely-sensed and field-based), management, validation and analysis;
  • Application and refinement of existing monitoring and analysis methods or development of new methods as appropriate;
  • Write computer code to carry out analyses in R, Python, JavaScript, or other programming languages;
  • Create documentation of work and tutorials to allow others to apply the methods and algorithms individually.
  • Hydrological data processing and ground-water level data analysis and/or modelling work;
  • Contribute to the FAO spatial data infrastructure strategy development; (nb. for assignments based at FAO, HQ, the specialist should keep regular contact with Mr Chen Zhongxin, Senior Information Technology Officer, IT Geospatial unit, CIOD and provide regular reports.
For all work streams\:
  • Contribute to capacity development efforts including for enabling environment, institutions and individual capacity through various means,
  • Organize trainings, events and workshops; Gather lessons learned and sharing knowledge
  • Consult stakeholders and liaise with technical focal points in partner organizations,
  • Draft and finalize documents, guidance materials and publications, attend meetings, present, summarize,
  • Identify further technical gaps and needs; compile reports, budgets and project monitoring and evaluation activities.
  • Travel both to fields and meetings may be required.
  • Any other related activities.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
  • Advanced university degree (for Consultants) / University degree (only for PSA) related to remote sensing, earth observation, climate change, natural resource management (e.g. hydrology), environmental policy and sciences, forestry, land use planning or similar,
  • For all work streams\: At least 2 years of relevant working experience, in particular on climate change and/or hydrology,
  • For the monitoring work stream\: At least 2 years of relevant experience in land-use related remote sensing and/or data analysis,
  • Working knowledge of English, French and/or Spanish and limited knowledge of French or Spanish or Arabic, Chinese, Russian for COF.REG.
  • Working knowledge of English, French and/or Spanish for PSA.SBS.
FAO Core Competencies
  • Results Focus
  • Building Effective Relationships
  • Teamwork
  • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
  • Communication

Technical/Functional Skills

Please note that while these skills are desirable, the candidate does not need to cover all the preferred qualifications mentioned below\:

  • Extent and relevance of experience in knowledge, education and work experience on climate change and peatlands / mangroves and land use;
  • Monitoring\: Extent and relevance of experience in R, Python, and JavaScript, especially as applied to land surface monitoring. Use of Google’s Earth Engine is an asset;
  • Work experience together with national and/or subnational institutions;
  • Working knowledge of one or more of the local languages for the duty station country is an advantage (nb. for PSA contracts one language is acceptable, including spoken and written English / Bahasa / French / Spanish;
  • Skills or experience in\: greenhouse gas emission estimates / reporting / verification; land use planning; hydrology; land and water management; mapping; training; policies; economics; value chain development and other related fields;
  • Statistical studies or experience with data analysis and quality control;
  • Work experience in more than one location or area of work;
  • Familiarity with the duty station (country to be mentioned in the application) and its peatlands and/or mangroves;
  • Experience of working together with a team, and independence to work under minimum guidance following the agreed work plan;
  • Preferred\: Experience in compiling training materials, audio-visual materials and documents; and
  • Proficiency with Microsoft package, in particular Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive and other co-working platforms.

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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This vacancy is now closed.
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