Locust Management Specialists (various topics)

Within the framework of the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Plant Pests (ECTPP), the Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases Team (AGPMM) is one of the six AGP teams. AGPMM works within the framework of the Food Chain Crisis (FCC) and the Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES) and provides advice, technical support and guidance to countries on the sustainable management and control of locusts and transboundary plant pests and diseases.

FAO International Consultants and Call Purpose

The purpose of this call is to populate a roster and to identify expertise in one or more of the following areas of locust management\: Locust aerial and ground control operations; Locust survey, monitoring, reporting and forecast; Contingency planning; Locust control campaign planning, monitoring and implementation; Spraying techniques; Logistical support of the survey and spraying aircrafts.

The consultants/subscribers will be part of a team of technical specialists that manages transboundary plant pests and diseases through a combination of surveillance, early detection, forecasting, early warning, contingency planning, rapid response and promotion of environmentally sound management and control techniques.

The assignment can be located either in the team at FAO-HQs, Rome, Italy, or in any locust-affected country, during locust recession periods or crises (emergency response).

Reporting Lines

The consultants/subscribers will work under the overall technical supervision of the Senior Officer, Team Leader, of the “Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases” (AGPMM), in collaboration with the Resilience Team.

The locust preventive control strategy is recognized as the most appropriate to sustainably manage locusts in the respect of human health and the environment. It consists in monitoring locust habitats at key periods of their development in order to allow early detection in behaviour change and number increase, and results in adequate early warning and early reaction. It aims at reducing occurrence and intensity of locust outbreaks and preventing their development into major upsurges or plagues. Therefore, a key element of the work is to support implementation of knowledge products and provide technical assistance to strengthen national and regional capacities when required. Training is fundamental to get qualified human resources taking into account the necessity to refresh skills in the context of constant evolution of techniques and new technologies and staff turn-over. Moreover, when early warning is not possible (for ex. due to insecurity) or when the strategy is not implemented, it is necessary to be prepared to and to respond to locust crises.

Experts will support the work of the Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases Team (AGPMM) in one or more of the actions\:

• Support the preparation and the implementation of the locust preventive and emergency control plans;
• Provide training to national staff involved in locust control campaign;
• Assess overall locust management (institutional, technical –human resources and equipment, operational) and formulate recommendations to improve it;
• Coordinate locust control campaigns;
• Coordinate daily organization of locust survey and control operations - or assist in their coordination;
• Ensure the logistics of locust campaigns (in particular, develop and implement a monitoring system for human and equipment resources);
• Support/coordinate the aerial and ground survey and control operations;
• Prepare/review of the technical specifications of the material and equipment for the survey and control operations of locusts;
• Provide operational and logistical support to the survey and spraying aircrafts;
• Ensure the compliance of the aircrafts, ULV sprayers with set specifications;
• Ensure the proper use of the spraying equipment and its calibration;
• Monitor or assess locust control operations;
• Assist in monitoring, reporting and forecast of the locust situation;
• Contingency planning development and implementation;
• Evaluate locust campaigns.

• University degree in agriculture/agronomy, entomology or plant protection with emphasis on migratory plant pests;
• A minimum of one year of relevant experience (for category C) or five years (for category B) in one or more of the above listed locust management areas, including in developing countries;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another UN Languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian)