National Professional Officer (Senior Rangeland Management Expert)

The Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025) facilitates, coordinates and manages all technical and advisory services to be provided by FAO to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MoEWA). The project 'UTF/SAU/051/SAU Strengthening MoEWA's Capacity to Implement the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Programme' is the first project that has been approved within the framework of FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025). The project will provide technical and advisory assistance to the MoEWA in implementing its flagship sustainable rural agricultural development programme that has recently been approved within the context of the National Transformation Programme of the Saudi Vision 2030. The project expected results will be achieved through implementation of nine project components\: 1) Development of coffee Arabica production, processing and marketing; 2) Development of beekeeping and honey production; 3) Development of rose production and trade; 4) Development of sub-tropical fruits production, processing and marketing; 5) Strengthening capacity of small-scale fishermen and fish farmers; 6) Strengthening capacity of small-scale livestock herders; 7) Development of rain-fed cereals production; 8) Enhancing value addition from smallholdings and rural activities; and 9) Strengthening MoEWA's capacity in sustainable management of rangelands, forests and natural resources to support rural livelihoods.

The incumbent will be part of the Programme Management Unit of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The National Professional Officer reports directly to the FAO Programme Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in consultation with the Chief Technical Adviser of the project and in collaboration with the Chief Technical Adviser of the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Programme.

Programme development and management, coordination and operational support based on the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, language, and institutions of Saudi Arabia.

Effective and efficient management and coordination of the technical and operational support of the programme and project.

• Participates in policy dialogue and advises government authorities, local, national and international institutions in the areas of FAO's activities and liaises with other United Nations (UN) agencies. Represents FAO at inter-agency meetings;

• Promotes the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization's mandate, programmes, national priorities and activities including the coordination of development and maintenance of communication tools such as website, press releases and publications, and supports the implementation of FAO's regulatory frameworks (Codex Alimentarius, Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Safe Use of Pesticides, etc.) in the country;

• Coordinates and manages the maintenance of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries, including information on external aid in FAO's corporate systems and monitors and communicates changes in national policies affecting the agricultural sector;

• Takes the leads in producing technical, economic and policy studies as well as developing country level development frameworks such as the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF);

• Identifies, formulates and coordinates the preparation of programme and project proposals, monitors FAO field programme implementation, ensuring that all operational activities are carried out in line with the work plan and the project document, and makes recommendations on how to improve results and increase efficiency;

• Briefs, trains and supervises lower grade level programme staff regarding all aspects of the job. Ensures adherence to procedures and work requirements and accuracy and diligence of the work provided.

• Co-leads comprehensive situation analysis, baseline assessment and diagnostic studies of rangeland to give directions to the sustainable development of the sector;

• Leads the field organization and implementation of inventories of rangeland and natural resources of Saudi Arabia and conducts a study on Integrated Pest Management for rangeland vegetation cover protection;

• Identifies and ensures appropriate management of protected natural range areas to produce quality seeds of rangeland plants;

• Conducts a study on rangeland carrying capacity and assesses challenges and opportunities for sustainable rangelands management in Saudi Arabia;

• Leads comprehensive field assessment of the current livestock grazing systems and rangeland management practices and identifies community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management suitable for Saudi Arabia;

• Co-prepares, updates and leads field assessment to prepare livestock grazing and rangeland management environmental, social, cultural and economic profile for each target region;

• Benchmarks best practices, systems and guidelines for sustainable community livestock grazing and rangeland management in countries similar to Saudi Arabia;

• Co-develops and updates a framework of criteria and indicators for evaluating performance of community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management;

• Sets up and oversees community-based livestock grazing and rangeland management pilot demonstration sites and disseminates demonstration results and lessons to stakeholders and promotes adoption of community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management;

• Co-prepares a strategy and plan for sustainable adoption and scaling up of successful community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management;

• Contributes to assessment and quantification of rain water harvesting potential for rangeland improvement within the target regions and prepares and updates guideline for rain water harvesting for supporting rangeland improvement and fodder production;

• Co-prepares and leads the implementation of a capacity development programme to support community-based livestock grazing and rangeland management;

• Leads the development of demand driven and responsive partnerships to benefit Saudi Arabia from proven innovation and good practices in the south and the north for sustainable rangeland management;

• Co-leads the development and dissemination of information and knowledge products for sustainable rangeland management.