National Project Personnel - Forestry & Natural Resource Management

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Background

The NPP will provide support to the implementation of two projects: a national technical cooperation project (TCP) on soils analysis and information systems (1), and a project to support the implementation of global instruments on tenure rights and responsible investment (2).

1. FAO Liberia has a TCP project, which supports the Ministry of Agriculture and the University of Liberia in enhancing their soils analysis and information systems. The support covers a number of activities ranging from procuring soil laboratory analysis equipment, capacity development, fieldwork and data collection activities as well as establishing a soils information system. The project will also require reporting of ongoing activities.

2. Accelerating progress towards the SDGs largely depends on stronger political commitment and explicit capacities to focus on the contribution of agriculture and food systems to fighting all forms of malnutrition, poverty and inequality while managing resources more sustainably. The global community, notably through CFS and FAO, have developed and endorsed global instruments to guide the responsible governance or tenure and investment, including: (i) Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security (VGGT); and (ii) CFS Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS RAI).

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Liberia as well as the Assistant FAOR for Programme and in cooperation with the Land Tenure Officer for the Voluntary Guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests as well as the Programme Officer for Responsible Agricultural Investment, the Forestry and Natural Resource Management Consultant will provide both technical and operational support on Forestry and Natural Resource Management activities and the implementation of the Project FMM/GLO/127/MUL.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will support the FAO Liberia office on a number of projects relating to natural resource management with a focus on forestry, fisheries and agriculture.

• Establishment of two soils laboratories including the procurement of all required equipment and the facilitation of field work activities and analysis of soils data as part of the “Strengthening soil analysis and information systems to enhance sustainable soil management and support evidence based decision making in Liberia”
• Facilitate capacity development activities associated with the VGGT, preparing work plans and ensuring delivery of program outcomes. The incumbent will also be expected to facilitate coordination between various stakeholders involved in the process of implementation of the Land Rights Act, including but not limited to Ministry of Agriculture and Liberia Land Authority in Liberia.
• Facilitate activities to enhance responsible investment in agriculture and food systems in Liberia, including capacity development activities to empower stakeholders on inclusive business models, and youth empowerment.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Soil laboratory equipment procurement

• Support the procurement team in preparing procurement documents including the technical specifications for all equipment and reagents, and in evaluating the offers
• Ensure the inclusion of installation, training, maintenance services and warranty notes in the technical specifications
• Monitor and report on procurement progress to project stakeholders
• Lead the team receiving the equipment and facilitate the delivery to the University of Liberia laboratory as well as the Ministry of Agriculture

Capacity Development Activities

• In collaboration with decentralized colleagues, prepare concept notes for all training activities
• Liaise with partner institutions undertaking the training and facilitate travel and logistical support
• Liaise with government partners facilitating all preparations for capacity development activities
• Prepare detailed reports on training activities and assist the FAO Liberia office communications officer in publicizing all capacity development activities in local press as well as social media.
• Ensure that capacity development activities are implemented in due time as per the work plan in the project document.

Field work and data collection activities

• Prepare concept notes for field training of MoA, University and other staff and take part in the training as an observer
• Prepare concept notes outlining field work activities associated with the collection of soil samples at predefined locations
• Through the FAO office in Liberia facilitate logistical support to the field teams undertaking the soils survey
• Join teams in the field and provide additional assistance as well as monitoring support
• Document all field activities and prepare detailed back to office reports on all field work activities
• Document and report on the analysis of soils samples at both the University of Liberia and the Ministry of Agriculture
• Ensure that field work and data collection activities are implemented in due time as per the work plan in the project document

Soils information system

• Assist FAO colleagues from regional offices as well as head office in the establishment of a soils information system located at the Ministry of Agriculture

Implementation of the VGGT related activities, under the direct supervision of the FAO Land tenure officer (PSUL):

• Familiarize with VGGT relevant documentation, including project documents, project reports, and publications;
• Assist in the development of a work plan and budget for year 2021, and ensure its timely implementation. Activities will be defined in coordination with the FAO Land Tenure Officer and country partners and will cover two main stream of work: i) review of the Agribusiness Investment approval process; ii) in coordination with Liberia Multi-Actor partnership (MAP), support processes related to the implementation of the Liberia Land Rights Act, in particular multi-stakeholder dialogues, by ensuring a wider participation of the relevant government institutions;
• Act as focal point within FAO Liberia, for governance of land related activities in Liberia, in particular with respect to the implementation of the Liberia Land Rights Act;
• Ensure constant coordination with key counterparts in the Government of Liberia, in particular Liberia Land Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and National Investment Commission
• Liaise with CSOs active in the land tenure sector, and in particular with member of the Multi-Actor partnership (MAP)

Implementation of the CFS RAI related activities, under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer (PSUR):

• Familiarize with RAI relevant documentation, including project documents, recent publications and learning materials shared by the Programme Officer;
• Support the planning of work for RAI activities under the FMM, and in particular its two components: i) capacity development to empower young agri-entrepreneurs; ii) capacity development workshops on inclusive business models;
• Identify potential service providers to deliver capacity development activities on inclusive business models, liaise with potential service providers and support drafting of Letters of Agreement;
• Act as focal point for service providers contracted under the FMM (youth; inclusive business models), coordinate regularly with service providers, ensure timely delivery of activities under Letters of Agreement and provide support as may be required;
• Liaise with AFAOR Programme and the RAI Programme Officer to ensure complementarity between the FMM and sister project GCP/INT/920/GER

Support to overall FMM project delivery:

• Ensure coordination between VGGT and CFS RAI activities
• Monitor the budget expenditures
• Provide inputs to the project reporting cycle
• Any other task assigned by Supervisors.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in natural science, environmental science, agriculture, forestry, economics ,International development or similar field
• Seven years of relevant experience in implementing natural resources management or demonstrated experience in similar field
• Fluent in English. Working knowledge of French would be an advantage
• Candidates should be nationals of Liberia.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork: Works
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Familiarity with the Liberia soils information system soil laboratory procurement
• Experience in forestry, fisheries, tenure of land and management of complex development projects
• Strong interpersonal and communication, reporting and presentation skills.
• Work experience with projects funded by international donors.
• Extent and relevance of experience in leading and building project teams to set and achieve clear goals.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning, managing, implementing and monitoring projects that are consistent with agreed work plans and key performance indicators.
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Strong partnership building and networking skills involving multiple types of partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify issues, analyse and participate in the resolution of issues/problems.
• Familiarity with the UN rules and procedures, experience in developing policies
• Previous working experience in the region and familiarity with the country situation will be highly desirable;
• Ability to prepare concise reports according to United Nations standards.
• Knowledge and use of participatory planning tools and stakeholders’ engagements.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written;

Selection Criteria

• Extend of experience in forestry, tenure of land, fisheries, agriculture, programme development, or closely related field.
• Independent worker and excellent skills working as part of a team.
• Very high skills/knowledge of background related to the ToR’s Requirements.
• Experience with FAO or other UN agencies’ systems and administration procedures for technical cooperation activities is desirable.