Agro-ecological zoning consultant

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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

FAO’s Subregional Office for Gulf Cooperation Council States and Yemen (SNG) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for transforming food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It also develops and maintains relations with subregional wide institutions. The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa region. The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) and SNG are implementing a 24-month project Master Plan for Sustainable Agriculture in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates. The specific outcome of the project is to equip ADAFSA with a comprehensive planning and monitoring tool and a roadmap for the sustainable development of diversified and integrated agricultural production system in the three regions of Abu Dhabi Emirate (Al Ain, Al Dhafra and Abu Dhabi). The project will support the rollout of related investment programmes. By assisting ADAFSA to develop a Master Plan for the agricultural sector, the project contributes to the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051, approved by the Council of Ministers in May 2018. The Strategy lays the foundations to transform the food and agriculture sectors in the country.

The project activities will be geared towards four outputs and will lead to the development of a Master Plan through a sequential, logical, inclusive and consultation process. The key deliverables of the project will include: (a) a Theory of Change for the Master Plan; (b) a decision support tool; (c) preparatory studies to inform the Master Plan; and (d) the Master Plan document, based on the above deliverables.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent works under the overall guidance of the SNG Coordinator, the technical supervision and guidance of the Head of FAO Lead Technical Unit NSL, in close coordination with the Project Manager and the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and various technical departments at FAO Headquarters (HQs), in close collaboration with the ADAFSA and FAO assigned taskforces.

Technical Focus

The Agro-ecological zoning consultant will be responsible to analyze the functional needs required for a National Agro-Ecological Zones (NAEZ) and Land Resources Information Management Systems (LRIMS), and identify data requirements and core information existing in the country to be included in the systems and inform the Master Plan document.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead on developing land resource database, including soil, water, terrain, socio-economic, land management, land cover, etc. and data, with the help of RS (remote sensing) and GIS tools;
• Apply methodologies and tools to produce agro-ecological zones, agro-climate zones;
• Prepare tools for an estimate of the crop suitability, crop potentials, crop economics, yield gaps for the selected crops;
• Provide data for decision support tool (DST) and support on LRIMS activities;
• Provide technical support to the generation of the detailed work-plan for related components of the project, and relevant to the AEZ databases and analysis;
• Support national experts on the integration of existing datasets on land resources;
• Work in close collaboration with ADAFSA and counterpart staff, providing information and guidance on the implementation of technical activities related to AEZ;
• Participate in technical missions to discuss the AEZ with national stakeholders and collect relevant information/data;
• Apply methodologies and tools to produce agro-ecological zones, agro-climate zones;
• Provide and organize related technical workshop and training sessions for enhancing national technical capacity;
• Work in close collaboration with ADAFSA and counterpart staff, providing information and guidance on the implementation of technical activities related to AEZ.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (PhD will be preferred) in Information Systems, Natural Resources Sciences, Computer Science, GIS, or the equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Seven years’ experience in information technology applications and GIS for agriculture, natural resources, land-use suitability evaluation and scenario development.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian), preferably Arabic.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in GIS for climate change and scenario development, projects and programmes, and database management for modelling and analysis.
• Experience in management of agricultural production assessment and monitoring and geospatial-based projects and programmes.
• Experience in GIS/RS and relevant geo-spatial analysis techniques required for agriculture, natural resources, land-use suitability evaluation and scenario development.
• Familiar with the agro-ecological zooning studies and formation methodologies and best practices at country level.
• Extent and relevance of experience in spatial data handling, analysis, GIS and database management for modelling and analysis.
• Proven experience in organizing training and workshops as well as in drafting technical material and reports.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team with national counterparts, under very tight deadlines.

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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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