National Consultant on GIS/RS and Data Management

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• 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

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. The main aim of the FAO country office, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, agricultural sector development responds to the challenges posed by air pollution and climate change, in order to improve people’s health and ensure sustainable development.

The TCP/LAO/3803/C2 project aims to provide decision-makers with evidence-based information in support to national action plans to reduce air pollution.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall managerial administrative leadership and supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Lao PDR. Under the over-all technical guidance from the Senior Natural Resources officer in the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), the technical officer in the Land and Water Division (NSL), with the technical backstopping of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) at FAO Bangkok, in close collaboration with the project in FAO Representation and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE),

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be working on the project deliverables associated with a TCP project which seeks to support the Government of Lao PDR, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in coordination, collect geospatial data and information, frequent geospatial analysis and reporting.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Liaise with national counterparts to nominate focal points to participate to the technical working group, collect relevant data (air pollution, contribution from various sectors, land related information about drivers);
• Organise regular project team meetings, meetings of the technical working group, trainings in consultation with FAO representation, FAO regional office on the progress of the project implementation and related national needs;
• Meet with relevant stakeholder and collect geospatial data and information to be used according to the methodological guidance document (collecting national data on e.g. land cover, household density, infrastructure, agricultural statistics, agro-ecological zoning, biomass, weather, soil moisture, air quality, Greenhouse gas emission, emission factors, activity data; ancillary data, crop calendar, any information about the drivers of crop residue burning);
• Provide an overview of national, regional and international commitments, as reflected in the national environmental and agricultural plans and strategies related to reducing air pollution and contribution from various sectors, including agriculture;
• Guide the identification and undertake the collection of available reports, geospatial and tabular data prepared by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONROE), and other national partners including research and academia, related to air pollution, drivers, contributions by sector, biomass burning and others;
• Contribute to the preparation of national frequent geospatial analysis of the intensity of biomass (e.g. crop residue) burning for a number of selected and relevant months by provinces and seasons;
• Contribute to the delineation of hotspots of biomass (e.g. crop residue) burning with identification of vulnerable areas considering e.g. seasonal variations, population density and fluid dynamics of air flow;
• Prepare presentation, documents, that explain the methodological approach, identified indicators, data sources, expected results, validation process and final results, to national counterparts;
• Manage and populate the project database of data (geospatial and tabular), metadata and documentation for land cover, household density, infrastructure, agricultural statistics, agro-ecological zoning, biomass, weather, soil moisture, ancillary data, crop calendar, contribution to air pollution from different sectors (e.g. Energy, Transport, Industry, Agriculture, Waste management, others);
• In close collaboration with the international consultants, contribute to the preparation of the methodological approach for monitoring spatio-temporal dynamics and preparing indicators of air pollution and identification of hotspots and identification of drivers, considering available global, regional, national and local data;
• Prepare the needed guidance document to undertake the field data collection, with guidance on identification of hotspots and prioritisation of representative field data collection, with the service provider;
• Lead the field data collection process, household survey and focused group discussion in identified delineated hot-spots, preparation of the field forms, in close collaboration with the service provider and other national partners;
• Prepare maps and statistical analysis for the report on the spatio-temporal contribution of biomass (e.g. crop residue) burning to air pollution in hot-spot areas;
• Prepare a report on the validation by national partners about the drivers to air pollution and contribution to Prepare a report providing technical recommendations for the institutionalisation for monitoring the contributions to air pollution (including the preparation of documents for resource mobilisation and mainstreaming alternative approaches into national plans);
• Prepare presentations and communication materials to present the project activities and results to national partners.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree, or preferably master degree, in GIS, environment protection, agriculture, computer science, natural resources management, information technology, statistic or other related fields.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience in environmental modelling, data handling and processing, database and web pages administration as well as application of statistical and modelling methods (e.g. soil, crop, hydrological, or meteorological statistics and probability analysis).Have experience working with international organizations including INGOs, bilateral or multi-lateral agencies, and with UN agencies is desirable.
• Good working knowledge of English
• Nationality of Lao

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Relevant experience in project coordination, geospatial data and information collection, frequent geospatial analysis and reporting.
• Familiarity with GIS scripting languages and web services management
• Familiarity with UN administrative operations is an asset.
• Language requirement: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Lao
• General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).

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