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- 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 Members 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 FAO's values
- FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
- All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
- All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
Organizational Setting
The NENA Region, already naturally exposed to chronic shortage of water, will face in the coming decades a severe intensification of water scarcity due to several drivers, including demographic growth, tendency to increase food self-sufficiency by increased domestic agriculture production to reduce vulnerability to import and price volatility, urbanization expansion, energy demand and overall socio-economic development.
The FAO regional initiative on water scarcity gather regional partners on knowledge creation, knowledge exchange and policy advice. Under the WSI, the FAO led WEPS-NENA project is implemented regionally with eight target countries including Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia.
The expected outcome of the initiative and related project is that countries of the NENA Region would be empowered at technical, institutional and policy levels to implement their water sustainability, food security, renewable energy and climate resilient agenda and to achieve the water-related SDG to 2030 within safe operational boundaries of water use. Overall, the expected impact is that food security in the NENA region will be strengthened through increased incomes and production, water resources will be used efficiently and sustainably, and climate change effects will be mitigated by a reduction in the carbon footprint of agriculture.
The purpose of this call is to provide FAO RNE and the project with a list of qualified water specialist candidates for different specializations to enhance the FAORNE, the Water scarcity initiative and its project of work. •
Reporting Lines
The consultant/PSA will report to the Delivery manager of the Water scarcity Initiative, or project CTA and FAO- representatives when working at national level
Technical Focus
Supporting the development, quality control and effective implementation of water related activities sunder the he project work plan through the provision of expertise in relevant technical areas including project formulation and implementation to support recipient countries.
Tasks and responsibilities
The consultants/PSA will contribute to the different areas of work of the WSI or its regional project by being responsible for water topic specific work:
Topic of expertise for water specialist sought include:
o Water accounting,
o Water auditing/water governance,
o Water productivity (biophysical and economics),
o Water-energy-food nexus,
o Groundwater management
o Modelling surface or groundwater
o Water use in agriculture/Irrigation,
o Solar irrigation,
o Non-conventional water use in agriculture (ex. reclaimed water, brackish water use…).
The water specialist will on one or more of the above listed topics : :
o Develop technical products and support evidence-based policy reform processes;
o Provide technical and policy advice to the Project and the regional Water Scarcity Initiative partner countries to analyse findings from implementing topic related activities to support coping with water scarcity;
o Coach multidisciplinary teams in implementing topic related studies and provide capacity development when needed.
o Conduct analytical studies on specific water and food related issues using remote sensing and/or ground truth data and/or modelling (ex. for hydrology, groundwater or nexus assessment)
o Contribute to the drafting of actionable and high-quality policy recommendations, technical reports and policy briefs;
o Participate in, organize or facilitate high-level policy meetings, roundtables or other events related to the water Scarcity Initiative;
o Support capacity development activities benefitting government counterparts and other selected national partners.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree in Water Science or Irrigation or Environmental Sciences or Governance, Agricultural Sciences and Economics
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in one of the relevant topic for the WSI : Water accounting, or water auditing/water governance, or Water productivity, or Water-energy-food nexus, Irrigation, or groundwater management , or Modelling surface or ground water or Solar irrigation, or non-conventional water use in agriculture
• For Consultants working knowledge of English or French and limited knowledge of the other one or Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish is required. For PSA working knowledge of English or French is required.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Extent and relevance of experience in Water accounting and auditing, or Water productivity, or Water-energy-food nexus, water use in agriculture/Irrigation, or Groundwater management, Or Modelling surface or groundwater, or Solar irrigation, or non-conventional water use in agriculture
• Familiarity with the use of water and agronomic information, ground truth and remote sensing
• Limited knowledge of Arabic language would be considered as an asset
Selection Criteria
• Knowledge and previous involvement in the RNE water scarcity Initiative or the WEPS-NENA project would be an added value.
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency