Agricultural Data Management Specialist/GIS Specialist

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 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
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

For more than four decades, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

Reporting Lines

The Agricultural Data Management Specialist/GIS Specialist directly reports to the Assistant FAO Representative for Programme.

Technical Focus

The work under the project falls within FAO’s global mandate to defeat hunger and achieve food and nutrition security. Through the project interventions, a more cohesive approach on food availability and nutrition, increased crop productivity, and improvement on the availability of community services will promote social cohesion and peace and stability in the target communities. While the primary FAO strategic objective that the project directly contributes to is Better Life, the project interventions also promote the remaining strategic objectives, Better Production, Better Nutrition, and a Better Environment.

The Project aims to sustain the increase in productivity of rice and corn farming communities in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to avoid local food insecurity and rural unemployment due to the rippled effect of the ongoing Russia - Ukraine war. The Project’s expected outcome is “increased productivity and income of small-holder rice and corn farmers through the provision of inorganic fertilizers and training on soil testing and efficient use of fertilizers”. Moreover, it will contribute to BARMM’s ongoing programs and plans, such as the updated Bangsamoro Development Plan and BARMM Food Security and Nutrition Roadmap, and will complement the ongoing initiatives peace and development initiatives of the Government of Japan in BARMM.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Agricultural Data Management Specialist/GIS Specialist shall perform the following tasks:
• In coordination with the Project Coordinator and Farming Systems Specialist/ Soils Expert, lead the preparation of the draft soil information system and GIS-enabled maps to include data on geo-referenced soil sampling points, results of rapid soil tests, fertilizer recommendation for rice and corn per cropping season in the target project sites, etc.
• Assist in the conduct of training/workshop on geo-referencing of soil sampling points using a GPS receiver, and mapping of rapid soil test results;
• In coordination with the Project Coordinator, Farming Systems Specialist/ Soils Expert, and MAFAR Regional Soils Laboratory technical personnel, provide technical support in the preparation of GIS-enabled map of soil nutrient status/ soil fertility of the target communities/municipalities in Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and Special Geographic Area of Bangsamoro;
• Provide technical assistance to MAFAR – BARMM in the establishment of their BARMM Agricultural Soil Information System;
• Prepare and submit an end-of-assignment report according to FAO's guidelines; and
• Perform other tasks that may be assigned by the FAO Representative.

Minimum Requirements

• The candidate must have a university degree in Agricultural Engineering, Information Technology, or a closely related field;
• The candidate should have at least five (5) years of proven knowledge and experience in agricultural data management and/or GIS mapping, or any other relevant fields; and
• A national of Philippines or a legal resident in the country.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and Filipino

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Coordination skills with strong individual planning capacity;
• Knowledge of humanitarian principles;
• Excellent knowledge and skills in the use of GIS Software Applications (ArcGIS, QGIS, etc.); and
• 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.