Agrarian System Analysis and Diagnosis Specialist (climate resilient forestry and agroforestry)

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, program, 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.

FAO Liberia is implementing a joint program on Community Forestry Management in two of Liberia’s priority landscapes. With funding from the Embassy of Sweden, and under a UN-to-UN arrangement with UNDP, through the Multi Partner Trust Fund (MPTF). FAO will implement the program working with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and other relevant government institutions, international and national non-governmental organizations, as well as development institutions working towards sustainable natural resource management, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation.

The Joint Programme, entitled “Community-Based Forestry and Protected Area Management: Boosting Biodiversity Conservation and Improving Livelihoods of Forest-Fringe/Forest-Dependent Communities and Groups in Liberia” seeks to strengthen management of community forests and protected areas in Liberia through improved governance of community forest management bodies, capacity building of forest regulatory institutions, empowerment of national CSOs/NGOs and Forest and Farm Producer Organizations, integrated natural resources management and the promotion of sustainable livelihood incentives for forest fringe communities. The Joint Programme, building on the experiences of each organization, will work across the following four components:

• Component 1: Enabling policy, governance framework and institutional capacity for CFM • Component 2: Promote effective community-based management of PAs and INRM in the target landscapes • Component 3: Create and strengthen resilient, low-emission land management, equitable, non-timber forest product smallholder value chains through sustainable business development of forest and farm producers, and their organizations (e.g., cooperatives) • Component 4: Knowledge management, communication and awareness, gender mainstreaming, and monitoring & evaluation

Given the complex demography within forest fringe communities and the importance to ensure promotion of sustainable livelihood incentives for forest fringe communities, the proper planning and implementation of activities under component 3 of the project cannot be over emphasized. This Agrarian Systems Analysis and Diagnosis consultancy will help the project team to better understand which low carbon and climate-resilient forestry and agroforestry practices to promote.

Specifically, given the complexity of Agrarian system which involves the analysis of external factors (agro-ecosystem transformation, technical change, and Socio-eco-political change) and internal factors (Land, labour force, Capital). All these conditions influence the choice of farmers in terms of the type of cropping activities to engage in order to survive in a specific ecosystem.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Liberia and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative for Programme, and in full collaboration with the Project Management Specialist and Gender and Social inclusion Specialist – Community Forestry Management, the specialist in coordination with UNDP and FDA colleagues will provide support in undertaking the tasks outlined below.

Technical Focus

Undertake Agrarian System Analysis and diagnosis to better understand which low carbon and climate resilient forestry and agroforestry practices to promote.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develop an inception report outlining the research plan along with methodology and timeline for approval • Conduct desk review and analysis of the agroecosystem transformation, technical change, socio-economic, and political change within the project catchment. • Review and analyze the internal factors of land, labour, and capital, and/or access to finance/credit; and identify the key factors of change, which create the actual agricultural practices (input availability, access to land/land tenure, income/revenue potential, education/knowledge of advance techniques/approaches). • Conduct field data collection through focus group discussions and key informant interviews with local people on the agro-ecosystem and vegetation, to better understand the land use change in the project catchment. • As the current agricultural production system will ultimately influence medium to long-term impact on the environment, the incumbent is required to identify the key factors of change, that are influenced by the current agricultural practices. • Conduct a comparative analysis of the performance economics Value-Added (VA) and Agricultural Revenue per activity) of the production system within the project catchment and give the reasons why farmers practice the different production systems. The analysis should include a review of benefit-sharing schemes, forest management, and land and forest tenure security. A gender lens should be applied to the analysis and recommendations. • Prepare and submit a final assignment report.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree with 5 years’ experience or bachelor’s degree with 8 years of experience in General Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Rural Development, or other social sciences. • At least 5 years of professional experience in conducting similar system analysis and diagnosis. • Working knowledge of English. • National of Liberia or a resident in the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of the various steps in conducting Agrarian System Analysis and Diagnosis and Production System modelling. • Understanding of the gender-related livelihoods challenges and opportunities • Proven ability to conduct fieldwork on the annual monetary value of the output (sales, household consumption, gift, in kind payment related to labour cost paid etc.) • Work experience in Liberia or the Mano River Basin • Previous experience working on international donor projects is highly preferred. • Proven ability in drafting clearly and precisely in English, and in conducting in-depth but succinct system analyses with specific and practical recommendations. • Proven ability in drafting clearly and precisely in English. • Previous experience working on international donor projects is highly preferred. • Working knowledge of MS office and relevant IT tools and software. • Excellent communication, networking, written and presentation skills. • Familiar with United Nations System and/or FAO’s programming mechanisms