Climate Resilient Agriculture Consultant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an intergovernmental Organization with more than 192 member countries. Since its inception, FAO has worked to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security - defined as the access of all people at all times to the food they need for an active and healthy life.

To achieve its goals, FAO cooperates with thousands of partners worldwide, from farmers’ groups to traders, from non-governmental organizations to other UN agencies, from development banks to agribusiness firms (further and more detailed information on FAO can be found on the internet site: http://www.fao.org).

Since 2002, FAO Coordination Office for the West Bank and Gaza Strip (WBGS) has supported the preparation for, and response to, climate change, food and agricultural threats and livelihood emergencies in the WBGS through emergency relief, rehabilitation and revitalization of productive capacity.

Recently, the FAO is implementing the project entitled: “Enhancing Adaptation Planning and Adoption Climate Resilient Agriculture in Palestine- GCP/GAZ/019/GCR” which is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The project is in line with the Country Programme for the Green Climate Fund (2019), the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2016, the National Determined Contributions (NDCs) 2017, as well as relevant national initiatives and projects, which all underline the vulnerability of the agriculture sector to CC and extreme events while emphasizing the urgency to support this sector to adapt to CC. Stakeholders of this project include but are not limited to: relevant Ministries (including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) and EQA), Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), private sector, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Meteorological Department (PMD), and small-holder farmers and their associations.

Under project outcome 3.2 (Evidence produced to design adaptation solutions for maximum impact), the development of a comprehensive document that captures key Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) practices, tools technologies, and lessons learned, is needed. To date, there are no available guidance or documents that comprise a comprehensive overview of CRA practices in Palestine. Therefore, the enhancement of the intern-institutional collaboration is critical in order to identify and streamline CRA practices and technologies, in the national and local policy frameworks, by using a cross-sectoral perspective is a must. To this end, FAO is seeking the consultancy service of a motivated expert, with a background in Climate Resilient Agriculture with knowledge in the semi-arid and Mediterranean climate, in order to act as Climate Resilient Agriculture Consultant.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of FAO WBGS Head of Office, the direct supervision of FAO WBGS Head of Programme in close consultation with the Deputy Project Manager.

Technical Focus

The assignment will focus on identifying and validating and documenting Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) practices in Palestine and producing appropriate CRA guidance to policymakers, stakeholders, and farmers.

Tasks and responsibilities

The main duties of the Climate Resilient Agriculture Consultant are: • Conduct an inventory, screening, evaluation, and synthesis of best CRA practices and appropriate tools and technologies. This inventory will also take stock of current conventional practices (for baseline reference) and associated input consumption (water, energy, agro-chemicals, labour) and yields produced. (For a review, see, e.g., FAO climate resilient practices- typology and guiding material for climate risk screening, FAO 2021_https://www.fao.org/3/cb3991en/cb3991en.pdf) • Develop a comprehensive document that captures key Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) practices, tools and technologies, lessons learned. • Produce CRA guidance that streamlines CRA practices and technologies to policy makers and relevant stakeholders and farmers. • Perform other tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree relevant to the required tasks (i.e. Agriculture, Climate Change, environmental science, institutional building, or other related field). • At least five years of proven work experience in the field of Climate Resilient Agriculture with knowledge in the semi-arid and Mediterranean climate. Preferably, Experience in Climate Change and CRA practices applications in the Palestinian context. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian) for Consultants. For PSA, working knowledge of English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection criteria

• Proven experience in dealing and liaising with governmental/ non-governmental, the UN, Donors, and international organization. • Professional skills in standard computer applications.