International Natural Resources and Information Management Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO's office for Iraq is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing countrywide food, agriculture and rural development priorities in Iraq. It develops and maintains relations with the relevant Ministries at country level. This position is based in the FAO office in Basra, Iraq. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. The objective of this assignment is to effectively implement the Knowledge Management (KM) Strategy under “Sustainable Land Management for Improved Livelihoods in Degraded Areas of Iraq” project (GCP /IRQ/003/GFF) and provide technical inputs on the KM tools, services and activities that promote effective use of knowledge across the project and dissemination of relevant information to the project stakeholders and build their capacity.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative (FAOR) and the direct supervision by the Deputy FAO Representative and the technical guidance of the International Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.

Technical Focus

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

Tasks and responsibilities

• Prepare workplan on establishing national information and knowledge management platform supported by a digital land use mapping system to serve as a tool to assist farmers, extension officers, and government agencies to make informed decisions regarding the application of best Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices; • Conduct Needs Assessment and identify gaps for establishing, equipping and operationalization of national information and knowledge management platform; • Design, establish, launch and maintain the knowledge and decision-making platform; • Design data collection methodology and tools, including remote sensing, on Land Use and Ownership, Suitability Index, Soil Management, Climate Change, Grazing Management, Water and Irrigation, Production Practices, Wetlands Conservation, Production Value, Environmental Information; • Train enumerators on data collection and real-time monitoring of data collection process to address issues at early stages that may affect the timely implementation and quality of the data collected; • Perform data quality assurance and ensure the validity and consistency of data collected; • Analyze and present data in a validation workshop to various stakeholders; • Provide information generated through the platform to the FAO Communication Specialist to produce communication/visibility/learning materials targeting farmers, extension officers and decision makers; • Generate lessons learnt, best practices, and produce knowledge materials for learning and advancement; • Perform any other related duties as assigned by the supervisor

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in natural resource management, data management, public administration, development studies, scientific communication or other relevant fields is required. • At least five years of relevant experience in designing and managing KM, capacity development, analytical works and reporting. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages. For PSA, working knowledge of English is required. Knowledge of Arabic (both written and spoken) will be an asset.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in developing and executing KM approaches is required, including at least two of the following aspects: - Implementation of strategies related to knowledge management, - Design and production of knowledge management tools and services; • Experience in stakeholders’ engagement and facilitation of strategic partnerships to strengthen the science policy interface; • Experience in M&E and results-based frameworks for reporting and assessing the progress to impacts of KM activities, preferably in GEF projects; • Experience in/facilitation skills for meetings and training, including capacity development and consultative workshops. • Experience with an UN agency, international NGO or donor agencies highly desirable. • Computer literacy in Microsoft Word, Excel, Email/Internet, PowerPoint, is essential.