Modern Irrigation and CSWM Specialist

Organizational Setting:

The main aim of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) Representation in Egypt, which is headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist the Government of Egypt to develop policies, programmes and projects to improve food security and nutrition, promote sustainable agricultural development, reduce rural poverty, develop inclusive agri-food systems and strengthen livelihood resilience – in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and United Nations’ global and Government of Egypt’s national Sustainable Development Goals.

FAO is planning to implement a project titled “Enhancement of Agricultural Productivity" OSRO/EGY/041/JPN, is an emergency project supported by the Government of Japan. The project would help vulnerable agricultural households in Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta regions of Egypt, which are threatened by crises, climate change, and insufficient water supplies, become more resilient and less dependent on government assistance. This contribution will be made by enhancing the use of water for farming, increasing agricultural production for smallholder farmers, increasing incomes, and providing impoverished rural households with economic opportunities. The project will work towards achieving increased crop yields per unit of irrigation water used over time and improving food security and income generation in selected Haya Karima villages of Minya, Qena, and Kafr El Sheikh Governorates through the upscaling of tested and validated modern irrigation technologies (such as solar-powered pumps and hybrid (low energy drip and/or sprinkler) irrigation systems), climate-smart water management (CSWM) practices, and good agricultural practice (GAP) principles.

The position is located in the FAO Office in Cairo, Egypt.

Reporting Lines:

Under the overall supervision of FAOR-EGY, the direct and technical supervision of the senior water resources management officer (FAO-SNG), and the technical senior land and water officer (FAO-RNE), and in close collaboration with the FAO country office and project personnel, as well as Government counterparts and all stakeholders, the incymbent will carry out the following tasks for the project to increase agricultural and water productivity in the aforementioned governorates in the designated locations in Menia, Qena, and Kafr El Sheikh governorates.

Technical Focus:

The main role is to develop and implement a method for assessing irrigation efficiency, coordinate the installation and commissioning of irrigation systems, prepare the pre-design of pressurised on-farm irrigation systems, match irrigation modernization specifications with mobile lifting points.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a method for assessing the efficiency of the irrigation techniques, equipment, and systems now used by farmers including the project baseline assessment. • Coordinate the installation and commissioning of irrigation systems, and other water management interventions, including pumps, and other necessary components. • Prepare the pre-design of pressurised on-farm irrigation systems in the specified command regions. • Match between irrigation modernization specifications and the mobile lifting points (electrical and solar energy sources). • Follow up on the technical specifications of the recommended irrigation systems and support the review of the technical tenders received. • Follow up and confirm the efficient implementation of the designed irrigation system in the target areas, and assure the high quality of the materials used and the efficiency of the system. • Analyze, characterise, and classify the main agricultural practises, irrigation technology, systems, and practises, as well as the water consumption that is currently practised in the target locations. • Propose best technologies for different water resources monitoring, including groundwater, drain water and soil moisture sensors; • Develop and implement capacity building programs to enhance the knowledge and skills of stakeholders in climate-smart water management • Evaluate the effectiveness of climate-smart water management strategies and adapt as necessary • Support the consultation with the project partners including training centre on innovation support, institutional development of water user associations, FFSs, and required capacity-building; • Support the consultation with market actors, including upstream markets (distributors, manufacturers, repair services, and other engineering service providers) and downstream markets, and provide a technology-related sustainability analysis; • Support the preparation of an environmental and social risk management strategy (ESRM) related to the new configuration of irrigation systems; • Determine how specifically the project will support the competitiveness of crop farming and improve operationally practises and efficiency, including the determination of current water usage in the target land (as far as practicable) and the expected water savings to be achieved through the project.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• An advanced university degree in Agricultural Engineering, water resource management, Irrigation Engineering, or a related field. • At least 10 years of experience in irrigation system design, installation, operation, and maintenance. • Working knowledge of English and Arabic languages. • National of Egypt or a legal resident in the country.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governemental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams. • Excellent organizational and analytical skills; • Experience in report writing and data analysis • Ability to analyze irrigation systems and recommend modifications that can improve efficiency, water conservation, and crop yields. • Deep understanding of various irrigation technologies, including drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation, and others. • Ability to plan, organize, and manage irrigation modernization projects. This includes developing project schedules, budgets, and timelines, and ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget. • A deep understanding of the agricultural industry, including the latest trends, regulations, and market conditions. • Ability to identify and solve problems related to irrigation systems, such as water shortages, system failures, and inefficiencies. • Strong attention to detail and accuracy are essential for ensuring that irrigation systems are designed and installed correctly. • Ability to adapt to changing project requirements, deadlines, and client needs.