National Forest Inventory Advisor

Organizational Setting

The Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025) facilitates, coordinates and manages all technical and advisory services to be provided by FAO to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MoEWA). The project “UTF/SAU/051/SAU Strengthening MoEWA’s Capacity to Implement the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Programme” is the first project that has been approved within the framework of FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025). The project will provide technical and advisory assistance to the MoEWA in implementing its flagship sustainable rural agricultural development programme that has recently been approved within the context of the National Transformation Programme of the Saudi Vision 2030. The project expected results will be achieved through implementation of nine project components: 1) Development of coffee Arabica production, processing and marketing; 2) Development of beekeeping and honey production; 3) Development of rose production and trade; 4) Development of sub-tropical fruits production, processing and marketing; 5) Strengthening capacity of small-scale fishermen and fish farmers; 6) Strengthening capacity of small-scale livestock herders; 7) Development of rain-fed cereals production; 8) Enhancing value addition from smallholdings and rural activities; and 9) Strengthening MoEWA’s capacity in sustainable management of rangelands, forests and natural resources to support rural livelihoods. An overall plan and budget is developed and approved, including activities and outputs that are expected to be accomplished under each component. Requirements for the international technical expertise of each component have been identified. In order to ensure coordinated, smooth, timely, and successful implementation of the project, long-term competent international technical advisors will be appointed as Component Managers for each of the nine components. Each Component Manager will be supported by a team of international consultants and experts who are technical specialists in the subject matters of the various outputs and activities. The National Forest inventory (NFI) Advisor will contribute to the accomplishment of outputs of the project component on “Strengthening MoEWA’s capacity in sustainable management of rangelands, forests and natural resources to support rural livelihoods”.

Reporting Lines

The National Forest Inventory Advisor will report to the Sustainable Forest Management Technical Advisor under the overall guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor- Natural Resources Management in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Technical Focus

Provide the technical assistance and support to the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification (NCVC) General Directorate for Forests (GDF) within the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) in KSA in implementing National Forest Inventory (NFI) for KSA including methodology development, capacity building, institutional strengthening and database development.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support NFI field data collection which involves backstopping field data collection exercise, identifying solutions to challenges encountered, undertaking on-going quality control of the data generated by field crews, and providing advisory and technical guidance as necessary. • Assist in the finalization and validation of Al Baha vegetation base maps including land cover and forest areas based on agreed upon strata and vegetation classification systems. • Assist in the preparation of a technical proposal based on the review of the NFI data in Al Baha pilot to identify gaps and needs for improving sample coverage and representation, in particular on how to improve the representation of the forest land use strata including possible methods of conducting measurement in the inaccessible sample plots. • Support the updating and revision of NFI training course based on the experience gained from Al Baha pilot. Contribute to the delivery of NFI training to NCVC, FAO, MoEWA, and other stakeholders depending on demand. • Support the processing, consolidation, and analysis of Al Baha pilot NFI data and contribute to the compilation of technical reports and preparation of relevant information and knowledge products. • Work closely with FAO KSA team to design and implement data validation and checking procedures and rules into Open Foris Collect tool. • Support the Software Developer and work together with FAO KSA Forest and geospatial team to build the NFI data analyses and calculation tools into Open Foris toolkit and Open Foris Collect Mobile. • Prepare the Quality Assurance framework, guidelines and working instructions for NFI, covering the whole NFI process from field measurements, through data input, validation, calculation to dissemination of final results. • Support preparation, presentation, and validation of a comprehensive KSA NFI framework based on the outcomes, lessons, and experience gained from Al Baha pilot. • In collaboration with FAO experts in KSA (Forest and Geo-spatial teams) and NCVC (GDF and Technical Support unit), support the design and implementation of an integrated geo-spatial database of KSA forests and trees outside forests. • Support the preparation of a concept for KSA long-term forests monitoring programme to support sustainable forest management. This involves identifying priority monitoring areas, tools and methods, and implementation arrangements. • Strengthen the capacity of NCVC to collect, analyse, update, and manage data and information related to forests and trees. This is aiming at supporting forest resources inventory, monitoring, sustainable management, and decision support. • Consolidate the experienced gained from Al Baha pilot by supporting mainstreaming integration of NFI approaches and processes, methods, tools, analysis, and communication in NCVC HQ and field offices.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Forestry, Natural Resources Management, or a related discipline. • A minimum of seven years of working experience related to the above disciplines, including the implementation of forest inventories/forest monitoring. • Working knowledge (level C) of English for Personal Service Agreement. For COF, working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish or Russian).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Relevant experience in providing NFI support to developing countries. • Significant experience in NFI design and implementation and/or large data analysis and reporting. • Knowledge of issues related to measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of REDD activities.