National GIS Specialist

Overview

Map irrigation potential sites and support feasibility studies

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Geo-information science, Surveying, Geoinformatics, Geographic Information Systems, Remote sensing or other related fields.
• 5 years of progressive working experience in surveying, Geographic Information Systems, or remote sensing.
• Working knowledge of English language.
• National of Rwanda or resident of the country with valid work permit.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda is implementing the project aimed at reconsidering the potential of water resources development to expand irrigated land in Rwanda. The project aims to put more effort into increasing the area under irrigation by reconsidering all irrigation potentials, including medium, small, and micro sites. By reconsidering irrigation potential in Rwanda, the project will increase the total irrigated land to maximize crop production and productivity, sustainable land use and crop intensification, adaption to environmental degradation and climate resilience. Reconsidering irrigation potential will decrease the barriers to accessing water, impact poverty through different dimensions such as crop/animal production and productivity, on-farm and off-farm employment generation, income/consumption, vulnerability, food security, non-farm output, nutrition, multiple use of water (e.g. domestic and irrigation purposes).

Thematically the projects focus on two outputs:

(1) Analyse and review geographical data and prepare a stocktaking of national inventories of irrigation potential in Rwanda, (2) Conduct comprehensive preliminary feasibility studies and validate the identified potential sites.

FAO is now hiring a national GIS specialist to map large, medium, small, and micro irrigation potential sites, to classify all sites and support the elaboration of pre-feasibility studies for the most suitable for easy implementation.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, the direct supervision of the project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) in close collaboration with the Better Production Team Leader/ Senior Irrigation Specialist at FAO Rwanda, with the technical guidance from the Senior Water Development and Management Officer based in the Regional Office for Africa.

Technical Focus

The specialist will thoroughly use the existing geographical data and locate all possible water sources on Rwanda’s territory. S/he will identify all irrigable sites, including those that can get water through pumping less than 80 meters of maximum head. In collaboration with the national irrigation expert, the GIS Expert will map and produce shapefiles of polygons, lines and points features related to water sources, irrigation canals and pipes, potential irrigation schemes, potential sites for pumping schemes, water reservoirs (earth dams/dam flood plains, hillside tanks and reservoirs/irrigation ponds). The GIS Expert will produce all maps and all characteristics required for, prefeasibility studies. The database to be produced would be a functional user-friendly allowing to navigate and consult maps and other related characteristics. The produced Database should be compatible with existing digital platforms (Agricultural Knowledge Information Systems, AKIS).

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will specifically: • Review the National land use database (land use master plan, arable land, irrigation master plan, protected areas, etc) to get required updates. • Conduct a desk study (latest orthophotos, Rwanda topographic maps- geo-referenced “TIFF images”) to map all potential irrigation sites (Larger, Medium, Small and Micro) to be developed or rehabilitated. • In collaboration with the national irrigation expert produce maps and shapefiles indicating potential identified sites countrywide. The mapping exercise will be extended to all administrative boundaries, i.e up to village level. All levels and the geo-referenced Digital Elevation Models (DEM) would be at 25 cm accuracy, if available. • Fast-track sites against land use/cover and other strategic use, • Produce maps for small, medium, and large scale and suggest the actionable plan for implementation starting with a short-list of promising sites. • Produce materials needed for the consultation and validation workshops that involve the government, private sector, international organizations, other stakeholders who intervene in irrigation sub-sector, • Conduct field visits to identify the physical and environmental characteristics of some selected sites that may require physical presence. • Support to collect non-spatial data from local farmers, farmers' cooperatives and authorities, using ODK (Open Data Kit) questionnaires. • Produce maps for water intake, conveyance, storage, distribution facilities, as well as their geographic features/ characteristics. • Use GIS based topographic software to produce the bill of quantities that will inform the required feasibility studies. • Produce maps/ drawings needed to calculate the investment of every selected site. • Support to organize the validation meetings of the feasibility studies of the potential sites, • Upload maps and other outputs into existing digital platforms (Agricultural Knowledge Information Systems, AKIS). • Support to propose the resource mobilization strategy for the identified potential sites. • Support to organize the consultation workshops to inform potentials investors and donors for the identified sites.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Geo-information science, Surveying, Geoinformatics, Geographic Information Systems, Remote sensing or other related fields. • 5 years of progressive working experience in surveying, Geographic Information Systems, or remote sensing. • Working knowledge of English language. • National of Rwanda or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Proficiency in the elaborating master plans, study, design, and implementation of irrigation infrastructure development projects. • Knowledge of environmental and safety regulations and compliance. • Experience in feasibility studies. • Excellent skills in analysis and report writing. • Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills in English. • Ability to effectively use standard GIS Software, for designing irrigation potential sites and others. • Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power point, Internet). • Capable to work independently and perform under tight deadlines. • Good interpersonal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, and ability to engage effectively with policy and decision-makers.

Selection Criteria

• Experience in using GIS based topographic software to produce the bill of quantities. • Proven experience in project identification, formulation, design, and implementation.

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org