National Project Personnel - Agro-Ecology - SLM

Organizational Settings

Land degradation is a serious threat to ecosystem services and livelihoods in Angola. The GEF-funded project “Sustainable Land Management in target landscapes of Central Angola” GCP/ANG/055/GFF attempts to address this problem with the objective of reversing negative land degradation trends in selected landscapes in Central Angola by combining sustainable and rational approaches to planning, decision-making and land-use management with participatory approaches to build the capacity of local stakeholders. Under Component 2, the project will support the integration of SLM into rational decision-making pertaining to land-use management, both at the municipal/commune level and at the local level (i.e. village/community) through working with municipal and communal authorities, as well as support local communities in practical SLM through Farmer Field Schools on topics such as sustainable land-use allocation, crop suitability, fire prevention, integrated soil fertility management, as well as other SLM techniques and science-based approaches. It will target both agricultural and pastoral land uses, making use of agroecological data and tailored AEZ products developed by the AEZ Unit.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall managerial administrative leadership of the FAO Representative in Angola, the tasks of this position will be executed under the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and the National Program Coordinator (NPC).

Technical Focus

The incumbent will undertake different types of activities related to capacity building in Agro-Ecology and SLM. Among these, special emphasis will be placed on the interpretation of agroecological zoning and environmental monitoring tools to guide SLM planning and practices (including regenerative agroecology) on the ground, as well as the development of community SLM plans and the monitoring of their implementation.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Develop agro-ecological practices with rural communities in the provinces of Huambo and Benguela in conjunction with the FAO Field Schools approach and other extension initiatives; • Train facilitators and master trainers of FAO Field Schools and technicians from other extension initiatives in: - interpreting Agro-Ecological Zoning tools to guide agricultural, livestock and land management practices in a sustainable way; - practical training in agricultural, livestock and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) techniques, with special focus on issues related to: - soil fertility management in articulation with agro-ecological production systems; - prevention of soil erosion; - the rehabilitation of degraded soils; - different types of solutions for the strategic storage and retention of water in the landscape and soil moisture; • Support the development of community SLM plans and their implementation; • Accompany and provide technical assistance to the project’s monitoring initiatives with different partners; • Contribute to the preparation of comprehensive reports with the results of each case study including thorough documentation which can be utilized for learning lessons and further capacity-building; • Support the drafting of policy recommendations for decision-makers to translate the results into applicable policy frameworks; • Provide the project management team with an internal evaluation regarding further capacity building needs of national beneficiaries.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in relevant discipline(s) such as environmental economics, geography, agricultural economics or similar area of expertise; • Proficient Portuguese (both spoken and written) and intermediate English; • Angola nationality and proficiency in Portuguese;

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Practical experience of at least 2 years in agro-ecology; • Experience in monitoring natural resources and geography; • An advanced level of Umbundo is an asset; • Substantial knowledge of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and landscape management; • knowledge of GIS and remote sensing applied to natural resources monitoring and assessment is a strong asset; • Experience in working with international organizations. • Strong coordination and facilitation skills;