National Specialist on crop wild relative (CWR) conservation

Organizational Setting

FAO is implementing a Global Environmental Facility project, jointly with IOM, UNICEF and UN Women, titled “Facilitating agrobiodiversity (ABD) conservation and sustainable use to promote food and nutritional resilience in Tajikistan”. The project objective is the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Securing of the national and globally significant agrobiodiversity and the associated knowledge and cultural aspects of traditional agro-ecosystems of Tajikistan. This encompasses the valuation and maintenance crop landraces, crop wild relatives and their associated knowledge and cultural methods within the traditional agro-ecosystems of Tajikistan.

The project supports building an evidence-based conservation planning approach that includes the production of inventories of diversity; mapping hotspots; the identification of stakeholders and the fostering of linkages between them. The project is organized into 3 components:

Component 1: Agrobiodiversity conservation and policy enhancement to benefit local communities; Component 2: Strengthening local community and breeding sector’s capacity to use the breadth of indigenous agrobiodiversity and ensure climate resilience; Component 3: Support policy development, knowledge management, improved financing and monitoring and evaluation.

The project is built on current initiatives and processes and involves several stakeholders, including farmers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to assure its sustainability after the project is over. Furthermore, the project promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment by supporting women’s participation and decision-making capabilities; improving access to resources and technologies; and, creating financial opportunities for income-generating activities.

Reporting Lines

The National Specialist on crop wild relative (CWR) conservation will work under the overall supervision of the FAOR in Tajikistan, and under the technical guidance and supervision of the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and National Technical Officer and/ or National Project Coordinator, and relevant technical and programme units in FAO Representation Office in Tajikistan, Sub-regional Office (SEC) and Regional (REU) and at Headquarters in Rome. He/She will co-operate closely with national counterparts, including local authorities (Hukumat/ Jamoat), local farmers and national consultants, as well as with local/ regional branches of Ministry of Agriculture, CoEP, Forest Agency, Protected Areas, and the joint PUNOs implemented this project.

Technical Focus

• Conservation assessment of current active CWR and landrace in situ and ex situ conservation actions: - Existing IUCN Red List Assessment for Tajik CWR reviewed to identify specific threats, link with resilience and climate change vulnerability of crop landraces and CWR genetic reserves; - Completed Modelling resilience and fitness for crop landraces and CWR; - Analysed National Strategy for Conservation and Use of agrobiodiversity conservation recommendations to ensure they are climate change smart; - Completion of climate resilience assessment for selected LRs and CWRs; • National LR and CWR inventory: - Information on ABD diversity in Tajikistan and on CWR national and crop landrace presence in target areas collected from existing sources; - Landrace (LR) inventory of target areas created/ maintained; - Prepared georeferenced occurrence database for CWR taxa and cultivated landraces nationally and in target areas; - Inventory of ABD in Tajikistan, including LR and CWR diversity, published/ widespread; • Formal and informal CWR genetic reserves in target areas: - Guidelines for CWR in-situ conservation adapted to application in Tajikistan. - 5 active CWR genetic reserves (out of total 10 active CWR genetic reserves) and informal CWR established in-situ conservation in 4 communities; - 1 PA (out of total 2 PA management plans) updated to mainstreaming CWR conservation; Agreed changes to 1 PA (Sari-Khosor natural park or Kusavlin reserve) to conserve CWR diversity; - 5 breeders (out of total of 10 breeders) trained in pre-breeding techniques and applying at least 6 CWR traits for crop improvement. - 5 CWR (out of total of 10 CWR) incorporated in breeding programme; - 200 seed accessions of 15 crops and 100 CWR (out of total of 400 seed accessions of 30 crops and 200 CWR) established in seed bank; - 200 LR and 50 CWR (out of total of 400 LR and 100 CWR) accessions characterized and evaluated to enable its use in national breeding programs; - 100 LT of 10 crops and 30 CWR (out of total of 150 LR of 15 crops and 50 CWR) assessed, and 6 CWR traits used in crop improvement; - At least 50% of female conservationists and extension workers trained on CWR in-situ and landrace on-farm conservation techniques;

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Specialist on crop wild relative (CWR) conservation will be responsible for the below mentioned: • Undertake of a conservation assessment of current active CWR and landrace in situ and ex situ conservation actions - Review of existing IUCN Red List Assessment for Tajik CWR to see if resilience is included as a specific threat. - Review of IUCN’s climate change vulnerability assessment of crop landraces and CWR; - Modelling resilience and fitness for crop landraces and CWR; - Review of National Strategy for Conservation and Use of agrobiodiversity conservation recommendations to ensure they are climate change smart; - Completion of climate resilience assessment for selected LRs and CWRs; • Implement and Create a National CWR inventory - Review existing sources of information on ABD diversity in Tajikistan - Using existing sources, collate information on CWR national and crop landrace target areas presence - Create target area landrace inventory - Prepare georeferenced occurrence database for CWR taxa and cultivated landraces nationally and in target areas - Publish inventory of ABD in Tajikistan, including LR and CWR diversity • Establish formal and informal CWR genetic reserves - Planning, design and establishment of informal CWR genetic reserves - Guidelines for CWR in-situ conservation adapted to application in Tajikistan - CWR populations diversity utilization - Use of conserved CWR material in crop pre-breeding to produce pre-bred lines containing the CWR derived adaptive traits. - Use of conserved CWR material in crop pre-breeding takes into consideration the IPR of the donor and Nagoya Protocol to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefit from exploitation.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree(s) in agriculture (agrobiodiversity), natural resources management (land, water, forest, pasture), biology, endemic genetic resources and reserves or related fields. • A minimum of 5 years work experience on planning, coordination and implementation of ABD conservation initiatives, both country-level assessment on existing ADB diversity, establishment of informal CWR genetic reserves, and creating national LRs/ CWR inventory, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; develop training modules and deliver of professional trainings to local farmers and breeders, preferable, on-farm LRs and CWR conservation and pre-breeding techniques/ best practices; • Working knowledge of Tajik and Russian, English is an asset; • National or Resident of Tajikistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in the gap analysis, assessment, formulation, analysis, planning and/or implementation of projects related to agrobiodiversity conservation and sustainable development of ADB production and marketing; • Relevance of experience in the field of the planning, coordination and implementation of ABD conservation initiatives, both country-level assessment on existing ADB diversity, establishment of informal CWR genetic reserves, and creating national LRs/ CWR inventory, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; develop training modules and deliver of professional trainings to local farmers and breeders, preferable, on-farm LRs and CWR conservation and pre-breeding techniques/ best practices; • Relevance of knowledge and experience in climate reliance and natural resources management (land, water, forest, pasture); and breeding and production of agrobiodiversity crop products/ food crops, on-farm and in wild landscapes. • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions within Tajikistan. • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered an asset; • Proficiency in Tajik is an strong asset and an advantage; • Analytical and report writing skills (including technical reports, statistical reports); • Experience on assessment on indigenous ABD diversity, create LRs/ CWR inventory, and establishment of CWR genetic reserves

Selection Criteria

• Prove professional education degree on agrobiodiversity, natural resource management, climate resilience, biology, endemic genetic resources governance (inventory, reserve), or relevant fields; • Demonstratable experience (5 years) in the planning, coordination and implementation of ABD conservation initiatives, both country-level assessment on existing ADB diversity, establishment of informal CWR genetic reserves, and creating national LRs/ CWR inventory, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; develop training modules and deliver of professional trainings to local farmers and breeders, preferable, on-farm LRs and CWR conservation and pre-breeding techniques/ best practices; • Capacity for data collection (database) and information management system / exchanges; • Skills such as preparation of policy gap analysis, analytical and evidence-based reports/ technical assessment/ survey; • Experience on development of training modules and delivery training courses on LRs/CWR (Certificate, etc.); • Knowledge on the project areas of intervention; • Excellent working knowledge of Excel/ Word and other software (PowerPoint, etc.).