National Specialist on Locust Management (Waingapu)

Organizational Setting

In Indonesia, migratory locusts (Locusta migratoria manilensis Meyen) have been occurring time again and increasing manifolds with their repeated occurrence in different regions of the country. Migratory locust poses an unprecedented risk and potential to agriculture-based livelihoods and food security in already fragile regions. Over the past few years, consecutive shocks, such as poor rainfall, flooding, and climate change have contributed to a significant level of vulnerability. The current outbreak in 2022 is the worst in the past 25 years. The locust invasion threatens to drive this figure even higher. In response, FAO Indonesia is implementing a TCP program with a focus on identification, action plan, preparedness, and response to effectively handle the crisis. To meet a challenging situation FAO extends support in areas like information, coordination as well as logistic and technical support to the Department of Food Crops Protection of the Ministry of Agriculture, sub-national governments and academia in managing the migratory locust spread in the country. This support is channelizing through projects started with the support of development partners aimed at technical capacity building and provides essential equipment and machinery for effective management of desert locust spread. To support this objective, there is a need to hire the services of a National Specialist for the implementation of identified activities.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall administration of the FAO Representative in Indonesia and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative – Programme and in close coordination with Liaison Technical Officer (LTO) of the project, the National Specialist will report to Assistant FAOR Programme.

Technical Focus

The Specialist will be responsible for providing the required technical expertise, at the country level, related to desert locust upsurge, surveillance, and control measures. He/she reports to the FAOR and is in coordination with the Liaison Technical Officer (LTO) of the project.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Review relevant background documentation relating to FAO’s response to the migratory locust upsurge, including the project documents, previous reviews of locust responses, workshop reports, and technical reports. • Participate actively in the collection of primary data at the country level, through primary and secondary sources (interviews and meetings, face-to-face or virtual) with key stakeholders including the Government, FAO staff, academia/researchers, external partners, and ultimate beneficiaries as appropriate. • Build close coordination with FAO Country Office, Liaison Technical Officer (LTO), District and Provincial Agriculture Department, academia, local community leaders, civil society organizations and other relevant parties to update the information and situation and to take follow-up actions as required. • Conduct assessment to look for possibility to build cooperation with local Civil Society Organizations to provide support to the project activities as required. • Provide specialized expertise in assessing the capacity of national partners to respond to the migratory locust upsurge and the efforts of FAO to build that capacity in all affected provinces in the country. • Assist in designing and organization of project inception workshops involving Department of Food Crops Protection, Provincial and District Agriculture Departments, relevant government departments at district level, civil society organizations, local community representatives and other relevant stakeholders. • Consolidate, analyse and discuss the findings in the inception meetings and support in executing them in the program. • Assist in designing and organization of training on locust survey, control methods, and operations/infestation management, involving Department of Food Crops Protection, Provincial and District Agriculture Departments, and other stakeholders’ professionals in Migratory Locust Biology, Surveillance, and Control Strategies/ operations. • Assist in improving linkages/collaboration of FAO Indonesia and provincial agriculture departments and other stakeholders involved in migratory locust surveillance, mapping, and generated information/data access. • Facilitate in implementation of migratory locust concerning activities as proposed under the TCP/INS/3902 (E) project; • Facilitate promoting awareness through face-to-face or virtual seminars/field days involving farming communities (including women) with the support of provincial agriculture departments to educate them in adopting appropriate safety measures as well as avoiding women and children exposed to the hazardous impact of agrochemicals/ pesticides in migratory locust affected areas. • Assist in locust impact and risk assessment and developing risk management actions for the safety of human and animal health as well as natural resources like soil, water, etc. • Assist in locust monitoring and surveillances program on locust. • Other tasks as instructed by the supervisor and in close coordination with the LTO of the project. • Build close coordination with LTO to get clearance for the technical documents and reports before submission to the FAO Indonesia. • Design and organize a workshop on documentation of good practices and lessons learned. • Deliver written reports on the specific areas as well as the implementation and assessment report at the mid and project completion reports.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agriculture, crop protection, entomology, or related field; • Two years of relevant experience in crop protection in the field preferably including experience in the promotion of integrated pest management (IPM) – with emphasis on transboundary plant pests. • Working knowledge (level C) of English. • National or resident of Indonesia

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Meeting/workshop/training organizing. • Facilitation skills. • Administrative support, • Project planning and implementation, • Project monitoring, reporting. • Knowledge management.

Selection Criteria

• Educational background. • Experience in managing project. • Experience in collaborate with national and sub-national governments. • Experience in pest management.