On-farm Water Management Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2024-2026, FAO will continue to implement emergency and longer-term, resilience-building projects and programmes in the context of the UN Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) and the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Afghanistan. S/he will work under the direct supervision of WRI Team Leader. WRI Team Leader, will be responsible for all day-to-day supervision, technical guidance, and performance evaluation.

Technical Focus

The On-farm Water Management Specialist will provide relevant technical assistance for the efficient implementation of Water and Resilience Services.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the OFWM team to achieve regional set targets. • Supervise and guide the regional team on the selection and assessment of OFWM sites, and if required provide technical guidance on the selection of different interventions of OFWMP sites. • Review the sub-project proposal of the OFWM scheme including hydraulic calculations design drawings, technical specifications, and cost estimations along with required equipment and implementation work plan, ensure standards/norms of quality design and comply with OFWM. • Coordinate with regional WRI design, survey, and supervision units for the modification of the designs as per the site requirements. • Prepare and review the Irrigation scheme and hydraulic structure design sheets based on the FAO standards. • Review extra work or variations order requests and provide recommendations to the line supervisor for further processing. • Produce final OFWM design documents along with required bidding document annexures such as a list of required equipment, tools, and work plan for implementation. • Maximize team performance using standard processes and tracking time-to-time regional OFWM activities. • Coordinate, guide, and provide technical instructions to the regional WRI design team/OFWM team for conducting diagnostic surveys and design of the selected large and small OFWM infrastructures. • Organize systematically and contribute effectively to the improvement or modification of the existing designed packages. • Coordinate with the regional WRI team, assigning short and long-term goals for the achievement of the OFWM sub-component’s targets. • Coordinate with other stakeholders including academic institutions, NGOs, and the private sector in providing sustainability and disseminating the results, in a comprehensive manner. • Manage the OFWM team and provide the necessary training for existing and new regional WRI staff to be capable of both designing new OFWM schemes or revision/modification of current designed packages. • Provide necessary progress reports to the Project Manager on a need basis. • Participate in bid opening and member of the evaluation committee as necessary. • Perform any other project-relevant activities and tasks assigned by the head of the WRI team and FAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s) or university degree (Bachelor’s) in Civil Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, Irrigation Engineering or Agriculture Engineering, or other related areas. • For an advanced degree at least five (5) years of professional experience in water resource and irrigation engineering with UN and I/NGOs. • For a university degree at least seven (7) years of experience in water resource and irrigation engineering with UN and I/NGOs. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and the local languages (Pashto and/or Dari). • National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Sound extensive knowledge of Technical, Agriculture, and social data collection for On-farm Water Management. • Preparing the Irrigation scheme and hydraulic structure design sheets based on the FAO standards. • Having the skill to initially review the sub-project proposal of the OFWM scheme including hydraulic calculations design drawings, technical specifications, and cost estimations along with required equipment and implementation work plan and ensure standards/norms of quality design comply with OFWM. • Having the experience of coordinating with regional WRI design, survey, and supervision units for the modification of the designs as per the site requirements. • Producing the final OFWM design documents along with required bidding document annexures such as a list of required equipment, tools, and work plan for implementation. • Having the skill of using standard processes and tracking time-to-time regional OFWM activities. • Sound extensive skills in communication and coordination, guidance, and providing technical instructions to the regional WRI design team/OFWM team for conducting diagnostic surveys and design of the selected large and small OFWM infrastructures. • Having the skill of crop water requirement calculation and analyses. • A competent team player who can create and lead the Regional On-farm Water Management Assistant. • Demonstrate strong oral and written communication skills and apply them in the working environment. • Must have worked in hardship areas. • Experience with the UN will be an added advantage. • Proficient in the use of standard office applications (e.g., Microsoft Office) and other productivity engineering tools.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearanes.