Rangeland/ Land 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 2023, FAO will contribute to the humanitarian components of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025 through four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. FAO will also contribute towards resilience building activities and longer-term transformational processes as part of the implementation of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025.

Reporting Lines

The Rangeland/ Land Management Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Afghanistan, and the direct supervision of the Head of the Field Programme Management Unit and operational supervision of the Head of the Climate Change Environment and NRM Team.

Technical Focus

Support the work of the GCP/AFG/084/GFF funded "Community-Based Sustainable Land and Forest Management in Afghanistan" project. The project activities are implemented successfully, timely, and effectively and conform to the project's objectives. The position holder will ensure strong coordination, partnership and follow up with stakeholders as well as the beneficiaries.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Work with the International Environmental statistics expert, other project experts and PMU for the project outputs 1.1.1; 1.1.3; 1.1.4; 2.1.1; 2.1.3; 3.1.1; 3.2.2, as deemed necessary. • Support the development of training program under Output 1.1.1 - Capacity development program on CBNRM and integrated landscape planning and management developed and implemented for national and provincial stakeholders, which includes modules development and conduct training of trainers. • Provide technical guidance for the implementation of the participatory assessments under Output 1.1.3 - Participatory assessment of local natural resources, land degradation and biodiversity in the target landscapes, integrated with geospatial data and environmental resources assessment, and the CBNRM and holistic grazing plans under Outputs 1.1.4 and 2.1.3. • Provide technical inputs for the establishment of the learning sites under Output 2.1.1. • Support the development of curriculum and implementation of pastoralist field schools under Output 2.1.2. • Provide technical guidance for the implementation of holistic grazing and rangeland management, including community-based monitoring, under Output 2.1.3. • Support the development and implementation of training modules on the concepts of natural capital, biodiversity and land degradation neutrality (LDN), linkages with SDGs 2 and 15, and main international frameworks and reporting systems (UNCCD, SDGs, SEEA) under Output 1.1.1. • Support the capacity building of staff on data collection and management, including linkages with SDGs, under Outputs 3.1.1 and 3.2.2; and provide guidance to the National GIS Expert in terms of land use and land cover classification to integrate statistical and survey data. • Support the assessment of data availability for accounts compilation. Identify priority SEEA AFF accounts to be applied for relevant natural capital activities, as well provide guidance for their compilation through specific online courses, video-conference sessions, and explanatory material as needed under Output 3.1.1. • Provide technical inputs on the follow up activities with the country for SEEA AFF accounts selection and to set methodology for accounts compilation (definitions, analysis of national and international data sources, methodology of gap fillings). In collaboration with team and technical GIS expert compilation of the selected accounts and derivation of agro-environmental indicators under Output 3.1.1. Elaboration of main findings from accounts compilation to be presented in the national lessons learned workshops. • In collaboration with staff, provide guidance and supervise to organize participatory mapping and data collection participated by local government, communities, and community institutions. The participatory assessment will include: - Assessment of rangelands, following PRAGA or similar methodology. This will include identification of current and potential (under appropriate grazing management) biomass productivity and carrying capacities. - Assessment of forest and biodiversity resources, including potential areas that could be set aside for conservation, areas for restoration, and sustainable forest management. - Evaluation of natural assets and related economic activities. - Socio-economic information. • Assist and supervise the project Partners NGO, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) on: - Biophysical and socio-economic surveys conducted in view of the preparation of a justification document for Nuristan National Park. - Activity 3.1.3.1: Establish study team and define process to conduct biophysical and socio-economic surveys, with close involvement of local stakeholders, relevant university and NGO staff. - Activity 3.1.3.2: Conduct surveys in a consultative, inclusive and science-based process. Recommendations will be formulated for the national park planning process and future management plan/co-management structure. The surveys will also be linked with the studies on ecosystem valuation/natural capital assessment of Nuristan National Park under Output 3.1.2. - Activity 3.1.3.3: Present findings to stakeholders and discuss implementation and funding mechanisms for park planning process.

Additional responsibilities include

• Develop a framework and implementation modality for conducting pastoralist field schools. • Develop a comprehensive training programme for pastoralists on livestock husbandry and community-based rangeland management/SLM practices. • Assist in undertaking pastoralist field schools making use of newly‑developed awareness raising materials and the training programme. • Work with the National Rangeland/SLM/Livestock Management Specialist to develop a methodology for climate-resilient SLM interventions in degraded rangelands of target provinces. • Support the implementation of the methodologies over 200,000 ha of degraded rangelands, including: i) the application of rotational grazing systems; ii) the establishment of seed banks; iii) the establishment of fodder banks; iv) the rehabilitation of rangelands; and v) the implementation of soil and water conservation measures. • Work with the International Forest/Biodiversity/REDD Readiness Specialist to design a local‑level, participatory M&E system for rangeland, forest, biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration, taking into account literacy levels, gender balance and the local language context. • Design a methodology and framework for the M&E system and the process of undertaking M&E activities. • Consolidate and develop reports on the M&E system for rangeland, forest and biodiversity conservation as well as carbon sequestration that will feed back into the established knowledge hub as well as into the lessons learned. • Assist the project team to synthesize collected best practices into guidelines to inform different user-groups/applications on the following: training government on assessing land degradation and integrating SLM/SFM into sectoral planning and budgeting; conducting fine-scale inventories of rangeland resources; conducting pastoralist field schools on livestock husbandry and community-based rangeland management; and implementing climate-resilient SLM interventions in degraded rangelands. • Any other duties as required by NPO, FAOR

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

- Advanced (Master’s) degree in forestry, environmental sciences, natural resource management or a related field. - At least 7 years’ professional experience in climate change, the forestry, biodiversity sector. - Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian) for Consultants. For PSA, working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

- Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential; - Relevant experience in technical cooperation, NRMrangeland/climate/land and water; - Previous experience with the UN is an advantage; - Ability to establish effective working relations with persons of different national and cultural backgrounds; - Extent and relevance of experience in developing various strategic technical documents and liaising with relevant stakeholders; - Excellent organizational skills. - Good knowledge of climate change negotiations procedures and methodologies under the UNFCCC. - Demonstrated experience in rangeland monitoring, remote sensing and GIS. - Knowledge of greenhouse gas inventory preparation and land cover assessment. - Familiarity with FAO technical tools. - Experience with the United Nations or other international agencies. - Experience working with governments in developing countries. - Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. - Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member in complex multi-cultural environments. - Demonstrated initiative and ability to deliver results within deadlines.