Senior GIS 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 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following 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. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience-building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF

The position is in Kabul – Afghanistan: with possible travel to inside the country as required and subject to security permitting.

Project Background:

Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation project is a five year intervention of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project aims to improve the sustainability of agriculture, forest, and land-use management through rehabilitating degraded rangelands, biodiversity conservation and enhancing and maintaining the livelihoods of Afghan rural communities in Khost, Laghman and Nuristan provinces in Afghanistan by employing the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approach. The project has three major components: (i) capacity-building at the national, sub-national, and district levels in community based natural resources management for sustainable rangeland and forest planning; (ii) Integrated management and restoration of degraded landscapes for biodiversity conservation and sustainable/regenerative rangeland management; (iii) Systematic creation and sharing of knowledge, project coordination, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and institutional capacity development.

The Senior GIS specialist will be responsible for all the geospatial data creation and management which would facilitate the implementation of participatory assessment and mapping of natural resources of the target districts. In addition, they will be preparing land-use/land-cover, watershed and topographic maps for RMAs and FMAs and target areas.

The Senior GIS specialist will closely work with appointed specialists and support the project task team in preparing maps of land-use/land-cover, rangeland hotspots, FMAs and RMAs, mission maps etc which would facilitate in devising strategies and plans for implementation of sustainable natural landscape planning. They will provide technical guidance for the implementation of forest restoration and management, agroforestry and small-scale greenhouses.

FAO is looking for qualified national staff fill the position of senior GIS specialist. This position will support the work of the GEF-funded” Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation” project in Afghanistan.

Reporting Lines

The senior GIS specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, and under the direct guidance/supervision National Professional Officer/GEF program manager.

Technical Focus

Support the work of the GCP/AFG/102/GFF funded” Combating land degradation and biodiversity loss by promoting sustainable rangeland management and biodiversity conservation in Afghanistan” project.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead geospatial analysis and environmental and biodiversity resources assessment of target districts to be used in 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). • Work closely with other agency staff to develop their capacity and build ownership. • Support capacity building on data collection, storage and management under Output 3.1.1 (Data on land degradation, biodiversity and natural assets is generated, centrally stored and shared through the ‘Centre of Excellence for NRM’), including strengthening of the ‘Centre of Excellence for NRM’. • Conduct soil carbon, productivity and land cover analysis for selected districts of Khost, Nuristan and Laghman and contribute to the compilation of SDG indicator 15.3.1. Contribute to community-based monitoring process under Outputs 2.1.3 (Holistic, regenerative grazing practices and restoration interventions in rangeland), 2.1.5 (Sustainable forest management (SFM) implemented in 4,000 ha of forest areas for sustainable use of forest products) and 2.1.6 (Restoration/rehabilitation, reforestation and/or agroforestry implemented in 1,000 ha of degraded or deforested forest areas). • Assess geospatial data available for selected provinces at national and international level. • Provide input data to accomplish land cover and land use compilation or, when data are available through national sources, quality assurance/ quality control (QA/QC) analysis. • Provide inputs for derivation of relevant agro-environmental indicators. (Output 3.1.1) (Data on land degradation, biodiversity and natural assets is generated, centrally stored and shared through the ‘Centre of Excellence for NRM’) • Maintain a good network with local stakeholders; • Work closely with the NPO and Kabul-based management staff to report on indicators; • Assist the NPO in managing project staff and consultants working at field sites and ensure that their reports and results are delivered on time. • Perform any other related duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master) or University degree (Bachelor) in GIS and remote sensing, forestry, NRM, Water and Watershed Management. • For advance degree at least seven (7) years of relevant work experience in crop mapping using geospatial technology, GIS and remote sensing. • For university degree at least ten (10) years of relevant work experience in geospatial mapping and analysis, land use/landcover mapping and monitoring. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and 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

• Ability to effectively coordinate an extensive, multi-stakeholder project with results-based management; • Ability to deal with technical, and people management challenges, administer budgets and work effectively with all staff and with groups involved in the project; • Experience in multi-stakeholder analysis, and in mobilizing or creating awareness about development projects; • Good written communication skills, including in emergency settings; • Demonstrated initiative and ability to deliver results within deadlines; • Experience organizing stakeholder meetings or workshops at national and provincial level; • Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with other staff/colleagues from different cultural backgrounds as well as with line departments, counterparts, and other stakeholders at the province level; • Proficient in Microsoft Office package.

Selection Criteria

• Experience, Skills, and Abilities • Qualification, Awareness, and Knowledge Sharing • Demonstrate A High Level Of Effective Team Management • Interpersonal and Administrative Skills • Written and Oral/Verbal Communication Skills • Knowledge of Context, stakeholders, Challenges, and Opportunities

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• 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 clearances.