Sustainable Soil Management Specialist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) Representation in Egypt, which is headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist the Government of Egypt to develop policies, programmes and projects to improve food security and nutrition, promote sustainable agricultural development, reduce rural poverty, develop inclusive agri-food systems and strengthen livelihood resilience – in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and United Nations’ global and Government of Egypt’s national Sustainable Development Goals. The FAO Egypt is implementing a Project which will contribute to the adaptation to climate change of poor and vulnerable rural populations in the Old and New Lands of Egypt, by developing and implementing nature-based and climate-resilient techniques – ensuring that no one relying on agricultural production and agri-food systems for their wellbeing is left behind.

Reporting Lines

The sustainable soil management specialist will be based in the FAO main office in Cairo. She/he will work closely with the project manager and the project national technical advisor to ensure the project's objectives are met; she/he will be responsible for performing the following tasks:

Technical Focus

The sustainable soil management specialist will provide technical expertise and support to implementation, operation, and capacity development of the soil-related technical concerns of the project associated with climate change in close collaboration with the Project team and the national stakeholders.

Tasks and responsibilities

• In collaboration with the project team, assess climate change and climate related hazards impact and vulnerability on soil resources including the impacts and lessons learned from the past events; • Estimate carbon footprint of major crops at the farm level, taking into account both direct and indirect sources of greenhouse gas emissions; • Identify and document climate smart soil practices to reduce carbon footprint, drawing on FAO tested technologies and practices such as soil salinity management, integrated soil fertility management, precision nutrient management, 4R nutrient stewardship, etc.; • Design programmes for managing the spatial and temporal variability of soil; • Contribute to the development of good soil management practices to increase organic carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; • Contribute to the design and implementation of project trainings in close coordination with the project manager; • Provides support to the soil related pilot interventions implementation, including coaching to local authorities, monitoring and documenting results and lessons learned; • Contribute to the development of different reports mentioned in the project document including the final report; • Perform other tasks assigned by the FAO Representative in Egypt; • Assess the status of soils (baseline and monitoring) to demonstrate and verify the potential of climate smart soil management practices to improve soil health through the application of the Sustainable Soil Management Protocol; • Develop knowledge and awareness-raising products related to the main threats to soil health (loss of soil organic carbon and biodiversity, erosion, pollution, salinity/sodicity, compaction, nutrient imbalance, soil sealing, waterlogging); • Provides support to the implementation of various projects aimed at promoting and implementing sustainable soil management practices; • Compile global and national findings on soil biodiversity, its importance on soil health and how it is affected by soil management practices; and • Provide technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and providing technical backstopping to FFSs and the R&D plots on sustainable soil management to conserve and enhance soil biodiversity

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in soil science, ecology, and agriculture or a related field as appropriate for the specific profile. • Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in sustainable monitoring, rehabilitation and management of soil resources. • Working knowledge of English, and Arabic • National of the Arab Republic of Egypt or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

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 desirable; • Extent and relevance of experience in issues related to soil laboratory functioning and soil sample analyses or statistical analysis or sustainable soil management and agriculture and natural resources management in Egypt; • Extent and relevance of experience in the formulation and implementation of projects related to sustainable soil management and knowledge of the Healthy Soils Facility will be an asset; • Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation of technical and policy reports and capacity development materials; • Extent and relevance of experience in estimation of carbon footprint at farm level; • Extent and relevance of experience in digital soil mapping, GIS software, statistical analysis, spatial/non-spatial data analysis • Extent and relevance of experience in the development of teaching materials is an asset; • Demonstrated ability to deliver results within deadlines; • Proven communications skills • Familiarity with FAO policies and programmes and UN policy agendas;