Technical Adviser (Agrometeorology)

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Application deadline 11 months ago: Friday 14 Apr 2023 at 21:59 UTC

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Organizational Setting The main aim of the FAO Representation in Cambodia is to assist government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

FAO is an Accredited Entity (AE) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In partnership with Cambodia's National Designated Authority (NDA), the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) are developing a project "Public-Social-Private Partnerships for Ecologically-Sound Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods in Northern Tonle Sap Basin (PEARL)". This climate change adaptation project aims to enhance the climate resilience of farmers and local communities in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin (Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Oddor Meanchey) through public-social-private partnerships and improved access to growing segments of the agricultural product market, while ensuring climate-resilient practices.

The project has three outcomes 1) improved hydrological and agrometeorological services, 2) climate adapted agriculture value chains development and 3) strengthened agriculture regulation, policy, market, finance and institutional capacities. The project will work to improve four agriculture value chains: rice, mango, cashew nut and vegetables.

Under the first outcome, the PEARL project will introduce state-of-the-art agrotechnological technologies to provide digital crop-specific agrometeorological forecasts, warnings, and related farm management and market advisory services to improve local capacity to identify and respond to risks associated with weather and climatic conditions. This outcome will include the deployment of data gathering agrometeorological technologies, development of water and weather analytics capacities in government and the development, deployment and uptake of digital information applications for farmers and other stakeholders. The project will also develop the necessary institutional arrangements, including with the private sector, to effectively disseminate such advisory services to end-users.

The recruitment of the Technical Adviser (Agrometeorology) will be subject to the funding of the PEARL project.

The post is located in the FAO Representation in Phnom-Penh, Cambodia.

Reporting Lines The Technical Adviser (Agrometeorology) reports to the Senior Project Officer of PEARL Project under the overall supervision of FAO Representative in Cambodia. He/she will receive technical guidance from the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and other relevant technical officers at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and relevant units at FAO headquarters.

Technical Focus The Technical Adviser (Agrometeorology) will be responsible for managing the implementation of all activities under Outcome 1 of the PEARL project, with a focus on strengthening climate information gathering, analytics and dissemination of agrometeorological advisory services to end-users, ensuring technical delivery of the expected outputs under Outcome 1.

Key Results Research, technical analysis, and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products, and services.

Key Functions • Researches and analyses technical-related issues on the development, the implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; assists to the review of relevant documents and reports; • Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and documents as well as technical input for reports and web pages; • Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and projects and provides technical backstopping to field projects; • Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases; • Oversees the updating of databases and web pages; • Participates on multidisciplinary teams, and/or leads working groups/teams collaborates with other divisions and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices; • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and online tools; • Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and guides partners in stakeholder consultations; • Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions • Reviews baseline conditions and capacity, capability and data gaps to identify and validate 1) priority stations for additional sensors and/or sensor upgrades; 2) strategic locations for adding new agrometeorological stations; 3) requirements to update agrometeorological data collection, data processing and analysis systems; and 4) training needs for government staff and communities; • Develops technical documents, including technical specifications of additional sensors and new agrometeorological stations, related software required for procurement, installation, and operation and maintenance of the agrometeorological stations and agrometeorological data collection, data processing and analysis systems; • Participates in technical evaluation of the bids for hardware and software to support the for the agrometeorological stations and advisory system; • Provides technical support to upgrade existing hardware and software at the selected priority stations and install new agrometeorological stations; • Supports the design and roll out of annual training program for station managers, data analysts, and system administrators; • Contributes to the process of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) development for the production and dissemination of agrometeorological advisory services and data sharing needs and architecture, targeting cashew, mango, rice, and vegetables; • Works in collaboration with the Technical Advisor (Value Chain Development) and Outcome 2 project team and partners to support the development and operationalization of inter-value-chain-actors roadmaps at the provincial level and action/business plans for climate-resilient, inclusive and gender-responsive premium value chain development and identifies specific certification programs as key vehicles; • Provides technical support to the establishment of a central database based on harmonized data management and sharing agreements under the SOPs with dedicated information dissemination and outreach mediums (e.g., web platform hosted by MAFF, mobile apps, social media channels, TV and radio programs, community bulletins, community speakers, Farmer Field School (FFS) curricula, and private advisory services through contract farming and input supply sales); • Conducts capacity assessment and planning to support the planning and execution of Outcome 1 capacity development activities and events; • Supports capacity development and training of extension officers and district administration, commune and village extension agents, and private extension providers, including NGOs on the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); • Provides technical support to the preparation and roll out of training of trainer (TOT) curricula through FFS to raise awareness of agrometeorological advisory services and promote the application of agrometeorological advisory services among smallholder farmers and other local value chain actors; • Supports peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and training as well as the development of knowledge products to further promote advisory services among other members of targeted agricultural cooperatives (ACs), producer groups and other farmer organizations; • Represents FAO, as needed, in activities, meetings, workshops and conferences related to climate information and agrotechnological advisory services; • Performs other duties as required. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in agrometeorology, meteorology, hydrometeorology, environmental sciences, environmental studies or closely related fields; • Five years of progressive and relevant experience in technical cooperation–related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to agrometeorology, meteorology, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes including experience in the field of operational agrometeorology; • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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; • Extent and relevance of experience in installing and using agrometeorological stations, especially those that are linked to a network to automatically send data to a server/cloud, development of early warning systems for agriculture, development of platform for the exchange and dissemination of agrometeorological information and advisory services; • Extent and relevance of experience in working and collaborating with government institutions particularly agriculture and meteorology; • Working knowledge of the linkages between agriculture and climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction; • Experience in using and installing multi-parameter weather sensors for agriculture application; • Experience developing end-user applications for the dissemination of agrometeorological information. • Experience developing and maintaining private sector partnerships. • Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines; • Experience in supporting project activities with governmental organizations; • Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing training events; • Ability to draft clear and concise technical documents.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 11 months ago - Source: fao.org