Urban Open Space Specialist

Organizational Setting

Eswatini still faces several Readiness gaps and barriers which limit the potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation particularly in urban and peri urban communities, which limits the potential to mainstreaming green cities indicators which intend to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The gaps include limited availability and applications of baselines and indicators, limited role/capacity of Eswatini Local Government Association (ELGA), limited knowledge on actions/interventions for/on urban agriculture and food systems, infrastructure and technologies, weak capacity, absence of knowledge and guidelines on advisory and extension services, absence of an updated policy environment and incentive framework, lack of awareness on how to make urban and peri urban spaces more resilient and adapted to climate change. Therefore, there is a need to prepare Eswatini’s urban and peri-urban communities for public and private investment towards attaining a sustainable green cities status. This is through developing a set of green cities national indicators, strengthening observatory, monitoring and evaluation systems and capacity of the Eswatini Local Government Association (ELGA) and promote advisory and extension services in relevant departments for sustainable agriculture and agribusiness in urban and per-urban spaces. The GCF Readiness activities are being implemented by FAO as delivery partner in close collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban development and the Ministry of Tourism and Environment as NDA. The position is located in Eswatini, Mbabane.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Eswatini, (FAOR), guidance of the Assistant FAOR Program and the technical supervision of the National Programme Coordinator. The National Consultant will work in close collaboration with FAO officers that will form a project management team task force consisting of the Lead Technical Officer (FAO Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa)

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be responsible for defining key parameters, assumptions, definitions, methodologies, data sources and models in use and needed for strengthening management of Urban Open Space System towards climate action for adaptation and mitigation in cities Infrastructure which is a priority sector in the revised NDC.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Generates an inventory and identify gaps on the management of key open spaces assets (forests, grasslands, biodiversity corridors, hiking trails, parks etc) in the different municipalities of the country; • Conducts a situational analysis on the use and incorporation of GIS database to draw a set of relevant land-use types in different municipalities; • Identify operational gaps in municipalities towards developing and maintaining a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable open space system; • Consults relevant stakeholders on actions/interventions for public and private investment in sustainable green cities open spaces; • Conducts a situational analysis on strategies, frameworks, zoning plans, policies, resources and investments on urban open space of different municipalities; • Conducts biodiversity hotspots and areas with the potential for the restoration of existing urban ecosystems and more efficient use of natural resources; • Profiles urban and peri-urban ecosystems and production areas (existing and potential) particularly identifying those vulnerable; • Documents actions and interventions for ensuring mainstreaming of green cities nature-based technologies and conservation sites on established core indicators; • Reviews the extent on policy incentives to promote public and private investments on urban open spaces; • Determines the extent of Systematic Conservation Assessments (SCA) and zoning of Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBA); • Develops action plans for mainstreaming of core indicators in spatial environmental planning of the municipalities; • Develops an Environmental Services Plan for inventor action/intervention for public and private investment in open space and recreational amenities management in green cities; • Recommends policy reforms, review and policy creation for integration of ecological sites in development plans of municipalities; • Documents environmental and social safeguards on proposed ecologically smart green cities technologies; • Develops draft concept note on public/private investment urban open spaces and their conservation sites in cities.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced Degree in Forestry, Urban Planning, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Climate Change, Ecology or related field; • At least 5 years of experience in ecology, and applications of GIS and GPS; • Working knowledge of English; • National of Eswatini or a legal resident of Eswatini

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Working knowledge of SiSwati will be an added advantage; • Working knowledge of comprehensive planning, strategic planning, and park/open space planning, zoning codes, and park regulations and rules. • Experience performing complex research or work in a discipline related to natural resource management. • Demonstrated knowledge of international climate finance, specifically the green climate fund architecture and adaptation and mitigation agendas of the UNFCCC (understanding of the Eswatini NDC activities);