Job Detail

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. 

Job Posting:                         30/Sep/2022

Closure Date:                      21/Oct/2022, 2:29:00 AM

Organizational Unit:           FAAFG - FAO Representation in Afghanistan

Type of Requisition:           NPP (National Project Personnel)

Primary Location:                Afghanistan-Kabul

Duration:                            11 months (with extension subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability)

IMPORTANT NOTICE:         Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

The Community-based Sustainable Land Forest Management in Afghanistan project is the six-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 forests and rangelands, enhancing and maintaining the livelihoods of Afghan rural communities in Bamiyan, Badghis, Ghazni, Kunar, and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan by employing the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approach. The project has four major components: (i) capacity-building at the national, sub-national, and district levels for sustainable land and forest management; (ii) biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in forest landscapes; (iii) community-based rangeland management; and (iv) knowledge management, monitoring, and evaluation.

The Forest & Land Management Specialist will be responsible for identification, design and coordination and promotion of alternative energy sources including biogas, biomass and efficient cooking and heating, by providing in-depth country knowledge in his/her field, as well as service in the field. He/she will provide technical inputs for the project under Outcome 2.1 – biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in forest landscapes – and Outcome 3.1 – community-based rangeland management.

The Forest & Land Management Specialist will work with appointed specialists and support the project task team in devising strategies and plans for the implementation of the forestry, alternative fuel and energy sources outcome of this project. The required technical documents will be formulated based on consultation with project proponents and stakeholders in Afghanistan, virtual communication with international experts and the FAO Country Office in Afghanistan, as well as literature reviews and analyses as needed.

Reporting Lines

The Forest & Land Management Specialist will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Afghanistan, and under the direct supervision of the National Project Manager/National Professional Officer.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the rehabilitation and restoration of 10,000 ha of HCVFs in selected areas to provide habitat for threatened endangered and rare species.
• Manage and oversee the rehabilitation and restoration of 20,000 ha of non-HCVFs in selected areas.
• Undertake community livelihood surveys to identify livelihood options to meet community needs and to reduce pressure on forest resources.
• Work with the National Biodiversity/Perennial Crop Specialist and Alternative Livelihoods Expert to undertake community livelihood surveys identify livelihood options to meet community needs and to reduce pressure on forest/ rangeland resources in Bamyan, Badghis, Ghazni, Kunar and Paktiya provinces.
• Carry out identification, design, coordination and promotion of community-based forest management and alternative energy sources including biogas, biomass and efficient cooking and heating thermal devices, by providing in-depth country knowledge.
• Work with the Biodiversity/Perennial Crop Specialist and Alternative Livelihoods Expert to protect forest and promote the use of alternative energy sources for reducing pressure on natural resources.
• Formulate required technical documents based on consultation with project proponents and stakeholders.
• Develop manuals and usage guidelines of the alternative energy sources, thermal devices.
• Support and conduct forest inventory.
• Prepare and deliver technical trainings related to forest and land management.

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: Careers@fao.org  
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers  and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered.

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.

Vacancies will be removed from the recruitment portal at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date. We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date. 

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org  

Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT