National Natural Resources Management Specialist

VA NO. FAO/KBL/PRJ/SC/16-2021

Functional  title:

National Natural Resources Management Specialist

Type of Contract:

National Project Personnel / Service Contract (NPP/SC)

Grade / level:

SB-4

Number of Post (s) :

1 (One)

Duration :

04 Months

Extendable / renewable:

Extendable, based on satisfactory performance and budget availability

Probationary period:

Initial 3 Months

Project / programme / unit: 

Resilient Recovery Rapid Readiness Support in Afghanistan - GCP/AFG/086/GCR Project

Duty station:

Kabul – Afghanistan, with frequent domestic travel to provinces

Sub – station:

Nil

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES:

Organization Settings:

Through its Country Offices, or FAO Representations, FAO assists governments to develop policies, Programmes and projects to address hunger, food security and malnutrition, and provides technical support for the sustainable development of their agricultural, livestock, animal health, and irrigation and forestry sectors as well as emergency preparedness and response. The activities of the FAO Representation include design and implementation of country-tailored field Programmes, liaison with local donor representatives and active public awareness raising and outreach activities related to the mandate of FAO.

FAO assistance in Afghanistan achieves its objectives through capacity development and direct project implementation in four specific areas of FAO’s technical expertise: 

• Better governance through improved capacity for policy planning, land reform, decentralization, and management of common natural resources;
• Fostering expansion of irrigation and field water management; 
• Intensive agriculture for surplus commercialization, value chains development, and job creation;
• Supporting vulnerable farmers for improved food and nutrition security, resilience, and emergency response to natural and man-made disasters and climate change.

Project Background:

FAO has been actively supporting the Government of Afghanistan in COVID-19 response. As soon as the pandemic started showing its impacts, MAIL and FAO jointly designed and undertook a rapid assessment of COVID-19 impacts on the agriculture production and marketing. The findings were used by both MAIL and FAO to inform the reprogramming/repurposing of various ongoing and pipeline programmes to respond to the immediate adverse impacts of the pandemic. With technical inputs from FAO, MAIL and the World Bank quickly formulated the Emergency Agriculture And Food Supply (EATS) Project aiming to support critical food supply chains and create short-term economic opportunities to boost smallholders resilience and recovery (by focusing on provision of certified seeds, generation of short-term employment, increasing agriculture's resilience to shocks, and strengthening food supply chains). Further, MAIL accelerated the provision of budgetary resources for a rapid scale-up in the ongoing programme on strengthening cold storage and zero energy storage and processing facilities in key provinces adversely impacted by border closures / stoppage of exports of Afghan agriculture products. The assessment’s findings were used by FAO to: (i) revise its component of the Afghanistan HRP and GHRP; (ii) design and implement necessary measures to mitigate the risk of spreading covid-19 through project activities across its development and humanitarian programme; (iii) initiate innovative actions like COVID-19 sensitization in agriculture markets and provision of COVID-PPE to market stakeholders, all beneficiaries and implementing partners' staff; (vi) reprogramme/repurpose ongoing projects in consultation with donors (IFAD RFSP, USAID PVC-W) to directly address the impact of the pandemic; and (v) mobilize additional resources to response to new and increased needs directly resulting from the covid-19 impact.

This proposed project will support NEPA/NDA in developing a strategic framework and enhancing its coordination capacity to ensure that COVID-19 response and recovery plans and programmes will contribute to or even accelerate national climate change targets and global commitments. In line with the GCF pre-defined results under this Readiness window, the project will:

• Support NEPA to develop a framework with appropriate indicators to guide and track green, resilient and inclusive COVID-19 recovery policies, and programmes
• Support strategic planning for green, resilient, and inclusive COVID-19 recovery in the agriculture, land and water sectors
• Provide inputs to the revision of the NDC and foreseen National Adaptation Planning (NAP)
• Support in undertake pre-feasibility studies and develop two concept notes with a focus on agriculture, land and water sector.

The project through its specific support to green, resilient, and inclusive COVID-19 recovery in the agriculture, land and water sectors above will also prepare these sectors for the NAP process.

Purpose of this vacancy announcement:

FAO is looking for qualified national staff fill the position of National Natural Resources Specialist. This position will support the work of the FAO – Green Climate Fund (GCF) funded project “Resilient Recovery Rapid Readiness Support in Afghanistan”

Key Result:

The project activities are implemented successfully, timely and effectively in conformity with the objectives of the project.

Reporting Lines / Supervision Received/Exercised:

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative/Country Office in Afghanistan and the direct supervision of National Project Manager, and technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) in the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP), and in close collaboration with the relevant staff in FAO Afghanistan and counterpart entities, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks;

Key Functions/Results (Duties and Responsibilities)

Support the assessment of COVID-19 impacts on natural resources/land and water and the identification of priorities for green, resilient and inclusive recovery in the sectors:

• Identify available assessments of impacts of COVID-19 on natural resources, land and waters
• With guidance from the International NRM Expert and in collaboration with other consultants, collect additional data, information and undertake further analyses
• Collect information on COVID-19 recovery in natural resources management, land and water sectors to contribute to the tracking tools and analysis of gaps
• Support the identification of options for green, resilient and inclusive COVID-recovery in the natural resources/land and water sectors, with special attention to their alignment with national climate change strategies, plans and targets
• Lead on consultations with concerned ministries (MAIL, NAWARA and others) for validation/endorsement of the options and their use in national and sector planning, decision making and monitoring processes.
• Contribute to the incorporation of updated data, information (on climate change, agriculture, natural resources) into the NEPA national climate information system/portal.
• Contribute to the National Determined Contribution (NDC) revision;
• Contribute to the project reports including final report.

Support the preparation of Pre-feasibility studies and development of project concept notes:

• Review the selected project idea notes
• In collaboration with other consultants, work closely with NWARA, MAIL, MRRD and other concerned agencies and stakeholders to obtain the necessary data for the pre-feasibility study reports
• Contribute to the pre-feasibility studies
• Contribute in the concept notes

Other Activities:

• Perform any other related duties as may be his/her directed supervisor.

Expected Outputs:

• Research of COVID – 19 impacts on natural resources/land and waters;
• Inventory of COVID-19 recovery policies, plans and programmes in the NR, land and water sectors;
• Data, information and analyses (on climate change, natural resources, land and water) collected;
• Options for green, resilient and inclusive COVID-19 recovery identified and adopted by concerned ministries, NDA;
• Inputs to two pre-feasibility reports cleared by project LTO;
• Inputs to two concept notes.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (TECHNICAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATION)

Education:

• University degree (preferably Master’s degree) in environmental sciences, natural resource management, climate change or closely related fields.

Work Experience and Additional Skills:

• At least five (7) years of professional experience relevant to the tasks described above, preferably experience with GCF, International Financial Institute (IFI), UN, funded programmes
• Track record of experience in conducting environmental and social impact assessments of large-scale programmes/projects, preferably in the fields of climate change, natural resources management and/or rural development;
• Excellent knowledge of internationally applied ESS standards for both public and private investments;
• Sound knowledge of and experience with Government of Afghanistan laws, policies and regulations with regard to ESS;
• Working experience with ministries and national institutions, both public and private in Afghanistan;
• Previous work experience with UN is an advantage.

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal communications and coordination skills, and proven ability to work constructively with a variety of stakeholders to achieve common goals.
• Excellent report proposal writing skills
• Strong familiarity with environment and climate change management issues in Afghanistan, including the political, institutional and socio-economic contexts.
• Strong computer skills with extensive experience in word processing, spreadsheets, and other basic software applications.

• Strong professional command of Microsoft Office, particular in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Language Skills:

• Excellent knowledge of English and local languages (Pashto and Dari), both spoken and written skills.

COMPETENCIES:

• Core competencies: FAO core competencies include: Understanding FAO’s mandate and its global context; planning, organizing, and delivering quality results; communicating to build understanding and support; working together in teams and partnerships; engaging in continuous learning.
• Operational Effectiveness: Working independently, structuring tasks, establishing priorities and adhering to deadlines. Show a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail. Contribute ideas and suggestions for process improvement.
• Client Orientation: Focus on results for the client. Attend to inquiries from internal and external clients in an effective, timely and courteous manner. Treat clients with courtesy and respect even when working under pressure. Express a high level of professionalism.
• Interpersonal Communications and Teamwork: Work effectively and efficiently with staff at all levels, listen to others and openly share own ideas. Express sensitivity, cultural empathy and respect for diversity. Productively handle differing views and opinions and strive for achievement of shared goals. Respond positively to feedback.
• Knowledge Exchange and Learning: Share own knowledge and promote a learning culture within the work environment. Actively work towards professional development, including personal learning.  Apply newly acquired skills and support flexibility within the work environment.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINE:

Interested Afghan nationals should complete the FAO Personal History Form (PHF) and submit it along with their application letter and CV to the email address below, clearly mentioning the vacancy number and post title (National Natural Resource Management Specialist - FAO/KBL/PRJ/SC/16-2021) in the subject line of the email, otherwise your email will not be considered for further process.

FAOAF-vacancies@fao.org

NOTE: Applicant who failed to attach the FAO Personal History Form (PHF) to their Application will not be considered for further process.

The above required documents can also be submitted in writing (marked “Confidential” and clearly indicating on the sealed envelope the Vacancy Announcement number and position title) to: the Assistant FAO Representative (Administration), FAO Representation, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Jamal Mina, Opposite Kabul University, Kabul, Afghanistan.

The FAO PH Form can be downloaded using the following internet link:

http://www.acbar.org/applicationform

The last date for receiving applications is 06 August 2021. Please note that applications received after closing date will not be given consideration. Only short listed candidates whose applications respond to the above criteria will be contacted for test/interview.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce gender diversity
• Qualified females are strongly encouraged to apply
• People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization
• Candidates endorsed in the selection process for this vacancy announcement will be considered for the FAO NSHR Roster for a period of two years. The Roster is used to fill other similar positions at the same or lower grade, and in the same or another duty station inside the country;
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.
• Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview/test.
• Application received after closing date will not be given consideration.
• Please make sure to sign the first page of your PHF while applying for the vacant post.
• Do not forget to write the post title and VA number on subject of your email.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments;
• Email will only be sent to the interviewed candidates.