Organizational Setting
The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating the Implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, and ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources and respond to recurrent emergencies. The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Somalia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production, to natural resource management, Nutrition, value chain, food security analysis and water and land information management. FAO is also implementing several emergency, resilience-building and development interventions, with the support of its five field offices and close to 400 staff in partnership with the Federal and State line ministries.
Reporting Lines
The position is under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Somalia, the direction of FAO Somalia Head of Programme and the direct supervision of SWALIM Technical Advisor.
Technical Focus
The incumbent will lead SWALIM Land Resources Unit and will be responsible for the Land resources data collection, analysis and dissemination under the Land Resources unit, including the development of innovative practical approaches and Nature Based solution at country, district and local levels.
Tasks and responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the FAO officer in charge for Somalia, the direct supervision of the Technical Advisor and under the guidance of the Senior Land and Water Adviser, the Land Resources Officer will provide land resources information management services to Somalia line ministries, SWALIM partners and other clients based in Somalia. The incumbent will be responsible for expanding the scope of SWALIM Land Resources unit in a Natural Resource Management unit.
Specifically, he/she will:
• Coordinate of all the activities involving SWALIM Land unit, including the supervision of the land unit present in the IMCs established by SWALIM;
• Prepare of the annual work plan;
• Participate in setting the goals and designing the methodologies for environmental/natural resources data collection;
• Plan field survey activities by 1) preparing field survey instruments and equipment; 2) selecting and training of recruited Somali technical field survey staff; 3) participate in the surveys, and in the processing of the collected data and information;
• Prepare of training material (field survey manuals, power point presentations, field practical guides) on land resources field survey techniques;
• Delivery of training to Somali field surveyors on field data collection methodologies and concepts;
• Oversee field survey processes/activities, consolidating field survey data forms and ensuring that the forms were correctly filled, creating databases from the field data, analyzing data from the field, preparing the final maps after field surveys;
• Prepare of information dissemination materials (posters, fact sheets, newsletters, technical reports, feature articles, etc.) as well as of workshop materials;
• Prepare Letters of Understanding/Agreement (LoU/LoA) with partner Somali authorities and NGOs and act as responsible officer for their implementation;
• Assist Soil Expert in the processing of Land suitability for agricultural crops;
• Develop concept notes focusing on land resources information management;
• Develop Integrated Watershed Management related training curriculum for tailor made courses in selected regional institutions;
• Assess the quality of the soils and environment related GPS tagged photographs produced by SWALIM, and provide technical support in implementing a comprehensive database, including the generation of standardized metadata;
• Support in planning and implementation of FAOSOM Natural Resources Management activities;
• Prepare and perform community training on natural resources conservation and management;
• Monitor charcoal production in Somalia by formulation of field survey methodology, training of field surveyors, performing field surveys & field data analysis, reporting on charcoal production and utilization in Somalia;
• Develop methodological approach and perform the mapping of land degradation sites of Somalia;
• Perform mapping of land resources and environmental feature using GIS and Remote Sensing tools and software, including Google Earth Engine;
• Support the GIS/RS unit in mapping activities, when focused on the generation of land resources information.
• Perform participatory Natural Resource planning;
• Support in the definition of legends to describe land cover features and assist in land cover mapping activities;
• Develop innovative/practical approaches and Nature Based solution at country, district and local levels;
• Perform other related duties as required by SWALIM Technical Advisor and Senior Land and Water Advisor.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• A minimum of a Master’s degree or its equivalent in Earth Science, Environmental Science, Agricultural engineering, Agriculture Management/Development, Rural Development, Land Resource Economics or Management, Land Law, or closely related disciplines.
• Have a minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience, three (3) of which should be in multilateral development institutions in the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of lands programs;
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian;
• National of Somalia.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Ability to undertake land research, analysis, policy and advocacy
• Understand land issues (land tenure systems, ownership and user rights) in the agriculture sector
• Demonstrable understanding of regional/country social issues and analysis
• Strong ability in designing, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of lands programs
• Ability to manage multiple, simultaneous and shifting demands/priorities under tight deadlines
• Ability to collaborate within teams and across boundaries
• Communicate and writes clearly and effectively in English. Able to tailor language, tone, style, and format to the audience
• Excellent interpersonal skills in a multicultural setting
• Experience in managing stakeholder relationships, and ability to communicate with different stakeholders
• Good knowledge of the UN work system and ability to work under minimum supervision and effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Competence in the use of standard Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint).
