Land and Water Resources Management Specialist Opportunity at FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is currently seeking a dedicated Land and Water Resources Management Specialist for its Subregional Office in Southern Africa. Here we provide comprehensive information about the position, its responsibilities, qualifications, and the application process.
Organizational Setting
FAO’s Subregional Office for Southern Africa plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing strategies to address food, agriculture, and rural development priorities within the sub-region. Given the vulnerability of agriculture in Southern Africa to climate-related disasters, FAO actively engages in addressing food security, agricultural development, and rural issues. The region has experienced extreme climate-related events, including droughts and floods, with significant impacts on livelihoods, food security, and the economy.
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Challenges in the Region
Smallholder farmers, heavily reliant on rain-fed agriculture, are most affected by these disasters, resulting in reduced production and food and nutrition insecurity. The cumulative effects of consecutive poor harvests have had detrimental consequences on agriculture-based livelihoods, further exacerbating food and nutrition insecurity and impeding economic growth.
Given these challenges, there is an urgent need to shift from a solely rain-fed agricultural system to enhancing and expanding land and water resources management. This shift aims to boost agricultural productivity and safeguard the livelihoods and coping strategies of the population.
Reporting Lines
The Specialist will report to the Sub-regional Coordinator and maintain regular contact with FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) and FAO headquarters in Rome for guidance on policy and governance support related to land and water resources management.
Technical Focus
To address the recurrent droughts in the subregion, the specialist will collaborate closely with FAO Representatives in the subregion. The primary objective is to identify opportunities for improving water management systems, mapping major irrigation systems, documenting land and water management systems, and proposing policies and strategies to modernize existing resources and systems.
Tasks and Responsibilities
The specialist’s responsibilities include:
- Leading multidisciplinary teams, committees, and project teams.
- Developing technical frameworks, methodologies, tools, and databases for program planning and monitoring
- Conducting research, data collection, analysis, and reporting to support the development of technical standards, innovative approaches, and policy proposals.
- Providing technical assistance to country requests and field projects
- Collaborating on capacity development and knowledge-sharing activities
- Promoting international cooperation and advocating best practices.
- Participating in resource mobilization efforts.
- Performing other duties as required.
Minimum Requirements
Candidates for this position should meet the following minimum requirements:
- An advanced university degree in natural resources management, environment, hydrology, irrigation, water resources management, or a related field.
- Ten years of relevant experience in land and water resources and environmental activities, including natural resources and ecosystem assessment and management.
- Proficiency in English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish).
Application Process
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for this Specialist position by following the provided link. The application deadline is November 22, 2023.