Rangeland Management Specialist (Cluster Lead) (02 positions)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

With support of the European Union, FAO Pakistan is implementing a project “Post-floods resilient recovery and strengthening of the livestock sector in Balochistan”. The project aims to enhance food security and resilience status of the livestock farmers/households in line with the post-flood Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction (4R) Framework and climate smart approaches. In accordance with priorities of the Government of Balochistan set forth in its Balochistan Livestock Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, the project will focus mainly on small ruminants, and reproductive efficiency improvement in dairy. To achieve this goal, the project will build capacity of livestock farming households through a comprehensive and tailored hand-on community outreach following the Farmer Field School approach, in a bid to improve sustainable production and productivity of husbandry in line with climate resilient approaches while creating/sustaining working opportunities with a focus on youth and women in the target districts of Balochistan. 

FAO wishes to recruit two experienced rangeland management specialists to support integrated community outreach activities of the project geared at building capacity and empowering livestock farmers in their husbandry practices; genetic breed improvement; disease management; improving feed resources for the small ruminants; rangeland management; preparation of safe and nutritious family food; value addition; and enhancing their opportunities for income generating activities to support their families.

The position will be level SBIV SC8 and based in Khuzdar and Loralai, Balochistan.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of FAO Representative in Pakistan, Assistant FAO Representative – Programme and Head of Province, the incumbent will report to the Senior Programme Officer. Within the framework of a programmatic approach, the incumbent will be part of a technical team, and the role will involve close collaboration with various sectoral specialists, and project team both at the province and districts. The incumbent is expected to closely collaborate with the implementing partners for the FFS community outreach and relevant technical departments of Government of Balochistan both at province and district level to ensure alignment of interventions.

Technical Focus

Undertake assessment of rangelands productivity, carrying capacity, formulation of participatory rangeland management plans, implementation of rotational grazing, range improvement practices and promotion of agropastoral best practices. The incumbent will also facilitate integrated capacity building interventions tailored for empowering livestock farmers through Farmer Field Schools on climate smart livestock production technologies and practices; improving feed resources for the small ruminants; and overall rangeland management.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Lead the rangeland management activities of the project in three districts in the cluster in terms of planning, implementation and providing specialised technical support to the implementing partners, project team and local community to undertake holistic interventions in participatory manner
•    In collaboration with the rest of the project team, develop a comprehensive gender-sensitive activity plan for mainstreaming rangeland management interventions of the community outreach through Farmer Field Schools to be established and implemented jointly with the technical departments and local organisations
•    Develop holistic and clear guidelines for rangeland management committees factoring in location-specific dynamics
•    Facilitate the establishment of range management committees and build their capacity in location-specific natural resources management interventions.
•    In collaboration with the Department of Forest and Wildlife, lead the rangeland resource assessment survey regarding the status and trend in terms of productivity, carrying capacity, species composition, soil condition and other parameters required by the project
•    Facilitate participatory processes for preparation of community led range management plans based on the range assessment survey results including the periodic interventions such as controlled grazing, range improvement practices, surface water harvesting and establishment of home-based forest nurseries 
•    Establish synergy with other ongoing Natural Resource Management (NRM) interventions within FAO and with other agencies and departments having similar activities for better integration
•    Collaborate with the other component leads to ensure complementarity and ensure integrated landscape restoration and development approach 
•    Provide technical inputs in the design and implementation of training need assessments, developing simple and well-illustrated appropriate information, extension and communication (IEC) materials and facilitating training programmes in the cluster
•    Collaborate with the Department of Forest and Wildlife at all stages to ensure alignment to the priorities and technical needs in the field of NRM 
•    Support the Service Providers for the community outreach and project team to articulate relevant technical content to be included in the practical FFS learning programme
•    Contribute to/edit reports, manuals, guidelines, other specialized publications as they relate to animal production, protection, good farming/livestock practices, producer’s organizations
•    Provide routine technical backstopping to the Project district teams and Service Providers and quality assurance of interventions being implemented through the Farmer Field Schools to enhance knowledge and skills of livestock farmers in sustainable range management practices as part of a climate smart livestock production system
•    In collaboration with the Provincial project team, support the district teams in the oversight and quality assurance in the implementation of Letter of Agreements with different Service Providers
•    Keep close track and completeness of all targets, identifying strategic linkages for sustainability completeness 
•    Facilitate production and collating of work plans and progress reports (monthly, quarterly, and final) on the community outreach, case studies, and success stories
•    Perform other related duties, as assigned by the supervisor.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

Liaison with the OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.

All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en   
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia   
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
FAOSTYLE: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en 
FAO terminology: http://www.fao.org/faoterm 
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en  
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).  

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced degree in Natural Resource Management, Forestry, Range Sciences, Agriculture, Environment or related fields.
•    At least 5 years of experiences in strategic plan development in natural resources management sectors including Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) /Livelihood Development/Business Plan and supply value chain development.
•    Working knowledge of English and fluency in Urdu and local languages (Pushto, Balochi, Brahvi) used in province.
•    National of Pakistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Practical knowledge of rangeland and livestock management systems.
•    Proficient in basic computer skills including MS Office.
•    Good interpersonal & communication skills.
•    Strong analysis, report writing, facilitation and presentation skills.
•    Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment and rural communities.
•    Familiarity with UN systems and procedures regarding code of conduct and resource use.
•    Display initiative and take responsibility towards achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and closely follow-up until successful outputs are achieved.
•    Understanding of the purpose and functions of technical programmes, operational guidelines and programme/project management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO would be considered an added asset
•    Continue to seek new, innovative and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work assigned.
•    Experience in developing training materials, curricula, and conducting training programs for farmers and extension workers.
•    Ability and willingness to travel and work in remote areas of project target provinces
•    Familiarity with the range and livestock challenges in Balochistan will be an added advantage.
•    Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and teams.

Selection Criteria

•    Proven practical business development in natural resources management experience
•    Working experience with development programs, collaboration with government agency at national & sub-national level on rangeland/natural resources management issues will be desirable
•    Strong knowledge of forest, NRM, Range Management 
•    Strong participatory facilitation skills and experience in delivering capacity building to rural communities.
•    Climate Resilient Agriculture/Livestock (CRA), private sector, livestock value chain experience will be an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION