Organizational Setting
The Land and Water Division (NSL) of FAO foresees a future whereby governments, development partners, civil societies, academic institutions, and the private sector and farmers, all work together to ensure that land, soil, and water resources are wisely used, conserved, and restored for sustainable and resilient agri-food systems that support food security, nutrition, and human wellbeing. NSL provides policy guidance, technical and financial assistance to Members in developing policies, programmes, best practices and management tools for ensuring productive and efficient use of land, soil and water resources to meet present and future demands for agricultural products, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of these resources. It promotes equitable access to and sustainable management of these natural resources with a view to enhancing productivity, livelihoods, equity, health and ecosystem services.
Under the new Strategy, NSL will work towards a core set of five integrated and strategic Objectives and Action Areas that have been elaborated to cut across the thematic areas of land, water, soils, and geospatial areas of work of the Division: (1) Good governance; (2) Wise use and restoration; (3) Mitigation and resilience; (4) Integrated solutions; (5) Data, digitalization, technology and innovation.
The post is located in the Land and Water Division (NSL) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.ย
In view of its global mandate, the Global Soil Partnership Secretariat is hosted at the Land and Water Division. The Global Soil Partnership was established in December 2012 as a mechanism to promote sustainable soil management under a strong interactive partnership and enhanced collaboration and synergy of efforts between all stakeholders. From land users through policy makers, one of the key objectives of the GSP is to improve soil governance and promote sustainable management of soils. The Global Soil Partnership Secretariat facilitates the implementation of activities through its regional soil partnerships and scientifically guided through its Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils.
The contract will be based in FAO HQs with required travel for field missions, where relevant.
Reporting Lines
The International Consultant reports to the Senior Land and Water Officer.
Technical Focus
Supporting the development, quality control and effective implementation of FAOโs soil portfolio including the Global Soil Partnership work plan through the provision of expertise in relevant technical areas including project formulation and implementation to support member countries. ย
Tasks and responsibilities
Soil Biodiversity consultant
โข ย ย Compile global and national findings on soil biodiversity, its importance on soil health and how it is affected by soil management practices;
โข ย ย Facilitate communication and engagement with the International Network on Soil Biodiversity (NETSOB);
โข ย ย Maintain relevant soil biodiversity information on GSP technical network websites;
โข ย ย Provide technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and provides technical backstopping to field projects on sustainable soil management to conserve and enhance soil biodiversity;
โข ย ย Participate on multi-disciplinary teams, and collaborates with other departments and agencies on work groups and committees and promote mainstreaming soil biodiversity in the agriculture, livestock, forestry and fisheries sectors;
โข ย ย Facilitate the implementation of activities of the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity;
โข ย ย Facilitate the implementation of annual global symposia and other meetings related to soil biodiversity;
โข ย ย Support the execution of GSP Action Framework 2022-2030 and the Regional Soil Partnerships Implementation Plans as a contribution to FAOโs mandate on food security, the SDGs, biodiversity conservation and climate change efforts;
โข ย ย Contribute to the implementation of various projects as per the Healthy Soils Facility;
โข ย ย Collaborate in and ensure the quality / effectiveness of capacity development activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools in relation to the GSP Action Areas; and
โข ย ย Support resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate strategy and under the Healthy Soils Facility.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย University degree in soil science, agriculture, environmental sciences, or a related field with some specialization in soil science, or extent and relevance of experience in soils;
โข ย ย One to four years of relevant experience in soil biodiversity for baseC- consultants, and at least five yearsโ relevant experience in soil biodiversity for B-level consultants;ย
โข ย ย Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other five FAO languages, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish;
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skillsย
โข ย ย Demonstrated experience of work with member countries in terms of normative and technical work on soils;
โข ย ย Demonstrated ability to deliver results within deadlines.
โข ย ย Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;
โข ย ย Understanding of FAO policies and programmes and familiarity with UN policy agendas;
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of issues related to soil sample analyses or analysis; or sustainable soil management and agriculture (including forestry) and natural resources management in developing countries and in particular in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable agriculture and forestry in developing countries;
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in the formulation and implementation of projects related to sustainable soil management and their impact on soil biodiversity will be an asset;ย
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation of technical and policy reports and capacity development materials;ย
โข ย ย Extent of experience in organizing medium to large scale international technical meetings and conferences;ย
โข ย ย Experience in the establishment and facilitation of technical networks; andย
โข ย ย Experience in the development of teaching materials is an asset.