Technical Advisor (Forest Data Management, GIS) – SB-5

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. The main aim of the FAO Representation in Cambodia is to assist government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. 

The Community Action for Sustainable Forests (CASFor) is a four-year project co-funded by the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC) that promotes the sustainable management of local forest resources while strengthening resilience and improving livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. Furthermore, the initiative aims to contributing to national commitments and global action on climate change mitigation and biodiversity protection. The goal of CASFor is to strengthen the capacity of Community Forestry and Community Protected Areas and improve the livelihoods of community members while actively contributing to climate action and biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of forest resources. Forest Data management is included in the scope of CASFor to effectively provide evidence-based information on the impacts of CFs and CPAs for sustainable forest management and climate action. This assignment is directly linked and complementary with the work conducted under the ASEAN Social Forestry Initiative, also co-financed by SDC, in terms of database establishment and tracking of social forestry activities.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Advisor (Forest Data Management, GIS) reports directly to the Project Manager and works in close coordination with the Programme Advisor (Forestry, Land and Water) and the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and collaborates with the CASFor’s project personnel, government counterparts and implementing partners. The incumbent will carry out the tasks listed below. 

Technical Focus

Lead the forest data collection and analysis to improve and enhance field work, data and institutional level performance of the CASFor project. Support the development of data management and geospatial tools and capacities at national and subnational levels and provide support for the preparation of evidence-based project progress reports including real time monitoring analysis.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Technical Advisor (Forest Data Management, GIS) will contribute to the following work areas:

Data collection and Management including Tools, Methods and Systems Development

•    Provide technical support for the activities included in the results framework for data management related to CFs and CPAs; 
•    Facilitate spatial, quantitative and qualitative data collection of CFs and CPAs for CASFor targeted Provinces in coordination with implementing partners;
•    Support the further development of a geospatial CF and CPA database, that includes metadata and where available maps from management plans and an accompanying dashboard/registry to summarize information; 
•    Facilitate and support project implementation activities, specifically of government counterparts at national and subnational levels, particularly on data collection and management;
•    Assist with data collection and management for the achievement of project outputs and progress reporting, in collaboration with the Technical Specialist (M&E and Knowledge Management);

Capacity development

•    Provide technical support to GDLC/MOE and FA/MAFF for the data management, archiving and field-level data collection for the project achievements and reporting systems;
•    Assist with the elaboration of data analysis and data management reports to be presented in project events including training, PIU activities and PSC meetings, technical workshops, etc.;
•    Contribute to the implementation of the project’s knowledge management system including integration in forest and environment monitoring systems and development of technical report and knowledge products for  discussion and validation with project stakeholders;

Data Reporting

•    Contribute to the data management for reporting to the Project Steering Committee and Provincial Advisory Committee;
•    Prepare the project’s progress reports and provide consolidated information, in compliance with FAO and SDC’s requirements and project needs;
•    Contribute to the preparation of baseline, mid-term reviews and assessment reports of project targets;
•    Recompile lessons learned and experiences shared in multiple-stakeholder consultations to review, update of data and relevant information;

General Project Data Management

•    Elaborate data management reports of CASFor targeted areas taking into account activities of other projects that are working with the same CFs and CPAs;
•    Support data collection and management of project implementing partners working with the CFs and CPAs;
•    Support field data collection and survey assessments of project sites in close collaboration with project team, implementing partners and other key stakeholders as required;
•    Perform any other tasks as required in order to deliver the expected outputs.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Statistics, Management, Forestry Sciences or related fields; 
•    At least five years of relevant experience in designing and implementing data collection and/or management systems in forestry and rural development projects;
•    Working knowledge (C) of English;
•    National of Cambodia.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience with national/international NGOs/UN organizations/ Government. Experience with UN projects is desirable; 
•    Demonstrated work experience in data management and geospatial database development in rural development;
•    Work experience in data collection and analysis, including assessments, studies, surveys, mapping using quantitative and qualitative methods, and reporting;
•    Experience with database development and management and statistical analysis;
•    Demonstrated ability to work independently, handle multiple tasks, work under pressure, and deliver assignments on time; 
•    Leading, engaging, empowering and an excellent team player;
•    Strong knowledge of the forestry sector in Cambodia;
•    Work experience in the project target provinces (desirable).

Selection criteria:

•    Elaboration of geospatial mapping systems
•    Expertise in developing forestry database and data management reports
•    GIS specialization would be considered an asset;

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION