Water Productivity Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Project GCP IRQ 007 SWE is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).  The overall aim of the project is as stated in the title to” Enhance climate resilience of vulnerable agriculture households in Southern Iraq through the promotion of climate-smart water management and good agriculture practices in selected value chains”.  

The outputs include: 
•    Improve Knowledge and capacities to manage water and agriculture. 
•    Facilitate evidence-based stakeholder engagement.
•    Equip farming households to adapt and adopt water & and climate-smart practices. 
•    support value chain actors on post-harvest and market.
•    communication and outreach.

Some innovative tools and approaches will be introduced including water accounting, water productivity, climate-smart agriculture, farmer field schools, and climate-wise women.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq -  Budget Holder of the GCP IRQ 007 SWE project; and the direct supervision of the FAO Iraq Water and Agriculture Technical Advisor and Project Coordinator, the incumbent will work closely with the international Water Productivity Specialist, and the Iraqi line ministries’ focal points to carry the following tasks for the project: 

Technical Focus 

Supporting planning, design and implementation of various activities aiming at assessing and optimizing water productivity, promoting sustainable agricultural, land and water management practices serving the different project outputs and supporting decision making.

Tasks and responsibilities

General description of Tasks

The incumbent will carry out the following tasks for the Project. 

•    Carry out water productivity baseline assessment. This includes but not limited to i) Identification of the main crops grown in the selected study area(s); ii) Desk study, review and compilation of existing information relevant to Water Productivity (e.g. published scientific papers, Governmental studies, local universities’ research and studies, surveys already performed on agricultural practices, crop yields and/or water use efficiency, Data Quality Assessment, expert opinions, etc.).

•    Lead water productivity local assessments. This will include: i) Review the standard questionnaire to tailor it to the local context; and work with the FAO Iraq GIS specialist to get It transformed into a KoBo-based questionnaire; ii) define, in close coordination with the international specialist, the data collection strategy and the sample needed for the study area(s); iii) Train enumerators on the survey to be carried out in 4 governorates where FFS will be implemented; iv) Analyse results and produce reports for each governorate (Najaf, Muthanna, Thi Qar, and Maysan); v) Work with the GIS expert and WAPOR team, to Integrate remote sensing-based analysis of the evolution of water productivity for the sites where the survey is done.

•    Contribute to the design and implementation of economic water productivity assessment on 2/3 value chains (to be selected for south Iraq). Work with the FAO Iraq agro-economist to design and organize the economic water productivity survey along the value chain for 2 to 3 crops important for south Iraq. Organize the fieldwork for the production part (to be done with the above local assessment) and monitor the implementation of the EWP survey and its results.

•    Contribute the design and implementation of Pilot/Demonstration farms. Work with the project coordinator and the project team to identify, design and implement pilot farms demonstrating either climate smart water saving technologies, sustainable reclamation of salt affected lands, and cost-effective irrigation and drainage practices.

•    Perform other related duties as required by the project coordinator.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    
 
•    National of Iraq 
•    University degree in agriculture, land and water resources management, irrigation, or related/equivalent field.
•    5 years of relevant experience in agricultural development, soil-water-crop relationship, extent and relevance of experience in irrigated farming systems analysis.
•    Working knowledge of Arabic and limited knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus 
•    Leading, Engaging, and Empowering 
•    Communication 
•    Partnering and Advocating 
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement 
•    Strategic Thinking 

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, with relevant field experience, is essential. 
•    Extent and relevance of experience in agricultural water management, Crop Production, and soil-water-crop relationship.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in water productivity assessment and use of remote sensing tools.  
 
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION