Technical Adviser (Geospatial Information) at Food and Agriculture Organization

Organizational Setting

This position is located in the FAO Somalia Office in Nairobi, Kenya. The incumbent will be responsible for managing FAO Somalia’s Geospatial Information development under the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and its various projects, and supporting the FAO Somalia sector teams in their geospatial information needs.

The Technical Adviser (Geospatial Information) works in in close coordination with the technical, operational and programming units in general, and the relevant heads of technical sector teams in particular. He/she will be embedded in the Somalia Land and Water Information Management (SWALIM) project team and work closely together with its relevant staff (GIS, mapping experts etc).

Reporting Lines

The Technical Adviser (Geospatial Information) reports to the Chief Technical Adviser SWALIM under the technical supervision of the Information Technology Office in the Information Technology division (CIO).

Technical Focus

Geospatial information production, including monitoring activities aiming at the objective, evidence-based, traceable, accurate and credible reporting of the delivery of FAO activities in Somalia

Key Results

Research, technical analysis, and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products, and services

Key Functions

• Researches and analyses technical-related issues on the development, the implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; assists with the review of relevant documents and reports;
• Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and documents, as well as provides technical input for reports and web pages;
• Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and projects and provides technical backstopping to field projects;
• Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases;
• Oversees the updating of databases and web pages;
• Participates on multidisciplinary teams, and/or leads working groups/teams collaborates with other departments and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices;
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures 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;
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations;
• Performs other duties as required

Specific Functions

• Leads the strategic planning, implementation and management of all geospatial information and remote sensing related matters, supporting FAO Somalia sector teams with the implementation of environmental monitoring activities, impact assessments and fact based decision-making.
• Ensures the timely preparation, maintenance and provision of geospatial information, products and services in support of the activities implemented by FAO Somalia technical sectors, with particular focus to activities implemented by SWALIM and the Cash Based Interventions unit.
• Leads and supervises the teams of geospatial information staff working for SWALIM and FSNAU.
• Assists FAO Somalia and financing partners in the supervision and evaluation of investment projects/programmes in the natural resources management and environmental interventions in agriculture and/or rural development.
• Coordinates the PROSCAL Charcoal Joint Programme representing SWALIM as a Participating Organization in planning and implementing the charcoal production monitoring through very high-resolution satellite images.
• Contributes to the formulation of project proposals, briefs, reports and official correspondence as far as geospatial information are concerned.
• Liaises with the FAO Somalia senior management as well as field offices of other UN agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the host country on all geospatial information related matters.
• Contributes to FAO Somalia programme development and fund raising efforts through active communication with donor/partner on geospatial information programmes and activities.
• Liaises with main stakeholders and implementing partners in the implementation of geospatial information based on activities in Somalia;
• Recommends FAO standard methodologies for cartographic and geospatial applications as well as land cover mapping preparation, change analysis and field data collection.
• Coordinates with UN agencies and other relevant actors to integrate or complement with FAO-Ied mapping/monitoring activities by remote sensing.
• Participates in the development/production of required environmental safeguards material and provision of geospatial information.
• Identifies satellite information needs of FAO sectors where remotely sensed data can provide cost-effective inputs, and develop cost-effective products based on the information needs.

 CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements 

     •  Advanced university degree in geospatial information science, remote sensing, cartography, geography or related fields

• Five years of relevant experience in generating geospatial information, producing satellite images based analysis or geospatial information products.
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;
• Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to geospatial information and/or satellite images including leading projects/teams
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• All candidates should possess computer/word processing skills
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your iRecruitment online profile (see “How to Apply”). We strongly recommend that you ensure that the information is accurate and complete including employment record, academic qualifications and language skills
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
• Other similar positions at the same level may be filled from this vacancy notice and the endorsed candidates will be considered for the Employment Roster for a period of 2 years
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments