Technical Adviser (Sustainable Rangeland Management Expert)

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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.

Organizational Setting
The Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025) facilitates, coordinates and manages all technical and advisory services to be provided by FAO to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MoEWA). The project ‘UTF/SAU/051/SAU Strengthening MoEWA’s Capacity to Implement the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Programme’ is the first project that has been approved within the framework of FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025). The project will provide technical and advisory assistance to the MoEWA in implementing its flagship sustainable rural agricultural development programme that has recently been approved within the context of the National Transformation Programme of the Saudi Vision 2030. The project expected results will be achieved through implementation of nine project components: 1) Development of coffee Arabica production, processing and marketing; 2) Development of beekeeping and honey production; 3) Development of rose production and trade; 4) Development of sub-tropical fruits production, processing and marketing; 5) Strengthening capacity of small-scale fishermen and fish farmers; 6) Strengthening capacity of small-scale livestock herders; 7) Development of rain-fed cereals production; 8) Enhancing value addition from smallholdings and rural activities; and 9) Strengthening MoEWA’s capacity in sustainable management of rangelands, forests and natural resources to support rural livelihoods.

The position is located in the PMU of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Reporting Lines
The Technical Adviser (Sustainable Rangeland Management Expert) reports to the Chief Technical Adviser (Natural Resources Management/GIS) and under the overall guidance of the Programme Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Technical Focus
Support to capacity development for sustainable community based practices for rangeland management.

Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support technical cooperation-related programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions
• Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned technical cooperation-related programmes/projects; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies follow-up actions.
• Coordinates technical cooperation activities and programme-related activities and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for their implementation and leads the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provides advice regarding the development of policies and strategies related to technical cooperation, as well as regional, subregional and national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO’s work.

Specific Functions
• Conducts situation analysis for baseline assessment and diagnostic studies of rangeland to give directions to the sustainable development of the sector.
• Undertakes inventories of rangeland and natural resources of KSA and conducts studies to fill knowledge gaps for rangeland vegetation cover development and protection.
• Identifies and ensures appropriate management of protected natural range areas to produce quality seeds of rangeland plants.
• Conducts study on rangeland carrying capacity and assesses challenges and opportunities for sustainable rangelands management in KSA.
• Undertake comprehensive assessment of the current livestock grazing systems and rangeland management practices and identifies community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management suitable for KSA.
• Prepares and updates livestock grazing and rangeland management environmental, social, cultural, and economic profile for each target region.
• Benchmarks best practices and systems and guidelines for sustainable community livestock grazing and rangeland management in countries similar to KSA.
• Develops and updates framework of criteria and indicators for evaluating performance of community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management.
• Setups community-based livestock grazing and rangeland management pilot demonstration sites and disseminates demonstration results and lessons to stakeholders and promote adoption of community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management.
• Prepares strategy and plan for sustainable adoption and scaling up of successful community-based practices for livestock grazing and rangeland management.
• Contributes to assessment and quantification of rain water harvesting potential for rangeland improvement within the target regions and prepares and updates guideline for rain water harvesting for supporting rangeland improvement and fodder production.
• Prepares and implements capacity development programme to support community-based livestock grazing and rangeland management.
• Leads development of demand driven and responsive partnerships to benefit Saudi Arabia from proven innovation and good practices in the South and the North for sustainable rangeland management.
• Leads development and dissemination of information and knowledge products for sustainable rangeland management.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in in rangeland conservation and management, natural resources management or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in rangeland Conservation and Management, implementation and management of technical assistance for capacity strengthening in the field of rangeland conservation and management.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish.

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Team Work
• 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.
• Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Extent and relevance of experience in sustainable rangeland management.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the implementation and management of technical assistance for capacity strengthening in the field of sustainable rangeland management.
• Demonstrated capacity to coordinate country level activities and to organize and lead consultative processes involving several partner institutions and stakeholders.
• Extent and relevance of experience in project management skills including familiarity with the development of results frameworks, logical framework, project work plans and budget.