Organizational Setting

FAO Azerbaijan Partnership and Liaison Office, in close cooperation with the government and its in-line Ministries/Agencies, contributes to the sustainable agri-food systems, and supports the government with addressing issues food security, agriculture and rural development, natural resource management in the country. FAO’s technical assistance, provided mainly through projects, includes institution building, development of knowledge and competencies, and exchange of experience among FAO member countries.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Azerbaijan, the programmatic guidance and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative, and the technical guidance of Lead Technical Officer associated with the assigned projects.

Technical Focus 

The National Specialist on Protected Area Planning will draft the park management plans – and it’s linked subsidiary plans (zonation plan, tourism plan, and monitoring plan) – for Shirvan and Hirkan National Parks and its sanitary zones (under Output 2.1.1, 2.1.3 and 3.1.2 of the project).:

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide ongoing logistical, technical and professional support to the overall process of developing park management plans
•    In liaison with International Expert on Protected Area Planning prepare a detailed work plan which identifies the key steps (and their sequencing) to be followed in the management planning process for SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones.
•    In liaison with International Expert on Protected Area Planning identify the key stakeholders to be engaged, and the means of their engagement, in the management planning process for SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning to update the contextual description (including park setting, park values, legal and regulatory framework, physical and biological features, history and heritage features, governance arrangements, park staffing, park funding, park infrastructure and equipment, research and monitoring, park use (education, tourism natural resources, park threats and challenges) of SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning in reviewing and updating the objectives framework (park vision, strategic objectives) for SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning in reviewing and updating the Zonation Plan (and the guidelines for regulating the access to, developing infrastructure in, and providing facilities and services for, each zone) – comprising Special Protection, Economic (administration and production), Low Intensity Tourism and Recreation, and Intensive Tourism and Recreation zones – for SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning in reviewing and updating the tourism development plan for SNP and HNP.
•    In liaison with International Expert on Protected Area Planning identify and describe the suite of prioritised management actions to be implemented over a 5-year time horizon in SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones for each of the strategic objectives identified above.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning in the development a monitoring and evaluation framework that enables performance tracking of the implementation of the prioritised management actions for SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning in preparation of the budget estimates (organised by Human Resource costs, Capital Expenditure costs and Operational Expenditure costs) for implementing the high priority management actions for SNP and HNP and its sanitary zones.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning in consolidating all the information above into a first working draft of a consolidated Strategic Management Plan (SMP) for SNP and HNP (and its sanitary zones) for presentation to, and review by park stakeholders.
•    Support International Expert on Protected Area Planning to finalise the final draft of Strategic Management Plan (SMP) for SNP HNP (and its sanitary zones) for submission to the MENR for adoption.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in Natural or Social Sciences, Ecology, Biology or Environmental Management, Conservation Management or similar
•    At least 5 years of recent working experience in biodiversity conservation in Azerbaijan
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English
•    National of Azerbaijan or resident of the country with valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
•    Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners developing effective working relationships
•    Experience with UN system is considered an asset.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements