Job Posting: 17/Jan/2025
Closure Date: 31/Jan/2025, 11:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit: RLC
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Grade Level: N/A
Primary Location: Home-Based
Duration: 6 months
Post Number: N/A
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
- 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 person 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’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) highlights that the adaptation of agrifood systems to climate change is essential to ensure food security and sustainability. FAO emphasizes the need to integrate resilient practices that optimize the use of natural resources and reduce vulnerability to climate change.
The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus is a crucial comprehensive approach to addressing the complexity of the interactions between these fundamental elements. The interrelationships between water, energy, food and ecosystems are increasingly evident, especially in agri-food systems that are facing unprecedented challenges due to climate disruptions. For example, efficient water management can improve agricultural productivity, while the use of renewable energy can reduce the carbon footprint of food production
Reporting Lines
The specialist will report to the Consultant Specialist on Water and Integrated Water Resources Management of the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and the Land and the Water Officer of the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa who serves as Technical Coordinator of the Interregional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS).
Technical Focus
To address these challenges, it is crucial to implement innovative technologies and approaches that collaborate in climate change adaptation and mitigation. This includes the use of monitoring and evaluation technologies, such as remote sensing and early warning systems, the incorporation of adaptive technologies, and the promotion of energy efficiency. Integrating these elements in a coherent way will allow the development of solutions that balance human needs with the conservation of natural resources and the protection of ecosystems. The Consultancy falls under FAO’s RLC Regional Priority 3: Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Adaptation to Climate Change, FAO’s RNE Priority 3: Greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action, FAO’s RAP Priority Climate Action, Biodiversity and Natural Resources Management, and FAO’s RAF Priority Climate action and sustainable natural resource management.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Develop a Work plan agreed with the FAO technical team detailing tasks, activities, assigning deadlines, considering review deadlines by task force and specialists, assigning number of days to the products and reporting on them, validated with the technical team.
• Identify the relevant elements and criteria for the selection and characterization of experiences where the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus has been put into action in irrigation systems.
• At the cabinet level, compile successful experiences in the different subregions on innovative irrigation alternatives, using renewable energy which considers WEFE related tools and approaches.
• Carry out consultation and exchange processes with different Officials and Technical Specialists/Experts from FAO and other organizations related to water management initiatives in agriculture to learn about the best experiences on the use of renewable energy technologies in the different regions/ subregions including in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Near East and North Africa.
• Compile and systematize through the format of technical sheets successful experiences and best practices in the use of renewable energies for irrigated agriculture and energy efficiency practices, generating a database that serves as support for decision-making.
• Develop an interregional policy brief on the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in irrigation in the context of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) nexus.
• Present the exercise of systematizing experiences and the policy brief to the various subregions to gather feedback and suggestions and modify the policy brief accordingly.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in geography, agronomy, water resources engineering, renewable resources engineering, or related professions
• 5 years of relevant experience in multidisciplinary teams, facilitating consultation processes
• Working knowledge of English and Spanish (level C).
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Advanced master’s and doctoral degrees in hydraulics and integrated water resources management
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Demonstrated ability to analyse, synthesize, and present information in a clear and orderly manner
• Experience and relevance of experience in issues related to water management in agriculture is desirable.
• Experience and relevance of experience and/or knowledge of a gender, intercultural and generational approach is desirable
• Experience working in multilateral and international organizationsº
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
- Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
- Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
- For more information, visit the FAO employment website
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp
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