National GIS Specialist at Food and Agriculture Organization: (Deadline 26 March 2024)

National GIS Specialist at Food and Agriculture Organization: (Deadline 26 March 2024)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• 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 staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources of Rwanda is implementing the project aimed at reconsidering the potential of water resources development to expand irrigated land in Rwanda. The project aims to put more effort into increasing the area under irrigation by reconsidering all irrigation potentials, including medium, small, and micro sites. By reconsidering irrigation potential in Rwanda, the project will increase the total irrigated land to maximize crop production and productivity, sustainable land use and crop intensification, adaption to environmental degradation and climate resilience. Reconsidering irrigation potential will decrease the barriers to accessing water, impact poverty through different dimensions such as crop/animal production and productivity, on-farm and off-farm employment generation, income/consumption, vulnerability, food security, non-farm output, nutrition, multiple use of water (e.g. domestic and irrigation purposes).

Thematically the projects focus on two outputs:

(1)    Analyse and review geographical data and prepare a stocktaking of national inventories of irrigation potential in Rwanda,
(2)    Conduct comprehensive preliminary feasibility studies and validate the identified potential sites.

FAO is now hiring a national GIS specialist to map large, medium, small, and micro irrigation potential sites, to classify all sites and support the elaboration of pre-feasibility studies for the most suitable for easy implementation.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, the direct supervision of the project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) in close collaboration with the Better Production Team Leader/ Senior Irrigation Specialist at FAO Rwanda, with the technical guidance from the Senior Water Development and Management Officer based in the Regional Office for Africa.

Technical Focus

The specialist will thoroughly use the existing geographical data and locate all possible water sources on Rwanda’s territory. S/he will identify all irrigable sites, including those that can get water through pumping less than 80 meters of maximum head. In collaboration with the national irrigation expert, the GIS Expert will map and produce shapefiles of polygons, lines and points features related to water sources, irrigation canals and pipes, potential irrigation schemes, potential sites for pumping schemes, water reservoirs (earth dams/dam flood plains, hillside tanks and reservoirs/irrigation ponds). The GIS Expert will produce all maps and all characteristics required for, prefeasibility studies. The database to be produced would be a functional user-friendly allowing to navigate and consult maps and other related characteristics. The produced Database should be compatible with existing digital platforms (Agricultural Knowledge Information Systems, AKIS).

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will specifically:
•    Review the National land use database (land use master plan, arable land, irrigation master plan, protected areas, etc) to get required updates.
•    Conduct a desk study (latest orthophotos, Rwanda topographic maps- geo-referenced “TIFF images”) to map all potential irrigation sites (Larger, Medium, Small and Micro) to be developed or rehabilitated.
•    In collaboration with the national irrigation expert produce maps and shapefiles indicating potential identified sites countrywide. The mapping exercise will be extended to all administrative boundaries, i.e up to village level. All levels and the geo-referenced Digital Elevation Models (DEM) would be at 25 cm accuracy, if available.
•    Fast-track sites against land use/cover and other strategic use,
•    Produce maps for small, medium, and large scale and suggest the actionable plan for implementation starting with a short-list of promising sites.
•    Produce materials needed for the consultation and validation workshops that involve the government, private sector, international organizations, other stakeholders who intervene in irrigation sub-sector,
•    Conduct field visits to identify the physical and environmental characteristics of some selected sites that may require physical presence.
•    Support to collect non-spatial data from local farmers, farmers’ cooperatives and authorities, using ODK (Open Data Kit) questionnaires.
•    Produce maps for water intake, conveyance, storage, distribution facilities, as well as their geographic features/ characteristics.
•    Use GIS based topographic software to produce the bill of quantities that will inform the required feasibility studies.
•    Produce maps/ drawings needed to calculate the investment of every selected site.
•    Support to organize the validation meetings of the feasibility studies of the potential sites,
•    Upload maps and other outputs into existing digital platforms (Agricultural Knowledge Information Systems, AKIS).
•    Support to propose the resource mobilization strategy for the identified potential sites.
•    Support to organize the consultation workshops to inform potentials investors and donors for the identified sites.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWINGMinimum Requirements    

•    Advanced university degree in Geo-information science, Surveying, Geoinformatics, Geographic Information Systems, Remote sensing or other related fields.
  •    5 years of progressive working experience in surveying, Geographic Information Systems, or remote sensing.
  •    Working knowledge of English language.
  •    National of Rwanda 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 

•    Proficiency in the elaborating master plans, study, design, and implementation of irrigation infrastructure development projects.
  •    Knowledge of environmental and safety regulations and compliance.
  •    Experience in feasibility studies.
  •    Excellent skills in analysis and report writing.
  •    Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills in English.
  •    Ability to effectively use standard GIS Software, for designing irrigation potential sites and others.
  •    Good command of computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Power point, Internet).
  •    Capable to work independently and perform under tight deadlines.
  •    Good interpersonal and teamwork skills, networking aptitude, and ability to engage effectively with policy and decision-makers.

Selection Criteria

•    Experience in using GIS based topographic software to produce the bill of quantities.
  •    Proven experience in project identification, formulation, design, and implementation.

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 a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• 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 atJobs 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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