National Soil Expert LDN Methodology, Extended deadline

Vacancy announcement N^o: 03/2022

Issued on:

23/02/2022

Deadline For Application:

21/03/2022

Job Title:  National Soil Expert

 Type of requisition:

 Consultant, PSA or NPP

Duty Station:

Chisinau, Moldova

Organizational Unit:

FEMOL

Duration:

130 days

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

Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries are encouraged to apply.

Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Organizational Setting

FAO in partnership with the Government of Moldova is implementing the Project “Enabling a policy environment for integrated natural resources management and implementation of an integrated approach to achieve land degradation neutrality in Moldova”.  The main project objective is to support and scale up the introduction of innovative climate-smart agriculture practices, and sustainable forest and land management to achieve land degradation neutrality. The aim of this assignment is to provide technical support to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) and IPASP “Nicolae Dimo” in the implementation of activity: Designing soil quality monitoring methodology in the Republic of Moldova and Designing methodological instructions on feasibility study with specific focus on Land Degradation Neutrality (LND), natural resources management, agriculture and related domains.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Moldova, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and direct supervision of the Project Coordinator in close coordination with the Project team. The incumbent will provide services to MAFI and IPASP and deliverables will be approved by MAFI and IPASP before approval by FAO and the Project.

Technical Focus

Technical support in the elaboration of the national soil quality monitoring system and other support to the project on soil and LDN matters.

Tasks and responsibilities 

• Appraise the body of knowledge with reference to soil quality monitoring methodology; collect and review relevant documents, instructions, studies, statistical data, etc.
• Identify key stakeholders to be consulted for designing the soil quality monitoring methodology and related instructions.
• Design soil quality monitoring methodology in the Republic of Moldova.
• Provide support to MAFI and IPASP with methodology endorsement and public consultations with relevant sector stakeholders; advise and assist on addressing comments and proposals for methodology refinement; draft and present to MAFI the final version of the methodology that will comprise accepted comments and proposals provided by stakeholders during consultations.
• Take the lead in working with Project beneficiaries and sector stakeholders and provide technical support on soil quality monitoring related aspects.
• Provide support in establishing and organizing committees, expert groups, working groups and other such bodies created or strengthened with Project support.
• Advocate for and technically support incorporating land degradation neutrality-related indicators, LDN data collection, processing systematization and reporting into the soil quality monitoring methodology in line with the UNCCD and the commitments of the Government of the Republic of Moldova to the Convention.
• Provide support to Project beneficiaries and sector stakeholders to adopt the new methodology and related instructions.
• Provide technical support for mainstreaming the new legal and institutional instruments created within the Project (such as the project’s Soil Quality Monitoring System).
• Act as local resource person and provide support and expertise for the International Expert on Land Degradation Neutrality that will conduct capacity building and strengthening of the UNCCD Working Group. Provide guidance and local expertise related to the domain of soils and the achieving of land degradation neutrality.
• As needed, provide other soil-related technical support to Project beneficiaries, sector stakeholders and Project team.
• Contribute to Project reporting and other technical deliverables, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Environment, Natural Resource Management or related fields.
• Five years of progressive experience in technical assistance in the area of soil management, quality, sustainability, neutrality.
• Three years of experience of working with international donor organizations in the areas of soil management and monitoring.
• Three years of experience with national and local government bodies in the area of technical assistance in soil management and monitoring.
• Excellent knowledge of soil related normative acts and institutions of the Republic of Moldova.
• Experience in implementation of analytic assessments and evaluations related to soil management and monitoring.
• Strong ability to work under pressure and against tight deadlines.
• Strong reporting skills, interpersonal skills, results oriented.
• Fluency in oral and written Romanian and Russian.
• Fluency in oral and written English.

 FAO Core Competencies

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