About Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF. 

Job Summary

The Community-based Sustainable Land Forest Management in Afghanistan project is the six-year intervention of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This project aims to improve the sustainability of agriculture, forest, and land-use management through rehabilitating degraded forests and rangelands, enhancing and maintaining the livelihoods of Afghan rural communities in Bamiyan, Badghis, Ghazni, Kunar, and Paktia provinces in Afghanistan by employing the community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approach. The project has four major components: (i) capacity-building at the national, sub-national, and district levels for sustainable land and forest management; (ii) biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in forest landscapes; (iii) community-based rangeland management; and (iv) knowledge management, monitoring, and evaluation.

The Forest & Land Management Specialist will be responsible for identification, design and coordination and promotion of alternative energy sources including biogas, biomass and efficient cooking and heating, by providing in-depth country knowledge in his/her field, as well as service in the field. He/she will provide technical inputs for the project under Outcome 2.1 – biodiversity conservation and carbon sequestration in forest landscapes – and Outcome 3.1 – community-based rangeland management.

The Forest & Land Management Specialist will work with appointed specialists and support the project task team in devising strategies and plans for the implementation of the forestry, alternative fuel and energy sources outcome of this project. The required technical documents will be formulated based on consultation with project proponents and stakeholders in Afghanistan, virtual communication with international experts and the FAO Country Office in Afghanistan, as well as literature reviews and analyses as needed.

Reporting Lines

The Forest & Land Management Specialist will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Afghanistan, and under the direct supervision of the National Project Manager/National Professional Officer

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the rehabilitation and restoration of 10,000 ha of HCVFs in selected areas to provide habitat for threatened endangered and rare species.
• Manage and oversee the rehabilitation and restoration of 20,000 ha of non-HCVFs in selected areas.
• Undertake community livelihood surveys to identify livelihood options to meet community needs and to reduce pressure on forest resources.
• Work with the National Biodiversity/Perennial Crop Specialist and Alternative Livelihoods Expert to undertake community livelihood surveys identify livelihood options to meet community needs and to reduce pressure on forest/ rangeland resources in Bamyan, Badghis, Ghazni, Kunar and Paktiya provinces.
• Carry out identification, design, coordination and promotion of community-based forest management and alternative energy sources including biogas, biomass and efficient cooking and heating thermal devices, by providing in-depth country knowledge.
• Work with the Biodiversity/Perennial Crop Specialist and Alternative Livelihoods Expert to protect forest and promote the use of alternative energy sources for reducing pressure on natural resources.
• Formulate required technical documents based on consultation with project proponents and stakeholders.
• Develop manuals and usage guidelines of the alternative energy sources, thermal devices.
• Support and conduct forest inventory.
• Prepare and deliver technical trainings related to forest and land management. 

Job Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master) or University degree (Bachelor) in forestry, climate change, environmental sciences, rangeland, NRM;
• For advance degree at least five (5) years of relevant work experience in forestry and alternative fuel/energy diversification. Experience working with different stakeholders in developing countries;
• For university degree at least seven (7) years of relevant work experience in forestry and alternative fuel/energy diversification. Experience working with different stakeholders in developing countries;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari);
• National of Afghanistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills  

• Ability to effectively coordinate an extensive, multi-stakeholder project with results-based management;
• Good written communication skills, including in emergency settings;
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to deliver results within deadlines;
• Experience organizing stakeholder meetings or workshops at national and provincial level;
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with other staff/colleagues from different cultural backgrounds as well as with line departments, counterparts, and other stakeholders at the province level;
• Previous experience working with international organizations, including INGOs, bilateral or multilateral agencies, and UN agencies is desirable;
• Proficient in Microsoft Office package.

Submission Guideline

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 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 additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/  

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered.

Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.

Vacancies will be removed from the recruitment portal at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date. We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org  

 Female applicants are highly encouraged to apply.

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

Functional Area

Natural Resource Management

Countries

Apply Now