Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture, and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region.

In response to the growing needs of member countries, FAO and partners launched in 2013 the Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI) to support the countries of the NENA Region to cope with one of their most striking challenges: the pursuit of food and water security, for a sustainable social and economic development, under an unprecedented severe escalation of water scarcity. The WSI is a regional mechanism endorsed by the Arab Water Ministerial Council of the League of Arab States and aims at supporting existing regional strategies such as the Arab Water Security Strategy 2030. The WSI is supporting the NENA region countries to strategically plan their water resource management and allocation and adopt good practices to achieve water and food security.

In this regard, the FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa is developing a roster of experts on the following areas: (i) water accounting; (ii) irrigation efficiency and water productivity; (iii) water governance; and (iv) the water-energy-food nexus.

 

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Land and Water Officer/ the Delivery Manager of the Water Scarcity Initiative.

 

Technical Focus 

Support and contribute to the development and implementation of (i) projects and programmes, (ii) strategies and policies and (iii) provision of technical assistance to the Water Scarcity Initiative’s activities. FAO is looking for candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas of expertise:

•    Water management, water governance and policy, water economics and the Water-Energy-Food nexus, including:
–    Technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies on water governance and tenure and water policy.
–    Approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks related to water governance, policy, water economics and water tenure, in particular for groundwater.
–    Policy advice on water management, allocation, governance, tenure and rights.
–    Capacity development and knowledge sharing activities on issues related to water governance, policy, and economics.

•    Water productivity, water accounting and water auditing, including:
–    Water use efficiency in different agricultural practices; in particular for groundwater-based systems.
–    Water conservation/saving techniques.
–    Water accounting and auditing at different scales and using different approaches.
–    Water productivity assessments, including baseline (biophysical and economic), site level assessment, crop modelling (e.g., use of Aquacrop).
–    Evapotranspiration measurement and validation of remote sensing data.
–    Water-related infrastructure, utilizing the newest technologies on water harvesting and groundwater recharge, ensuring sustainable and climate change resilient water resources management.

•    Irrigation management, technologies, and modernization including:
–    Assessment of irrigation systems applied, and equipment used to reduce water use and/or increase water use efficiency.
–    Appropriate technologies for increasing irrigation efficiency.
–    Crop water requirements and irrigation scheduling.
–    Real water savings.
–    Institutional frameworks for efficient and sustainable irrigation water management.

The specialist will work in close coordination with the other members of the water Scarcity Initiative multidisciplinary teams. As such, she/he will be familiar with analytical methods and tools used for water policy evaluation and policy impact analysis. She/he will need to be familiar with policy advice efforts in an international development setting related to water scarcity issues.

 

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support the implementation of the activities of the Water Scarcity Initiative Programme.
•    Contribute to the development of technical products and support evidence-based policy reform processes.
•    Provide technical and policy advice to the Water Scarcity Initiative partner countries to analyze specific issues related to water scarcity.
•    Conduct analytical studies on specific water related issues.
•    Contribute to the drafting of actionable and high-quality policy recommendations, technical reports, and policy briefs.
•    Participate in, organize, or facilitate high-level policy meetings, roundtables or other events related to the water Scarcity Initiative.
•    Support capacity development activities targeting beneficiaries at the regional and national levels.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in natural resources management, hydrology, hydrogeology, hydraulics, water economics, or any related field.
•    Minimum seven years of relevant experience in project/programme management, strategies and policies, and provision of technical assistance.
•    Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

 

FAO Core Competencies

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

 

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in one or more location, preferably in the Near East and North Africa region, field positions are desirable.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the areas of expertise under the “Technical Focus” section.
•    Familiarity with the policy development processes in the NENA region.
•    Knowledge of current political, social, and economic conditions in Near East and North Africa countries, and ability to analyze the policy context at country level.
•    Experience in developing and drafting technical and policy reports and capacity development materials.
•    Experience in communicating with government officials and ability to present key results in concise and effective manner.
•    Familiarity with FAO and UN policy agendas is an asset.
•    Work experience in planning and organizing medium to large expert and intergovernmental meetings as well as capacity building workshops and online events.
•    Experience in the establishment and facilitation of technical networks.
•    Demonstrated ability to deliver results within deadlines