Senior Groundwater Management Specialist

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) 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.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level. 
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices: 
•    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
•    provide technical assistance and deliver core services; 
•    assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation; 
•    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; 
•    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

This position is SBIV – SC9 Level and will be based in Lahore, Pakistan.

This position is envisioned under GCF funded “Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management” project. The approved funding proposal which describes activities under the project is available at https://www.greenclimate.fund/document/transforming-indus-basin-climate-resilient-agriculture-and-water-management

Modelling of climate change scenarios for Pakistan shows that if agriculture and water management in the Indus River Basin continue along a ‘business as usual’ pathway, increasing temperatures and changes in precipitation will pose serious threats to the future livelihoods of farmers and to the Pakistani agricultural sector. In response to this challenge, the GCF funded project, “Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management”, will help shift Pakistan and Indus Basin agriculture from its current situation of high vulnerability toward an alternative paradigm wherein better information and farming practices will significantly increase resilience to climate change. To do this, the project will develop the country’s capacity to get and use the information it needs to cope with the impacts of climate change on agriculture and water management by putting in place state-of-the art technology (Component 1); building farmers resilience to climate change through skills, knowledge and technology (Component 2), and creating a wider enabling environment for continuous adaptation and expanded sustainable uptake of climate-resilient approaches (Component 3).

The Specialist is expected to contribute to groundwater related activities under Components 1 of the project, specifically on Activities 1.1.3  (Support the development of local aquifer management plans and participatory aquifer management at field level) as described below.  
Activities 1.1.3: Using the results of the aquifer delineation and assessment as well as the management plan (Activity 1.1.2), this activity will implement field-based and participatory groundwater monitoring and management trials starting in Year 2 of the project. This activity will be combined with Subcomponent 2.3 as a part of Climate and Business Field Schools (CBFSs) for some selected groups. Farmer Groundwater Schools (FGWSs) will be used to engage farmers and other groundwater users across selected aquifer units in the participatory monitoring of aquifer groundwater levels and salinity profiles. Participants in the field schools will be trained in participatory hydrology monitoring, including provision and training in the use of piezometers and associated capacity building in data collection, recording and analysis. Field school groups will be supported to develop ‘groundwater management action plans’ with specific provisions for coping with the extreme events predicted to increase in intensity and frequency with climate change, particularly with regard to preserving the critical buffering function of aquifers. Linkages will be made between the field schools and staff in the provincial Agriculture and Irrigation Departments throughout the implementation process. In addition, the groundwater modelling and feasibility mapping of project districts carried out under Activity 1.1.2 will serve to guide future investments in aquifer management that can maintain the climate change buffering capacity of functional aquifer units and reduce the risks to agricultural production and associated livelihood.

The results of the aquifer assessments undertaken in Activity 1.1.2 will be used to develop local aquifer management plans in the districts of Khanewal and Dera Gazi Khan in Punjab, and Umer Kot and Sanghar in Sindh. 
In addition, the specialist will liaise and coordinate with the water accounting, groundwater monitoring and agro-meteorology teams responsible for the ET monitoring system in Activities 1.1.1, 1.1.2 and 1.2.1 in relation to the operational accounting systems. This is to ensure coherent communication and exchange of water resource information and water management plans with  groundwater user communities

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision and guidance of FAO Representative in Pakistan and direct supervision of Technical Advisor, technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officers of the project, International Water Expert and Senior Water Management Specialist, and in close coordination and consultation with project staff, governmental counterparts, and implementation partners, the incumbent will undertake the following activities.

Technical Focus

Hydrogeology, water governance, community engagement, stakeholder consultation, weather, climate, Coordination.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Organize meetings, visits, and workshops related to groundwater participatory management among national, provincial and district level stakeholders and keep records of these events.   
•    Participate in meetings with local stakeholders and project teams to understand the groundwater-related conditions at the target areas (Sanghar, Umarkot, Khanewal and DG Khan) 
•    Develop training materials for participatory aquifer monitoring water-related training for farmers at the climate-water focused farmer field schools (hereafter water schools) and provide training to selected government and partner trainers through face-to-face training
•    Provide training to farmers at the water schools on participatory aquifer monitoring and water-related subjects. Also supervise partners providing water school sessions.   
•    Develop data collection template(s) and a data collection and record keeping guide in local language.  
•    Contribute to the development of Aquifer Management Plans for the 4 districts in collaboration with the national and international consultants. 
•    Perform other tasks related to participatory groundwater management under component 1 as requested by supervisor.
•    Support project-level coordination with the stakeholders in Lahore when requested by the supervisor

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Master’s degree in water management or natural resources management. Master’s degree in governance/sociology/community development is also accepted if the thesis or graduation project is related to water resources management, hydrogeology, engineering related to water, or similar field. 
•    12 Years of professional experience (11 years if the candidate has a PhD in a relevant subject) in water governance, hydrogeology, hydrology, water resources management or related field. 
•    Working knowledge of English
•    National of Pakistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Excellent skills in written and spoken English.
•    Sound knowledge of groundwater management is desirable.
•    Experience in working or coordinating with governmental organizations and engaging farmers in natural resources management is desirable 
•    Strong analytical and report writing skills in English;
•    Computer skills in Office Applications Including Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point;
•    Fluency in a local language(s) spoken in the 4 target districts is an asset.
Selection Crtieria
•    PhD is an asset.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• 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 additional employment opportunities 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. 

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

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
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• 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.

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