Land Monitoring Technical Support

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. The organization operates in over 130 countries and has a multidisciplinary team of experts working on various aspects of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and rural development. FAO's work is guided by its Strategic Framework 2022-31, which aims to support transformations towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 203

• The FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SFW) specifically focuses on addressing food security, nutrition, and agricultural priorities in the West African region, working closely with member countries of ECOWAS and CILSS to promote food and nutritional security and combat poverty.

Job Overview:
The position of Land Monitoring Technical Support is crucial for the successful implementation of the TCP/SFW/4008 project, which aims to enhance regional technical capacities for sustainable land monitoring and development in West Africa. The incumbent will play a key role in coordinating land cover and land use activities in Ghana, providing technical support in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing. This role involves collaborating with various stakeholders, including national partners and international consultants, to ensure effective knowledge sharing and capacity building in land monitoring practices. The incumbent will also be responsible for organizing training sessions, workshops, and meetings to foster collaboration among regional experts and decision-makers, thereby contributing to sustainable development initiatives in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Land Monitoring Technical Support include assisting in the regional coordination of land cover and land use activities under the TCP/SFW/4008 project, providing technical support in GIS and Remote Sensing, and organizing project-related meetings and workshops. The incumbent will ensure proper documentation and archiving of all project-related information, support the assessment of land cover and land use needs, and engage with stakeholders to raise awareness about land monitoring. Additionally, the role involves organizing training programs, developing technical guidance documents, and providing support in satellite imagery classification and data collection campaigns. The incumbent will also contribute to the development of national land cover datasets and assist in populating the FAO Land Cover Legend Registry with new products.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Sciences, GIS, Geography, Environmental Sciences, or a closely related technical field, with a Master's degree considered an asset. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in spatial data handling, satellite data processing, and GIS applications is required. Candidates should have a working knowledge of English (level C), and knowledge of French is advantageous. Additionally, candidates must be nationals of Ghana.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Agricultural Sciences, GIS, Geography, or Environmental Sciences. A Master's degree in a related discipline is preferred and may enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in the field, particularly in spatial data handling and analysis, satellite data processing, and GIS and remote sensing applications. Experience working with international organizations and on projects that support developing countries is highly valued, as is familiarity with cloud-computing platforms and programming languages relevant to GIS and remote sensing.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position, with a proficiency level of C. Knowledge of French is considered an advantage and may be beneficial for communication with regional stakeholders and partners.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must ensure that their educational qualifications are recognized by the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment will be subject to medical fitness certification, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. This position is likely to be full-time, and the specific contract duration has not been mentioned.