Land Monitoring Technical Support

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has a mission to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The FAO Sub-Regional Office for West Africa (SFW) focuses on addressing security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, nutrition, agriculture, and rural development priorities in West Africa, working with a multidisciplinary team of experts across various sectors. The organization operates in 15 member countries of ECOWAS and 17 member countries of the Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS).

Job Overview:
The position of Land Monitoring Technical Support is crucial for the TCP/SFW/4008 project, which aims to enhance regional technical capacities for sustainable land monitoring and development in West Africa. The incumbent will be responsible for coordinating land cover and land use activities, particularly in Ghana, under the guidance of the FAO Representative and the Technical Officer of the Geospatial Unit. This role requires collaboration with national and regional stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of project activities, including data collection, training, and knowledge sharing. The incumbent will also contribute to the development of technical guidance documents and support the design of training programs related to land monitoring.

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, providing technical support in GIS and Remote Sensing, organizing and implementing project activities, ensuring proper documentation and archiving of project information, conducting needs assessments, supporting the organization of meetings and workshops, raising awareness among decision-makers, providing technical assistance for land cover legends development, contributing to the development of training materials, supporting field data collection, and assisting in satellite imagery classification and dataset development for Ghana. The incumbent will also be responsible for populating the FAO Land Cover Legend Registry and assisting in other project-related tasks as needed.

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, GIS, and remote sensing applications is required. Additionally, candidates must have a working knowledge of English (level C), and knowledge of French is advantageous. Candidates should also demonstrate competencies in results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing.

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 considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in spatial data handling and analysis, satellite data processing and management, as well as GIS and remote sensing applications. Experience working in international organizations and on projects supporting developing countries is highly desirable. Familiarity with programming languages such as R and Python for GIS/Remote Sensing, as well as experience with cloud-computing platforms like SEPAL and Google Earth Engine, is also beneficial.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English (level C) is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of French is considered an advantage, and candidates with limited knowledge (level B) of both languages may also be considered favorably.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must ensure that their higher educational qualifications are obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment will be subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.