Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultant
Job Description
Job Posting Organization:
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency that was established to eradicate rural poverty and hunger. IFAD's mission is to invest in rural people, promoting inclusive, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods by financing programs and projects that enhance agricultural productivity, improve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, strengthen rural economies, and contribute to sustainable rural transformation. IFAD operates globally, financing investment projects implemented by governments and development partners across various regions, including Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Near East, North Africa, and Europe. The organization covers a wide range of thematic areas such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, natural resource management, climate adaptation, biodiversity, rural infrastructure, food systems, rural finance, value chains, nutrition, youth employment, and gender equality. IFAD's commitment to utilizing geospatial technologies has become integral to its operations, supporting project identification, investment planning, beneficiary targeting, climate and environmental analysis, implementation support, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, corporate reporting, and knowledge generation.
Job Overview:
The Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultant position is designed for highly qualified, experienced, and motivated individuals who will work as individual consultants to provide specialized technical services across IFAD's global portfolio. The role involves connecting qualified geospatial professionals with consultancy assignments and divisions within IFAD that require specialized expertise in geospatial technologies. Consultants will support IFAD throughout the entire project cycle, which includes project identification, design, implementation support, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, knowledge generation, and corporate reporting. The position emphasizes the importance of geospatial methodologies, corporate standards, digital tools, and analytical products while promoting innovation and the use of geospatial information throughout the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultant include providing technical expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis to support evidence-based planning, implementation, and evaluation of IFAD operations. Specific assignments may involve spatial analysis for project identification, targeting, and design, multi-criteria suitability analysis for agricultural and rural investments, watershed and landscape analysis, hydrological and terrain analysis, oceanic and sea water analysis, accessibility and rural connectivity analysis, spatial statistics, risk and vulnerability mapping, climate risk assessments, and the development of geospatial indicators. Additionally, the consultant will develop and apply Earth Observation methodologies for project implementation and monitoring, including time-series analysis, crop monitoring, irrigation performance assessment, and land degradation assessment. The role also encompasses geospatial data engineering, programming, and automation, where the consultant will develop scalable geospatial workflows, automate processing, and manage spatial databases. Furthermore, the consultant will be responsible for cartography, visualization, and spatial data management, producing high-quality geospatial products and managing corporate datasets. The consultant will also support the development of innovative digital geospatial solutions and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment activities through geospatial analysis. Finally, the consultant will provide technical advisory and capacity development support to IFAD staff, governments, and implementing partners.
Required Qualifications:
Applicants must demonstrate advanced knowledge and professional experience in one or more of the following areas: Geographic Information Systems, spatial analysis, raster and vector processing, cartographic design, spatial modeling, terrain analysis, hydrological analysis, network analysis, geostatistics, coordinate reference systems, and metadata standards. Additionally, expertise in Earth Observation, including optical remote sensing, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), machine and deep learning for Earth Observation, time-series analysis, and environmental monitoring is required. Proficiency in programming and data science, particularly with Python, R, Google Earth Engine, and various geospatial software and platforms, is also essential. Experience in international financial institutions, United Nations agencies, and sectors relevant to IFAD's operations is considered an asset.
Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Geography, Geomatics, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or another closely related discipline. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) combined with one year of relevant professional experience may be considered for Junior Consultant opportunities.
Experience:
The level of experience required varies by position: Senior Level requires 12 or more years of relevant professional experience; Mid-Level requires 8-11 years; and Entry-Level requires 2-7 years of relevant professional experience. Candidates with a first-level university degree and one year of relevant experience may be considered for junior roles.
Languages:
Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is mandatory. Knowledge of additional languages such as French, Spanish, or Arabic is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.
Additional Notes:
The application process includes submitting a cover letter that outlines qualifications and relevant professional experience. Applicants should indicate the areas of expertise they wish to be considered for and provide details about their technical experience, types of projects supported, geospatial methods used, and specific roles and responsibilities. Successful candidates will be included in the Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultant Roster after completing the vetting process. Placement on the roster does not guarantee employment or consultancy assignments, and remuneration will be based on the consultant's qualifications, experience, technical expertise, and assignment complexity.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency that was established to eradicate rural poverty and hunger. IFAD's mission is to invest in rural people, promoting inclusive, sustainable, and resilient livelihoods by financing programs and projects that enhance agricultural productivity, improve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, strengthen rural economies, and contribute to sustainable rural transformation. IFAD operates globally, financing investment projects implemented by governments and development partners across various regions, including Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Near East, North Africa, and Europe. The organization covers a wide range of thematic areas such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, natural resource management, climate adaptation, biodiversity, rural infrastructure, food systems, rural finance, value chains, nutrition, youth employment, and gender equality. IFAD's commitment to utilizing geospatial technologies has become integral to its operations, supporting project identification, investment planning, beneficiary targeting, climate and environmental analysis, implementation support, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, corporate reporting, and knowledge generation.
Job Overview:
The Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultant position is designed for highly qualified, experienced, and motivated individuals who will work as individual consultants to provide specialized technical services across IFAD's global portfolio. The role involves connecting qualified geospatial professionals with consultancy assignments and divisions within IFAD that require specialized expertise in geospatial technologies. Consultants will support IFAD throughout the entire project cycle, which includes project identification, design, implementation support, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, impact assessment, knowledge generation, and corporate reporting. The position emphasizes the importance of geospatial methodologies, corporate standards, digital tools, and analytical products while promoting innovation and the use of geospatial information throughout the organization.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultant include providing technical expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis to support evidence-based planning, implementation, and evaluation of IFAD operations. Specific assignments may involve spatial analysis for project identification, targeting, and design, multi-criteria suitability analysis for agricultural and rural investments, watershed and landscape analysis, hydrological and terrain analysis, oceanic and sea water analysis, accessibility and rural connectivity analysis, spatial statistics, risk and vulnerability mapping, climate risk assessments, and the development of geospatial indicators. Additionally, the consultant will develop and apply Earth Observation methodologies for project implementation and monitoring, including time-series analysis, crop monitoring, irrigation performance assessment, and land degradation assessment. The role also encompasses geospatial data engineering, programming, and automation, where the consultant will develop scalable geospatial workflows, automate processing, and manage spatial databases. Furthermore, the consultant will be responsible for cartography, visualization, and spatial data management, producing high-quality geospatial products and managing corporate datasets. The consultant will also support the development of innovative digital geospatial solutions and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment activities through geospatial analysis. Finally, the consultant will provide technical advisory and capacity development support to IFAD staff, governments, and implementing partners.
Required Qualifications:
Applicants must demonstrate advanced knowledge and professional experience in one or more of the following areas: Geographic Information Systems, spatial analysis, raster and vector processing, cartographic design, spatial modeling, terrain analysis, hydrological analysis, network analysis, geostatistics, coordinate reference systems, and metadata standards. Additionally, expertise in Earth Observation, including optical remote sensing, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), machine and deep learning for Earth Observation, time-series analysis, and environmental monitoring is required. Proficiency in programming and data science, particularly with Python, R, Google Earth Engine, and various geospatial software and platforms, is also essential. Experience in international financial institutions, United Nations agencies, and sectors relevant to IFAD's operations is considered an asset.
Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Geography, Geomatics, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or another closely related discipline. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) combined with one year of relevant professional experience may be considered for Junior Consultant opportunities.
Experience:
The level of experience required varies by position: Senior Level requires 12 or more years of relevant professional experience; Mid-Level requires 8-11 years; and Entry-Level requires 2-7 years of relevant professional experience. Candidates with a first-level university degree and one year of relevant experience may be considered for junior roles.
Languages:
Excellent command of English (written and spoken) is mandatory. Knowledge of additional languages such as French, Spanish, or Arabic is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.
Additional Notes:
The application process includes submitting a cover letter that outlines qualifications and relevant professional experience. Applicants should indicate the areas of expertise they wish to be considered for and provide details about their technical experience, types of projects supported, geospatial methods used, and specific roles and responsibilities. Successful candidates will be included in the Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultant Roster after completing the vetting process. Placement on the roster does not guarantee employment or consultancy assignments, and remuneration will be based on the consultant's qualifications, experience, technical expertise, and assignment complexity.
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We are not liable for any decisions or actions taken by applicants in response to this job listing. By applying, you agree that all application processes, interviews, and potential job offers are managed exclusively by the listed employer or organization.
Beware of fraudulent job offers. Do not provide sensitive personal information or make any payments to secure a job.