Overview
The Natural Resources Management Specialist will lead technical work in land and soil analysis, support climate-resilient agricultural interventions, and contribute to evidence-based planning and funding proposals.
Key Responsibilities
- Review and assess existing datasets including soil maps, land degradation assessments, and climate risks.
- Conduct integrated landscape diagnosis, including soil fertility and climate variability.
- Identify, map, and characterize land degradation and restoration hotspots.
- Develop and update climate-responsive agro-ecological zoning systems.
- Design and implement land suitability analyses for priority production systems.
- Develop and validate site and AEZ suitability classifications.
- Support the identification of optimal land-use combinations under climate change scenarios.
- Support spatial zoning and targeting for land use and investment planning.
- Conduct targeted soil fertility assessments and develop restoration packages.
- Prepare technical guidelines and intervention choice matrix.
- Produce GIS-based land/crop suitability maps and spatial analysis.
- Develop AEZ-specific planning and land-use guidelines.
- Facilitate stakeholder consultations and validation workshops.
- Support the preparation of concept notes and project proposals for climate finance mechanisms.
- Facilitate technical consultations and validation workshops with stakeholders.
- Contribute to knowledge management by documenting methodologies and lessons learned.
- Perform any other related duties as may be requested by the supervisor.
Required Experience
- Minimum of ten (10) years of experience in applications of soil sciences, remote sensing for monitoring agricultural processes and/or agro-ecological zones shifts and intensification, land resources evaluation and/or other natural resources studies.
- Demonstrated experience working with farmer organizations, cooperatives, and MSMEs.
- Climate Finance and Resource Mobilization: Knowledge of climate finance mechanisms (e.g., GCF, GEF, Adaptation Fund) and experience in developing concept notes and funding proposals is desirable.
- Prior experience working with FAO or similar TA projects is an asset.
Qualifications
• An Advanced degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Agricultural Science, GIS, Remote Sensing, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Evaluation or other relevant field of Natural Resources Science; or the equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
