Overview
The role involves providing expertise in soil science to support the implementation of FAO's soils-related projects, focusing on areas such as soil spectroscopy, laboratory analysis, and soil fertility management.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the implementation of activities related to soil spectroscopy (GLOSOLAN-Spec).
- Provide technical support for the development of calibration models based on soil spectral data.
- Support soil spectroscopy and proximal sensing related capacity development programmes.
- Oversee the processing of soil samples for wet and dry chemistry analysis.
- Collaborate with project partners and laboratories to ensure accurate soil analysis results.
- Develop and implement quality assurance and quality control measures for soil analysis processes.
- Participate in capacity-building activities related to soil analysis and data management.
- Support the implementation of laboratory equipment procurement activities.
- Support the establishment and improvement of national soil laboratories and LIMS.
- Track progress and assess the quality of soil analysis and harmonization activities.
- Provide input to project monitoring and reporting frameworks for soil analysis and harmonization.
- Contribute to regular progress reports on soil analysis and harmonization activities.
- Communicate project outcomes and lessons learned related to soil analysis and harmonization.
- Establish and maintain relationships with project stakeholders, particularly national soil laboratories.
- Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among project partners related to soil analysis and harmonization.
- Support the implementation of activities in the Global Soil Laboratory Network (GLOSOLAN) work plan.
- Identify locally adapted soil management practices, including fertilizer use efficiency and formula fertilization.
- Promote the adoption of identified practices at national and local levels.
- Collaborate with other project team members to develop and implement integrated soil fertility management strategies.
- Support the establishment of field trials to test and validate prioritized soil management practices and fertilizer recommendations.
- Contribute to the development of national decision support systems incorporating soil management and fertility data.
- Assist in creating farmer applications for sustainable soil management and integrated soil fertility management.
- Participate in capacity-building activities related to soil management and fertility.
- Support the development of national capacities for fertilizer analysis, alternative nutrient sources, and fertilizer use policy.
- Track progress and assess the quality of soil management and fertility initiatives.
- Provide input to project monitoring and evaluation frameworks for soil management and fertility practices.
- Contribute to regular progress reports on soil management and fertility activities.
- Communicate project outcomes and lessons learned related to soil management and fertility.
- Establish and maintain relationships with project stakeholders, including government agencies, international organizations, and local communities.
- Facilitate collaboration and information sharing among project partners related to soil management and fertility.
- Collaborate with local partners, including extension services, farmer organizations, and educational institutions.
- Support the improvement of national extension services on soil fertility and fertilizer recommendation.
Required Experience
- One to four years of relevant experience for category C; five to nine years for category B; at least 10 years for category A relevant to sustainable soil management, soil fertility, laboratory analyses, soil information and data.
- Demonstrated experience of work with Member countries in terms of normative and technical work on soils.
- Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
- Extent and relevance of experience or knowledge of issues related to soil laboratory functioning and soil sample analyses or statistical analyses or sustainable soil management and agriculture (including forestry) and natural resources management in developing countries and in particular in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable agriculture and forestry in developing countries.
- Extent and relevance of experience in the formulation and implementation of projects related to sustainable soil management and knowledge of the Healthy Soils Facility will be an asset.
- Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation of technical and policy reports and capacity development materials.
- Extent of experience in organizing medium to large scale international technical meetings and conferences.
- Experience in the development of teaching/training materials is an asset.
- Experience in the establishment and facilitation of technical networks.
Qualifications
- Consultants: Master’s level degree in soil science, agriculture, environmental sciences, or a related field with specialization in soil science from an institution recognized on the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO list. A bachelor’s level degree and 2 years of relevant experience may be considered equivalent in certain circumstances.
- PSA: University degree in soil science, agriculture, environmental sciences, or a related field with specialization in soil science or specific technical specialization.
