Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.ย
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.ย
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:ย
โข ย ย advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAOโs mandate;
โข ย ย provide technical assistance and deliver core services;ย
โข ย ย assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;ย
โข ย ย position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation;ย
โข ย ย ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management. ย
At FAO Pakistan Office, FAO, with funding from the Green Climate Fund, is implementing a project called Transforming the Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management in Punjab and Sindh Provinces (GCP /PAK/146/GCF). The project aims to develop the countryโs capacity to get and use the information it needs to cope with the impacts of climate change on agriculture and water management. Under its Component 1, the project aims to establish an evapotranspiration-based water management system by developing and deploying an Evapotranspiration (ET) monitoring system, build capacity to manage the system, and strengthening the network of agrometeorological stations in the project area by upgrading and installing ET measurement instruments. Detailed project activities can be found from the approved funding proposal available on the Green Climate Fundโs website: (https://www.greenclimate.fund/document/transforming-indus-basin-climate-resilient-agriculture-and-water-management) FAO Pakistan has procured and installed 3 eddy covariance flux towers (here after flux instruments) at the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) in Multan, the research farm of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA) in Jalalpur Pirwala, and Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam (SAU) and considering procurement of one more set in 2025.ย
Reporting Lines
Under the supervision and guidance of FAO Representative in Pakistan and guidance from the Technical Advisor of the project and the Lead Technical Officer of the project, and in close coordination and consultation with international and national experts in water, governmental counterparts, and implementation partners.
Technical Focus
Hydrology, evapotranspiration measurement, and eddy covariance flux tower. The consultant is expected to contribute to the management of the flux instruments and capacity building of the host organizations of the flux instruments
Tasks and responsibilities
โข ย ย Regularly review the status of the flux instrument management including the landcover management around the instruments and datasets generated from the flux instruments through desktop work and filed mission to the installation sites.ย
โข ย ย When necessary, conduct analysis such as footprint analysis to identify the error/uncertainty sources in the datasets and provide advice to modify the instrument, landcover management and/or data collection at the installation sites.
โข ย ย Advise the host organizations on the flux instrument management, land cover management, and the data collection around the instruments. ย
โข ย ย Provide hands-on training online and in-person during a mission to the host organizations on the flux instrument instruments and farm management, data processing, gap filling, and error identification/modification.ย
โข ย ย Review the reports submitted by host organizations on their data and management of the flux instruments.ย
โข ย ย Develop an end-of-assignment report, summarizing the achievement (or non-achievement) of the consultant against this TOR and also recommendations to the project on successful and sustainable evapotranspiration measurement through the flux instruments and relevant potential application of the flux instrumentsโ data. ย
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements ย
ย ย
โข ย ย Masterโs degree in agro-meteorology, meteorology, agronomy, hydrometeorology, hydrology, environmental sciences, environmental studies or closely related fieldย
โข ย ย 10 years of professional experience in technical work and/or teaching in evapotranspiration, including minimum 5 years of experience in installing and/or using eddy covariance flux towers for evapotranspiration measurement
โข ย ย Working knowledge (level C) of Englishย
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
โข ย ย Experience in installing, using and providing capacity building on eddy covariance flux tower in low- or middle-income countries are highly desirable. ย
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing training events ย
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in writing clear and concise technical documents
Selection criteria:
โข ย ย Minimum 10 years of experience in working for project(s) or course works that provide capacity building on eddy covariance flux towers, including experience in providing training sessions by himself/herself.ย
โข ย ย At least 3 scientific publications using the evapotranspiration (ET) data from eddy covariance flux towers or energy-balance based in-situ ET measurement instruments in internationally recognized journals (Tier 1/Q1 journals)