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.
The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) enables the transition to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable plant production and protection through optimization and minimization. This requires the integration and harmonization of all appropriate crop production policies and practices in order to increase production in a sustainable manner so as to eradicate hunger while preserving the natural resources and environment for future use.
The position is located within the Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases Team (NSPMD), one of the six teams in the Division. NSPMD provides advice, technical support and guidance to countries on the sustainable management and control of transboundary plant pests and diseases and locusts.
The assignment may be located either in the Team at FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy, or in any locust-affected country, during locust recession periods or crises (emergency response).
Reporting Lines
The incumbents will report to the Senior Officer and Team Leader in NSPMD.ย
Technical Focusย
Management of transboundary plant pests and diseases through a combination of surveillance, early detection, forecasting, early warning, contingency planning, rapid
response and promotion of environmentally sound management and control techniques.
The purpose of this call is to populate a roster and to identify expertise in one or more of the following areas of locust management:
i. Locust control operations;ย
ii. Locust survey, monitoring and reporting;ย
iii Locust early warning, monitoring and forecasting systems;ย
iv. Contingency planning, and control campaign planning and management;
v. Implementation of Environment, Health and Safety Standards and monitoring of impact of control operations;ย
Tasks and responsibilities
The incumbents will support the work of the NSPMD Team in one or more of the below aspects:
โข ย ย Support the preparation and the implementation of the locust preventive and contingency plans;
โข ย ย Provide training to national staff involved in locust control campaign;
โข ย ย Assess overall locust management (institutional, technical, human resources and equipment, operational) and formulate
recommendations to improve it;
โข ย ย Support or enhance the locust early warning, monitoring, forecasting and reporting systems;
โข ย ย Coordinate locust control campaigns;
โข ย ย Coordinate daily organization of locust survey and control operations - or assists in their coordination;
โข ย ย Ensure the logistics of locust campaigns (in particular, develops and implements a monitoring system for human and
equipment resources);
โข ย ย Prepare/review of the technical specifications of the material and equipment for the survey and control operations of
locusts;
โข ย ย Asses the compliance of locust management equipment with set specifications;
โข ย ย Support in the implementation of the Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) and monitoring and assessment of the impact of locust treatments on the environment and non-target organisms;
โข ย ย Provide needed training on methods of assessing environmental incidents and collecting and preparing samples from treated areas for residue analysis;
โข ย ย Provide needed support and guidance on pesticide use/management issues in relation to the Desert Locusts control.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย University degree in in agriculture/agronomy, entomology or plant protection with emphasis on migratory plant pests; pest monitoring and early warning systems; or any related field to the various above listed tasks;
โข ย ย A minimum of two years of relevant experience (for category C) or five years (for category B) in one or more of the above
listed locust management areas, including in developing countries;
โข ย ย Working knowledge of Arabic, English or French (C Level).ย
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 Skillsย
โข ย ย Work experience in more than one location or area of work
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in locust bio-ecology, management and control
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of experience in implementing locust projects
โข ย ย Familiarity with Geographical Information Systems
โข ย ย Previous working experience with FAO or other Locust control organizations or commissions may be considered an asset
Selection Criteria
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โข ย ย Limited knowledge of one of the other three Chinese, Russian, Spanish (B Level) is considered an asset.