Angola : International Consultant in Agro-Economy

Land degradation is a serious threat to ecosystem services and livelihoods in Angola. The GEF-funded project “Sustainable Land Management in target landscapes of Central Angola” GCP/ANG/055/GFF attempts to address this problem with the objective of reversing negative land degradation trends in selected landscapes in Central Angola by combining sustainable and rational approaches to planning, decision-making and land-use management with participatory approaches to build the capacity of local stakeholders. Interventions are foreseen in three main components. The project’s Component 3 will focus on identifying and developing suitable options for Sustainable Land Management (SLM) finance and on improving national capacity for mobilizing resources to be invested in SLM.

The general objective of the assignment is to supervise the methodology and execution of activities under the project’s Component 3. These will include a study (and respective report) on the costs of land degradation for the productivity of rural economic sectors in the Angolan provinces of Huambo and Benguela; the development of a mechanism to monitor costs/benefits of soil degradation/recovery; identification and development of effective context-specific finance mechanisms for promoting SLM through value-chain development; implementation of fundraising campaigns, lobbying and advocacy initiatives and other resource mobilization strategies linked to the mentioned finance mechanisms in targeted municipalities; provision of practical training to different types of beneficiaries in resource mobilization for SLM-related initiatives, entrepreneurship, and in assistance to projects to test and adjust funding mechanisms.

This position will be home-based, part-time, and will focus on the methodological guidance and supervision of a national consultant executing tasks on the ground related to the mentioned activities. Total duration of assignment is expected to be approximately 2 years, with a decreasing level of input as the national consultant becomes more autonomous in implementing planned activities and the adopted approach is improved and refined throughout project implementation.

Tasks and Responsibilities:
The main responsibilities of the consultant will include supervision, methodological guidance and quality control of the outputs of a full-time national agro-economist in the execution of the following tasks:
- Conduct a study and produce a report on the costs of land degradation for the productivity of rural economic sectors in the Angolan provinces of Huambo and Benguela. This will include a description of the main economic activities in rural areas, characterizing their current and future productivity, establishing a relationship with the current state and trends of land degradation in these two provinces; an evidenced-based analysis of the impact that land degradation has for each of the main productive activities and a comparison of soil productivity in degraded areas with areas of the same agro-ecological type that have not suffered land degradation;
- Carry out an exploration of options for improving productive activities in ways that promote SLM and also of options to develop and diversify local rural economies through value-chain development directed towards the support of SLM, including sustainable forestry and the use of non-timber forest products, agro-processing and strategies for accessing markets;
- Estimate the quantitative impact of alternative options supportive of SLM for local livelihoods and for the regional economy of the two target provinces;
- Develop a mechanism to monitor costs/benefits of soil degradation/recovery to be linked to geospatial parameters being monitored by the Technical Unit developed under Component 1;
- Identify and develop effective and context-specific finance mechanisms for promoting SLM with an emphasis on the diversification of local livelihoods and value-chain development;
- Provide practical training in fundraising campaigns and advocacy initiatives and other resource mobilization strategies linked to the mentioned finance mechanisms for SLM-related initiatives;
- Provision of training in entrepreneurship, and in assistance to projects to test and adjust funding mechanisms developed and/or introduced by the project;
- Link the Monitoring & Evaluation Plans of projects assisted or funded through Component 3 with the parameters of land degradation being monitored by the Technical Unit in support of national LDN process;
- Contribute to the preparation of a comprehensive report with the results of each case study including thorough documentation which can be utilized for further training;
- Support the drafting of policy recommendations for decision-makers to translate the results into applicable policy frameworks;
- Provide the project management team with an internal evaluation regarding further capacity building needs of national beneficiaries.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- A minimum of a Master’s degree in relevant discipline(s) such as environmental economics, geography, agricultural economics or similar area of expertise.
- Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) for Consultants. Working knowledge of English is sufficient in the case of PSA.SBS.
- A minimum of 5 years substantive working experience related to natural resource management (NRM) and value chain development;

FAO Core Competencies
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Competencies
- Substantial knowledge of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) and how the different steps of value chains may be used to promote SLM and vice-versa;
- Demonstrated substantive understanding and knowledge on the concept of ecosystem services and their relationship to SLM;
- Demonstrated experience in undertaking agro-economic studies and research related to productivity and soil management;
- Demonstrated knowledge in the effective facilitation of complex multi stakeholder processes;
- Knowledge and experience in NRM monitoring, including methodologies on monitoring and assessing land use change, land productivity and soil organic carbon;
- Knowledge of GIS and remote sensing applied to natural resources monitoring and assessment at (sub)national level is an added advantage; and
- Experience in working with international organisations.
- Strong coordination and facilitation skills;
- Portuguese is a strong asset;