Dutystation: Beirut, Lebanon
Functional responsibilities
The purpose of this assignment is to provide specialized technical expertise in agriculture, agroforestry, and sustainable land use management to support the planning, design, and implementation of integrated forest and landscape management activities under the project. The Agriculture and Land Use Expert plays a key role in ensuring that productive land uses within and around forest landscapes are managed sustainably and in a manner that contributes to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, soil and water conservation, and the long-term socio-economic well-being of local communities. Fire risk management considerations will be integrated into these activities.
This role is central to ensuring that all agriculture-related interventions—from the integration of agroforestry systems into Forest Management Plans (FMPs) to the implementation of low-impact agricultural practices near forests and woodlands on the ground—are designed and executed with a robust scientific and technical foundation. The expert will ensure that these interventions align with national policies, global environmental commitments, and the needs and aspirations of local communities while supporting the project’s broader goals of wildfire risk management, sustainable forest management and ecosystem restoration.
The scope of the assignment includes the integration of agroforestry and sustainable agricultural practices into FMPs; provision of technical guidance on soil conservation, erosion control, and water management; development and promotion of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) to reduce pressure on timber resources and diversify local livelihoods; and support for the restoration of soil cover and fertility in forested areas/areas with trees affected by fires through organic amendments and cover cropping.
The expert will also contribute to the preparation, technical review, and updating of project documentation, including tender documents, technical specifications, bills of quantities, and design drawings, to ensure technical consistency and compliance with project requirements and standards. The expert will support tendering and procurement processes, participate in the inspection and acceptance of goods and services for implementation activities, and contribute to periodic progress, technical, and financial reporting.
In addition, the expert will engage closely with key stakeholders, including government agencies, local communities, and implementing partners, to ensure that sustainable land use interventions in and around forests and woodlands are aligned with broader conservation and development objectives while fostering community ownership and capacity. This will involve conducting community-based training on agroforestry systems, soil conservation techniques, sustainable water management, fire risk management including management of agricultural waste and NWFP development to enhance knowledge and skills at the local level.
By combining technical expertise in agriculture and land use with field-based operational support and stakeholder engagement, the Agriculture and Land Use Expert ensures that the project delivers lasting environmental and socio-economic benefits, enhances sustainable land management, and strengthens the resilience of forest landscapes and the communities that depend on them.
Under the overall guidance of the Project Manager and in close coordination with the Forestry and Ecosystem Management Expert, the Agriculture and Land Use Expert (Retainer) will have the following functional responsibilities:
Task 1: Integration of Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture:
Support the design and integration of agroforestry systems and sustainable low-impact agricultural practices in farm communities living near forests (e.g., agricultural waste management; composting; grazing in forests to reduce underbrush) within Forest Management Plans (FMPs) and landscape restoration activities.
Provide technical guidance on balancing productive land use with forest conservation and biodiversity goals while ensuring alignment with national policies and community needs.
Task 2: Soil Conservation and Erosion Control:
Advise on soil conservation strategies, including erosion control measures and slope stabilization techniques in high-risk areas to maintain and enhance soil cover and health.
Develop technical recommendations for soil fertility restoration, including the use of organic amendments, composting, and cover cropping in degraded lands in the vicinity of forests and forest lands affected by fires.
Task 3: Water Resources Management:
Recommend sustainable water management practices that align with ecosystem and agricultural water requirements, including rainwater harvesting feeding hill lakes and artificial ponds, efficient irrigation practices to reduce water use, and integrated watershed management approaches to maximize regulatory ecosystem services.
Task 4: Development of Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs):
Identify and support the sustainable development and management of NWFP value chains (e.g., medicinal plants, honey, wild fruits, mushrooms) to reduce pressure on wood (timber/wood fuel) resources while providing livelihood diversification for local communities.
Advise on market linkages and sustainable harvesting practices and quotas in alignment with biodiversity and ecosystem conservation objectives.
Task 5: Community Engagement and Capacity Building:
Engage with local communities, cooperatives, and other stakeholders to build awareness and capacity on agroforestry practices, soil and water conservation, sustainable NWFP management, and climate-resilient agriculture.
Design and deliver training sessions and materials to enhance community knowledge and ownership of sustainable land use practices in and around forests and woodlands.
Task 6: Policy Support and Advocacy:
Contribute to the development and review of policies and guidelines that harmonize agriculture with forest conservation goals, providing technical insights to strengthen natural resource governance frameworks related to or impacting forests.
Task 7: Monitoring, Reporting, and Adaptive Management:
Contribute to the design and implementation of monitoring systems to assess the effectiveness of sustainable land use interventions on land productivity, biodiversity, and forest health.
Analyze data and prepare technical inputs for progress, quarterly, ad hoc, and financial reports to inform adaptive management and project planning.
Task 8: Technical Documentation and Procurement Support:
Assist in the preparation and technical review of tender documents, including technical specifications, design drawings, and bills of quantities for agroforestry and land management activities.
Support procurement processes, participate in bid evaluations, and assist in the inspection and acceptance of goods, services, and works to ensure compliance with project standards.
Task 9: Field Implementation Oversight:
Provide technical oversight during the implementation of agroforestry, soil and water conservation, and NWFP development activities to ensure adherence to technical guidelines, environmental safeguards, and quality standards.
Identify and address operational challenges in collaboration with implementing partners and local stakeholders.
Task 10: Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:
Maintain close coordination with relevant government agencies, local communities, implementing partners, and project staff to ensure coherence and alignment of activities with broader project objectives.
Contribute to capturing and disseminating lessons learned and best practices in sustainable land use and agroforestry to enhance project impact and support scaling efforts.
The incumbent will be responsible for preparing and finalizing the below deliverables:
The consultant is expected to submit one report or technical output for each assigned task, as follows:
Task 1: Agroforestry Integration Report
Provides recommendations and technical designs for integrating agroforestry systems into Forest Management Plans (FMPs), ensuring alignment with biodiversity conservation, community needs, and climate resilience objectives.
Task 2: Soil Conservation and Restoration Plan
Details soil conservation and erosion control strategies for high-risk and forest areas impacted by fires and areas adjacent to forests, including slope stabilization techniques, organic amendments, and cover cropping approaches to restore soil fertility.
Task 3: Water Management Strategy Note
Outlines sustainable water management practices to be applied within forest landscapes and adjacent agricultural areas, including water harvesting, efficient irrigation methods, and watershed management recommendations.
Task 4: Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFP) Value Chain Development Strategy
Provides a roadmap for the sustainable development of NWFP value chains, including priority species, sustainable harvesting guidelines, and market linkage recommendations to support livelihood diversification.
Task 5: Community Engagement and Training Materials
Includes records of stakeholder consultations, summaries of community capacity-building sessions, and training materials related to agroforestry, soil and water conservation, and NWFP management.
Task 6: Policy Support and Advocacy Note
Summarizes contributions to policy development and advocacy efforts, with recommendations for harmonizing sustainable agriculture practices with forest conservation frameworks.
Task 7: Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Presents findings from monitoring the effectiveness of sustainable land use practices, including land use change analysis, soil and forest health indicators, and recommendations for adaptive management.
Task 8: Technical Procurement Package
Includes technical specifications, design drawings, bills of quantities (BoQs), and cost estimates for procurement of goods and services related to agroforestry, soil conservation, and land management activities.
Task 9: Technical Review & Validation Report
Provides technical feedback, validation notes, and recommendations on outputs from consulting firms and implementing partners related to agroforestry and sustainable land use activities.
Task 10: Implementation Support & Inspection Report
Documents field visits, inspection, and verification of goods, equipment, and on-ground activities to ensure technical compliance with project specifications and quality standards.
Education/Experience/Language requirements
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agroforestry, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, or a closely related field is required.
A first-level university degree in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
Experience:
Strong command of English and Arabic. French is a plus.
TOGETHER, WE BUILD THE FUTURE
UNOPS – an operational arm of the United Nations – supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by successfully implementing its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.
Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development.
We are proud of our people and embrace diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunities. Our workforce brings together approximately 160 nationalities, represented by over 5,000 UNOPS personnel as well as some 7,800 personnel recruited on behalf of our partners. Spread across 80 countries from a range of backgrounds, and languages and have different gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities.
We encourage women and candidates from underrepresented groups in UNOPS to apply. These include candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.