Land Degradation (LD) and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Specialist

Description

• Job TypeFreelance
• Experience5 Year+
• Min Salary$1,000+

The Project entitled "INTEGRATED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (INRM) IN THE PRODUCTIVE, NATURAL AND FORESTED LANDSCAPE OF NORTHERN REGION OF CAMBODIA (FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION COMPONENT)" is looking for a Land Degradation (LD) and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Specialist.

I. Position Information
- Job Title: Land Degradation (LD) and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Specialist
- Report to: Project Director and Project Management Board
- Contract Type: National Consultant (NC)
- Duty Station: Phnom Penh
- Expected Places to Travel: Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces
- Contract Duration: Task-1 (20 days) from April- September 2024 and Task-2 (10 days) from December 2024 to February 2025

II. Background
Cambodian forests are intimately linked to agriculture and in-land fisheries, and to maintaining the sustainability and productivity of both these sectors. Services provided by forest ecosystems include regulation of local water-circulation, mitigation of droughts and flash foods, and reduction of waterway sedimentation. Forests are, therefore, a key factor in national development, and their sustainable use could provide considerable benefits to our country and her people. The majority of our rural population are subsistence farmers, 75% of these, depend on access to natural forest resources for essential products, energy and food, particularly in times of hardship. Forests also provide household opportunities for diversification, supplementary income, and employment created by forest product-based enterprises.

The challenges faced in managing the forests in a sustainable manner are inherently linked to opportunities in socio-economic development. These are outlined below initially focusing on macro-level country issues and then focusing on more specific forest related challenges which encompassed forest contribution to poverty alleviation, livelihoods and the economy; climate change will affect forest based livelihoods, sectoral land-use planning, illegal activities and weak collaboration, forest conflicts, limited of capacity and knowledge, Forest degradation, suitability of management models and Financing and degraded farmland of local communities.

To achieve sustainable forest management, community livelihood enhancement and conservation of habitats and biodiversity set out in the National Forest Program, and other related forest program, substantial financial and technical support combined with capacity building of stakeholders are important through bilateral, multilateral assistance and contribution from virous sources to address challenges in the management of forest resources and conservation of biodiversity. A number of Activities prepared in the Integrated Natural Resource Management in Productive, Natural and Forested Landscape of Northern Region of Cambodia (INRM project) are consistent with strategic implementation program of the National Forest Program. The Implementation of a number of activities and sub-activities of the project will contribute to the achievement of targets and indicators in the National Forest Program.

The objective of grant proposal is to enhance community forestry based natural resource management to improve protection, restoration and conservation of production forest which contribute to habitat connectivity, biodiversity conservation and livelihood of local community in the northern plains of Cambodia. It is in line with the component 2 of INRM project- effective integration of PAs and surrounding riparian and multiple use landscape in Northern Cambodia and outcome 2-the selected protected areas and their surrounding production landscape effectively mapped to ensure biodiversity conservation on a sustainable basis while safeguarding livelihoods and ecosystem services and mainly contribute to the three outputs of INRM project namely Output 2.2: Management plans for targeted PAs developed and operationalized Output 2.3: Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) programs established and co-managed by community. Output and 2.4: Degraded farmlands identified and SLM measures to restore soil fertility and improve land productivity adopted.

III. Scope of Work:
Under supervision and overall guidance of the Project Management Board (PMB), the Land Degradation (LD) and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Specialist will work closely with the Project Coordinator, project technical field assistants, targeted local communities forestry and/or CPAs, and local competent authorities to review, assess and propose degraded farmland for pilot sites in selected provinces, and, finally, to assess and document the progress, challenges of agricultural land degradation and rehabilitation.
The work will support the Output 2.4: Degraded farmlands identified and SLM measures to restore soil fertility and improve land productivity adopted, which include the following activities:
• Activity 2.4.3: Identify a few farmer fields (totally 100ha) within the pilot sites as exemplars to test and demonstrate specific approaches to restore soil fertility and move towards environmentally sound production; and
• Activity 2.4.10: Monitor and share lessons learned on the pilots for rehabilitation of degraded agricultural land for replication elsewhere.


IV. Duties and Responsibilities
The Land Degradation (LD) and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Specialist will execute duties and responsibilities bellow:
Task-1:
• Conduct reviews of characteristics and types of degraded farmlands;
• Lead consultations with local stakeholders including PDA officers, farmers, NGOs, and local authorities to develop key criteria assessing farmland degradation;
• List the degraded farmlands identified (about 400ha);
• Prioritize the most applicable/suitable farmer fields in selected provinces (about 100ha, potential group of farmers, agricultural products, to carry-out management approaches
Expected deliverables and delivery date:
• A list the degraded farmlands identified and based on the reviews of characteristics and types of degraded farmlands (about 400ha) (April-June 2024);
• A study report on the selected degraded land (about 100ha) to carry-out management approaches, including most applicable/suitable farmer fields in selected provinces, potential group of farmers, and agricultural products (July 2024).
Task-2:
• Review the practices of sustainable land management and land degradation rehabilitation based on the developed workplan and yearly plan of operation of the land rehabilitation;
• Review progress reports and other reports prepared by consultants;
• Lead consultations to compile lessons learned, success and challenges of the implementation of degradation rehabilitation in coordination with project team and relevant stakeholders;
• Prepare report on the assessment of implementation and documentation;
• Perform other tasks as necessary;
Expected deliverables and delivery date:
• A report on the assessment and compilation of practices of sustainable land management and land degradation rehabilitation and lessons learned, success and challenges of the implementation of degradation rehabilitation (February 2025).

V. Recruitment Qualifications
- Education: At least Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Agriculture, Soil Science, Environment, Biodiversity, or a related field.
- Experiences:
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in soil study, agricultural land degradation and sustainable land management in Cambodia;
• Experience with GEF/UNDP procedures will be an advantage.
- Competencies:
• Very strong grantees or recipient grants orientation;
• Strong expertise in soil fertility, farmland degradation, and sustainable land management;
• Excellent skills in the usage of computers and software, including ArcGIS, Google Earth Engine (GEE), Microsoft Office applications;
• Display sensitivity and adaptability to different cultures, genders, religions, races, nationalities and age groups;
• Good team player, self‐starter, has ability to work under minimum supervision and maintain good relationships;
• Willingness to travel to the field as required.
- Language Requirements: Excellent command of Khmer and English (both spoken and written).

VI. How to Apply
Interested individual should submit a cover letter, CV and support reference no later than March 29, 2024 (5:00 PM) to the Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity (DWB), Forestry Administration.
Address: Hanoi Blvd, Roung Chakr Village, Sangkat Kouk Khleang, Khan Sen Sok Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity (DWB), The Institute of Forest and Wildlife Research and Development (IRD).
And / or email to: sot*******@gmail.com ចុចដើម្បីផ្ញើអ៊ីម៉ែល/Click To Send Email. Contact: (+855) 017592xxx ចុចដើម្បីតេ/Click To Call, Mr. Hort Sothea, Deputy Director of the Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity (DWB).
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview.