Organizational Setting

FAO is a longstanding partner of the Government of Armenia in supporting the transformation of the country’s agrifood systems through policy advice, institutional capacity development, investment planning, and field-level interventions. The Organization also contributes to Armenia's commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, while supporting implementation of the country's agricultural and environmental priorities.

Armenia is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the region. Its forests are highly sensitive to climate change, while its rural population is dependent on fuelwood to meet their energy demands. In November 2021, implementation of an eight-year project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) titled “Forest resilience of Armenia, enhancing adaptation and rural green growth via mitigation” commenced in partnership with the Ministry of Environment of the Government of Armenia and with additional co-financing from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Autonomous Province of Bolzano, WWF Armenia, and FAO. The Executing Entities (EEs) of the project are FAO and the Environmental Project Implementation Unit (EPIU) of the Ministry of Environment, with FAO responsible for overall implementation of the project, as well as for overseeing the work of EPIU.

This GCF project is the country’s first forestry-oriented funding proposal. It will increase the role of communities governing and managing natural resources through forest concessions and improved fuelwood management, timber production and non-timber forest products. This is a relatively new approach in Armenia and has the potential to act as a model for the entire country. The project will include an increase in the use of energy-efficient appliances in the private sector and rural households to decrease pressure on natural ecosystems.

In the framework of the project, staff capacity of Hayantar SNCO will be further developed in order to ensure high seedling survival in all planting operations of the project as well as to upgrade and sustainably manage degraded coppice forests.
In order to organize effectively the knowledge transfer to the Hayantar staff, a Junior National Forest Restoration Specialist will be recruited to follow up and backstop activities in the Sisian nursery as well as forest restoration sites. It is expected that the incumbent will deliver specific trainings to selected workers who will act as forepersons and coordinate the works in each of the sites selected for forest restoration investments. The selected workers will participate in a hands-on training (training of trainers), organized in Lori and Syunik Marzes, to learn the different planting techniques required to ensure high survival rates of seedlings, as well as silvicultural approaches to upgrade and sustainably manage degraded coppice forests employed by the project in the context of climate change.
The position is based in Sisian or Goris, with local travel to the project sites in Syunik Marz and other relevant areas (e.g. Lori Marz) as required.

Reporting Lines

The Junior National Forest Restoration Specialist works under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Armenia, the general oversight of the Country Programme Coordinator, and direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator alongside the technical guidance and supervision of the project’s Lead Technical Officer and National Senior Forestry Expert, in close cooperation with Project Team.

Technical Focus

• The incumbent should deliver hands-on training sessions to Hayantar employees and other stakeholders involved in the planting and coppice forest related management activities under the project.
• The incumbent should support FAO staff in conducting follow-up activities, backstopping and monitoring of planting activities and silvicultural operations in the field, mainly at the restoration sites in Syunik Marz.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conduct tree marking in compliance with the “selective upgrading” methodology.
• Support Hayantar SNCO and respective community-based stakeholders to select sites for “selective upgrading” in various consolidated communities in Syunik Marz and related tree marking at the selected sites, as well as in the subsequent stages of planning and implementing tree harvesting operations.
• Conduct on-the-job training for Hayantar SNCO and local community members on adaptive management measures (“selective upgrading”) in degraded coppice forest stands (knowledge sharing, “learning by doing”, discussions and feedback).
• Oversee day-to-day on-site technical implementation of silvicultural measures (tree harvesting operations) by the local workforce in degraded coppice forests following the “selective upgrading” instructions, as well as the implementation of tree planting work on restoration sites in Syunik Marz, assess the progress, identify challenges and provide recommendations for improvements as appropriate.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders to ensure proper implementation of silvicultural measures in degraded coppice forests and of tree planting activities on restoration sites.
• Follow up and backstop activities in the Sisian nursery based on the instructions provided by the international specialist and national expert on seedling production, or other relevant project staff.
• Provide guidance and technical support to address any issues related to adaptive management of degraded coppice forests and forest restoration as appropriate.
• Prepare concise field visit monthly reports documenting progress, technical observations, identified risks, corrective actions and agreed follow-up responsibilities.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree or secondary education preferably in forestry, natural resource management or a related field.
• 1 year of relevant work experience in the field of forestry and training organization.
• Working knowledge of English and Armenian
• National of Armenia

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience with methods and techniques in relation to forest and landscape restoration;
• Demonstrated ability to adopt new ideas;
• Demonstrated commitment to participatory and bottom-up approaches;
• Demonstrated ability to communicate, including advocating to government agencies;
• Experience in conducting trainings is an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION