Agriculture and Land Use Expert (Retainer)

UNOPS

The project will pilot activities in three (3) wildfire hotspots: Akkar, Minieh-Donniyeh, Aley-Shouf incl. areas from Metn-Baabda. The selection of these hotspots was made based on ranking of all 14 fire hotspots against a set of agreed criteria, including risk for forest fire events and land degradation; number of communities within the hotspot, history of forest fires; biodiversity and the level of security.

The project supports the efforts of the Government of Lebanon to manage (i) forest fire risks and actual occurrences in a more timely and effective manner; and (i) integrating forest fire risk considerations into the sustainable management of forest landscapes. This will be achieved by supporting policy changes, cross-sectoral collaboration at national and sub-national levels, gender-responsive capacity enhancement and knowledge sharing using and improving existing networks, including first responder networks, community-driven action groups, and social networks to fire risk early warning; and investments for forest landscape restoration (including tree planting, removal of invasive species, fire risk mitigation measures) as well as gender responsive evaluation and adaptive learning.

Component 2 is expected to be implemented by UNOPS through an output agreement signed with the Ministry of Environment.

Functional Responsibilities

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.