SENIOR TECHNICAL ADVISER

Organizational Setting

FAO Bangladesh assists the Government to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition, develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. It contributes to the development of FAO’s field programme projects in the country and implements them in the sectors of food security, agriculture and rural development.

Bangladesh has prioritised the elimination of its DDT stockpiles in the national implementation plan (NIP) for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) management ratified by Stockholm Convention in 12.3.2007 and entered into force in 10.6.2007. Among the POPs present in Bangladesh the POP pesticides, and obsolete pesticides and their wastes are major concern in Bangladesh. Pesticides are mainly used for protection of crops from pest and insect attacks and diseases while of them DDT was used for the vector control of malaria. A huge stockpile of DDT in Chittagong and some significant quantities in other places and obsolete pesticides and their wastes were reported to endanger the human health, aquatic and the environment as a whole. FAO thus with the Government of Bangladesh took the initiative undertake a project for elimination of those pesticides and promote safer alternatives. Farmers use significant amounts of pesticides without proper information about their impacts and use. While some of these pesticides have been banned worldwide including in Bangladesh, DDT is still used illegally for some purposes such as for the preservation of dried fish, protection of crops and control of mosquitoes.

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, guidance provided by the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), the technical backstopping of HQ technical unit, in coordination with Department of Environment and other associated agencies, the CTA will lead the implementation of the project, be responsible for the day-to-day management of all technical aspects of the project and supervising international and national consultants to ensure the delivery of quality technical outputs.

This project addresses the elimination of stockpiles of POPs pesticides and wastes in Bangladesh and the reduction of risks from on-going illegal uses of POPs pesticides in crop production, food processing and public health protection which pose immediate threats to human health, biodiversity and the environment, including inland and coastal waters. One of the outputs to this CPF objective is to develop the capacity for policy, strategy and programme formulation on sustainable natural resources management and environmental protection through identification and promotion of proper and safer alternative methods. Proper management and monitoring of pesticides contamination directly contributes to the Sixth Five Year Plan of Bangladesh.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Ensure overall soundness and accountability of project on POP pesticides risk reduction in Bangladesh including environmental awareness, education and capacity building;
• Supervise, oversee, and monitor day-to-day tasks of project team and, when necessary, in close coordination with National Project Director (NPD), oversee and troubleshoot issues for the Project Management Unit established;
• Oversee the preparation of Annual and Quarterly Progress Reports (APR, QPR) and Annual and Quarterly Work plans (AWP, QWP), budget, 6-monthly Project Progress Reports and GEF annual Project Implementation Review Reports (PIR), ensure the standard quality of FAO-GEF reporting documents and submission deadlines, and verify the content of standard project reporting documents prior to internal clearance and submission with PIC recommendations to the PSC for clearance;
• Manage the project monitoring system tracking output and outcome indicators as established in the project's results matrix;
• Facilitate and support/participate in the regular FAO’s project supervision/oversight mission and Mid-Term Review and Terminal Evaluation of the project in close cooperation with Monitoring and Evaluation expert;
• Represent, project at meetings and workshops, including inception and validation meetings, Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings, consultation meetings with project stakeholders;
• Assist in the recruitment of the national and international consultant/staff, their deployment within the project, oversee their activities and the procurement of services and equipment in compliance with FAO-GEF rules and guidelines and work plan and budget;
• Work closely with the NPD, project executing agencies and other national counterpart personnel to implement the project activities as planned
• Facilitate the inception workshop of the project and finalize the inception report;
• Assist the NPD and the other national counterpart personnel in elaborating a training programme to the national staff assigned for the implementation of the project activities;
• Provide technical support to PMU on the supervision of all the technical activities related to all components of the project and participate in meetings with FAO, the partner institutions and the Project Implementation Committee (PIC);
• Prepare, in collaboration with the NPD and NPE/Coordinator, periodic progress reports and terminal report of the project for submission to FAO and the Government of Bangladesh.
• Ensure and facilitate that the ESIA, ESRMP and EM are properly done in time and supports for capacity development of the relevant organization for accomplishing these are provided;
• Ensure regular site visits and inspections at project implementation sites during various implementation stages (e.g. Safeguarding, packaging, transportation and shipment of DDT stockpile at MSD in Chittagong for disposal); demonstration activities under component 3 in other areas of Bangladesh, etc.;
• Oversee performance and quality of services provided by the contracted companies in charge of demonstrating the Environmental Safe Management of Empty Pesticide Container to guarantee the quality and consistency of the reports and deliverables.
• Train national team in specific areas such as inventory, environmental assessment, safeguarding and support to executing agencies.
• Support the FAO Representative in strengthening effective working relationships with national, regional and international partners, including appropriate liaison and synergies with GEF Operational Focal Point, Ministries, UN agencies, International Financial Institutions in the country, and other local institutions;
• Assist in any other tasks under the project at the instruction/advice of the FAOR/Project Steering Committee (PSC).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree preferably PhD in chemical engineering, industrial chemistry, agricultural chemistry, environmental management, agrochemical waste management, biology or related field;
• Knowledge of results-based management and at least 15 years working experience in the field of chemical risk assessment and in the projects related to the implementation of the Stockholm convention on POPs or in the disposal of hazardous chemicals;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Chinese).

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering Others

• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to understand POP pesticides risk reduction in Bangladesh including environmental awareness, education and capacity building
• Ability to understand technical issues pesticides risk reduction
• Ability to FAO-GEF rules and guidelines and work plan and budget;
• Maturity, initiative, tact, high sense of responsibility and multi-cultural attitude
• Essential experience on disposal of POPs or obsolete pesticides;

• Comprehensive knowledge of POPs and/or POP pesticides and the related conventions such as Stockholm Conventions on POPs, Basel Convention, Rotterdam convention etc.
• Previous experience in the implementation or supervision of projects related to the management.