Job Posting: 04/Feb/2026
Closure Date: 25/Feb/2026, 4:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit: NSP
Job Type: Staff position
Type of Requisition: Professional
Grade Level: P-3
Primary Location: Italy-Rome
Duration: Fixed-term: two years with possibility of extension
Post Number: 2010919
CCOG Code: 1H01
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
*The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.*
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- **FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture**
- **Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply**
- **Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values**
- **FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination**
- **All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks**
- **All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality**
- **FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.**
*FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.*
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for *better production*, *better nutrition*, *a better environment,* and *a better life*, leaving no one behind.
**Organizational Setting**
The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) contributes to FAO's work by supporting countries to transition to sustainable crop production systems, which *produce more with less*, through *optimization and minimization*. This requires the integration and harmonization of all appropriate crop production policies and practices to both optimize productivity and minimize the systems' environmental footprints and thereby eradicate hunger and malnutrition while preserving natural resources.
The NSPMD team, one of the six teams in the Division, contributes to the division's overarching goal with a programme of work through which it provides advice, technical support, and guidance to countries on the sustainable management of locusts and transboundary plant pests and diseases. The Team operates FAO's Desert Locust Information Service that uses the latest geo-spatial technologies in a geographic information system (GIS) to monitor the weather, environmental conditions, and locust infestations daily and analyses a combination of field data from national survey and control teams, remote sensing imagery, and models to provide forecasts and early warning for effective planning and implementation of required measures.
The post is located in the Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases Team (NSPMD), at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.
**Reporting Lines**
The Agricultural Officer (Locust Monitoring and Forecasting) reports to the Senior Agricultural Officer/Team Leader, NSPMD.
**Technical Focus**
Management of FAO's global Desert Locust early warning and forecasting system, enabled by GIS, to collect and analyze sundry meteorological and locust infestation data to provide forecasts and relevant advice to vulnerable countries.
**Key Results**
Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.
**Key Functions**
- Researches and analyses technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.
- Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages.
- Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and provides technical backstopping to field projects.
- Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes and databases.
- Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams; collaborates with other divisions and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.
- Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Member Nations such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
- Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.
- Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.
**Specific Functions**
- Manages the Desert Locust Information Service, including by assessments and forecasts of Desert Locust breeding and migration, and the preparation of locust situation assessment reports, bulletins and warnings.
- Conducts research to improve the locust early warning, monitoring, forecasting and reporting systems, including through the use of appropriate models and remote sensing technologies.
- Designs, plans, organizes and evaluates training courses on new and existing methods of surveys, reporting, forecasting and control for Desert Locusts.
- Provides advice to countries and partners on Desert Locust control programmes, and their requirements, including for processing and sharing information among Desert Locust Control Units in neighboring and other countries.
- Cooperates with the Desert Locust Regional Commissions' Secretariats and national locust control units, including to improve data collection and reporting and to provide technical support as required.
- Provides relevant advice, including on the logistics and funding, for the design, establishment, operation, and evaluation of Desert Locust surveys and monitoring systems in the field.
- Provides guidance and training to the Desert Locust information officers of the regional Desert Locust Commissions and the national Desert Locust Control Units.
- Backstops field operations by national Desert Locust Control Units, which may include monitoring and early
- warning, and rapid response systems.
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**CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING**
**Minimum Requirements**
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture-related GIS, pest monitoring and early warning systems, or related disciplines.
- Five years of relevant experience in plant pest modelling and prediction systems, such as locust monitoring and information management, in an international work setting.
- Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
**Competencies**
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
**Technical/Functional Skills**
- Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
- Extent and relevance of experience in locust biology, ecology, and locust information management and monitoring systems.
- Extent and relevance of experience in advanced digital tools and systems, geographical information systems, remote sensing, data analysis, pest modelling and forecasting
- Ability to cooperate with the officials of national governments, intergovernmental organizations, and other partner institutions and networks
- Excellent written and oral communications skills and ability to analyse technical data and write clear, concise reports.
- Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
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**GENERAL INFORMATION**
- Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
- FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
**CONDITIONS OF SERVICE**
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
- Dependency allowances
- Rental subsidy
- Education grant for children
- Home leave travel
- 30 working days of annual leave per year
- Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
- International health insurance; optional life insurance
- Disability protection
FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
- elements of family-friendly policies
- flexible working arrangements
- standards of conduct.
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**HOW TO APPLY**
- To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
- Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
- Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
- Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
- Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
- Incomplete applications will not be considered
- Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
- Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
- Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
- We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: **https://fao.service-now.com/csp**
**FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT**
