National AFOLU GIS/MRV Specialist

Organizational Setting Papua New Guinea is implementing the Green Climate Fund REDD+ Results-Based Payment (GCF-RBP) Pilot Programme to support the National REDD+ Strategy and strengthen national systems for forest and land-use monitoring, measurement, reporting and verification, REDD+ nesting and benefit sharing. Reliable geospatial, activity and supporting data are required for national reporting, programme implementation and coordination among the Climate Change and Development Authority (CCDA), Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA) and other relevant agencies. FAO is supporting CCDA and national counterparts in strengthening the Satellite Land Monitoring System (SLMS) and Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV ) functions to improve national climate reporting, REDD+ implementation, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) progress monitoring, and readiness for future climate finance initiatives. Priority areas include support for the AFOLU components of the Biennial Transparency Report (BTR) and National Communication, REDD+ Forest Reference Level (FRL) processes, NDC AFOLU progress monitoring and other national AFOLU MRV requirements, as well as readiness for ART-TREES, Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) and a possible future GCF REDD+ Results-Based Payment programme (GCF RBP2). The assignment will also maintain a practical GIS function within the CCDA SLMS Laboratory. This includes forest benchmark mapping and annual forest monitoring, improvement of land-use, commodity, plantation and road-network data, deforestation and degradation driver analysis, risk mapping, and spatial support for REDD+ nesting and benefit sharing. Related spatial datasets may also contribute to European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)-oriented mapping, food-security analysis and El Niño-related climate-risk work. Where large-scale data production requires additional resources, the Specialist will support technical specifications, coordination, QA/QC and integration of externally produced datasets. Under this programme, the AFOLU GIS/MRV Specialist will be based primarily at the CCDA Satellite Land Monitoring System (SLMS) Laboratory and will provide hands-on technical support to strengthen GIS, remote sensing and geospatial data management for national forest monitoring and AFOLU MRV systems. Reporting Lines Under the overall and direct supervision of the FAO Chief Technical Adviser and the technical guidance of the International Forest and Land Use Monitoring Expert (or the relevant international technical expert designated by FAO), the Specialist will support the operation and strengthening of national AFOLU GIS and MRV functions through the CCDA Satellite Land Monitoring System Laboratory. Technical Focus Strengthen national Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems through the application of GIS, remote sensing and spatial data management and QA/QC for forest and land-use monitoring. The assignment will contribute to national climate reporting, REDD+ implementation and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) progress monitoring, while supporting forest monitoring, land-use mapping and geospatial analysis. The Specialist will also provide technical coordination, capacity development and knowledge management to strengthen institutional and technical capacities of government counterparts and partner institutions. Tasks And Responsibilities AFOLU MRV Reporting, NDC Progress Monitoring and Technical Support Compile and organize spatial, activity and supporting data required for the AFOLU components of the BTR and National Communication, REDD+ FRL processes and other national AFOLU MRV requirements. Prepare maps, statistics, tables, metadata and technical inputs for national MRV reporting under the guidance of relevant technical experts. Support the monitoring of NDC AFOLU actions, indicators, implementation progress and related evidence. Maintain MRV data inventories, tracking tables, reporting-period records and supporting documentation. Support coordination and technical review with agencies contributing to national AFOLU reporting. SLMS Laboratory Operations, GIS/MRV Systems and Data Management Support the maintenance of inventories of SLMS datasets, software, equipment, user accounts and other technical resources. Support data organization, naming conventions, version control, backup, access arrangements and archiving, in coordination with authorized CCDA and ICT personnel. Prepare and update GIS/MRV workflows, standard operating procedures, processing records and data-management notes. Provide day-to-day GIS, remote-sensing and data-management support and training to CCDA officers and relevant counterparts. Coordinate the receipt, QA/QC, documentation and integration of datasets produced by consultants, service providers and partner institutions. Forest Cover Benchmark Mapping and Annual Forest State Monitoring Support the preparation, organization and QA/QC of raster-based Forest Cover Benchmark Map and Annual Forest State datasets. Compile and review data relevant to forest/non-forest classification, canopy cover, forest change, degradation, mangroves, plantations and observation quality. Support the preparation of 2025 forest state data and related 2023–2024 retrospective and 2026 onward monitoring datasets. Prepare classification notes, masks, confidence information, metadata, processing logs, maps and summary outputs. Support the use of forest-monitoring datasets for the BTR, FRL, ART-TREES, TFFF, GCF RBP2 and related national forest-monitoring needs. Land-Use, Commodity, Plantation and Road Network Data Development Compile, clean and improve existing land-use, commodity, plantation and road-network spatial datasets. Use Collect Earth, Earth Map, satellite imagery and other tools to support priority-area interpretation of land use, commodity type, plantation establishment or conversion year, road type and development period. Support the development and QA/QC of time-series road-network datasets, including flagging of uncertain features and possible river-channel misclassification. Prepare attribute tables, metadata, confidence information, accessibility layers and data-limitation notes. Support the preparation of technical specifications, technical coordination, QA/QC and SLMS integration where large-scale data production is undertaken through separate contracts. Driver Analysis, Risk Mapping and REDD+ Nesting and Benefit Sharing Compile forest-change, land-use, commodity, plantation, road-network, concession, settlement and accessibility datasets for driver analysis and risk mapping. Analyze spatial relationships between deforestation/degradation and potential drivers, including roads, logging access, agriculture, plantations and settlements. Support the preparation of risk factors, risk strata and allocation-support layers for REDD+ nesting and benefit-sharing planning. Prepare spatial summaries for provinces, districts, LLGs or other agreed units to support REDD+ nesting and benefit-sharing planning. Prepare maps, tables and technical notes documenting input data, methods, assumptions, uncertainties and limitations. ART-TREES, TFFF and GCF RBP2 Readiness and Knowledge Management Review MRV data and reporting requirements for ART-TREES, TFFF and a possible future GCF REDD+ Results-Based Payment programme (GCF RBP2). Support the preparation of TFFF Eligibility Area, Eligible Forest Cover and other readiness-related maps and datasets. Compile MRV data packages, evidence inventories, data-gap assessments and recommended work plans for ART-TREES and GCF RBP2 preparation. Support the review and updating of approved MRV content, maps, reports, metadata and technical links on the national REDD+ website. Prepare user guidance, technical notes, training materials and handover records to support institutional knowledge management and continuity. CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements University degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Forestry, Geography, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Geomatics, or a related discipline A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in GIS, remote sensing, geospatial analysis, spatial database management, forest and land-use monitoring, and/or Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) MRV systems Working knowledge of English National of Papua New Guinea FAO Core Competencies Results Focus Teamwork Communication Building Effective Relationships Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills Extent and relevance of experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, spatial analysis and geospatial data management. Extent and relevance of experience in forest and land-use monitoring, spatial database management, and the application of GIS and remote sensing technologies for natural resource management. Familiarity with Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, forest monitoring methodologies, and geospatial data quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC). Experience supporting national climate reporting, REDD+ implementation, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) monitoring or similar environmental programmes is highly desirable. Demonstrated experience in preparing maps, spatial datasets, technical documentation and reports, and coordinating with government institutions and development partners. Proficiency in at least one desktop GIS platform, such as ArcGIS or QGIS, together with practical experience in relevant remote-sensing or geospatial platforms, such as Google Earth Engine, Collect Earth, Earth Map or equivalent geospatial tools. Experience in capacity development, knowledge management and providing technical support to multidisciplinary teams and government counterparts is an asset. Selection Criteria Demonstrated technical knowledge and practical experience in GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis and geospatial data management. Proven ability to analyse, manage and interpret geospatial data to support forest and land-use monitoring and environmental reporting. Experience supporting AFOLU MRV systems, REDD+ initiatives, climate change mitigation programmes, or other natural resource management projects. Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality technical outputs, including maps, spatial databases, reports and documentation. Ability to work effectively with government institutions, technical partners and multidisciplinary teams. Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Additional Information FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing) Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted 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/ For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Job Posting 13/Aug/2026 Closure Date 03/Sep/2026, 4:59:00 PM Organizational Unit FAPNG - FAO Office with Programme Officer in Papua New Guinea Job Type Non-staff opportunities Type of Requisition NPP (National Project Personnel) Grade Level N/A Primary Location Papua New Guinea-Port Moresby Duration 12 months with possibility of extension based on satisfactory performance and funding availability Post Number N/A IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device 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 person 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’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.