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Organizational Setting
Mozambique’s forest and wildlife resources are threatened by deforestation, forest degradation and forest fires, mainly caused by shifting cultivation, illegal logging, poaching, and uncontrolled firewood and charcoal production. As a means to address such challenges, the Government of Mozambique has expressed a significant level of commitment and ambition to promote sustainable forest management, reduce deforestation and increase forest cover, while contributing to biodiversity conservation. Mozambique’s Forest Investment Plan (MOZFIP) provides a framework for channeling international support to the country’s commitment for forest sector reform and transformational change, through national-level activities to improve the enabling environment towards the aim of reduced deforestation and on-the-ground investments in two targeted landscapes (the Cabo Delgado and Zambézia provinces).
FAO’s technical and strategical assistance to MozFIP is provided in the framework of the project “FAO’s Technical and Strategic Support to the Implementation of MozFIP”.
The project focuses on five (5) components, namely:
- (i) Forestry sector 20-year vision, strategy and action plan transparently and participatory developed and underpinned by a revised institutional and policy framework;
- (ii) Transparency, accountability, equity and overall sustainability of forest production is ensured through revision of forest concessions institutional framework;
- (iii) National forest sector planning and management are enhanced based on relevant and accurate information and data available through a Forest Information System;
- (iv) National Directorate of Forest (DINAF) staff and other stakeholders are empowered and have the knowledge, skills and capacity to manage the national forest endowment based on best forest management principles and;
- (v) Project Monitoring and dissemination of results.
Reporting Lines
The consultant will work in close relationship with the project Chief technical Advisor and report to the FAO forest information specialist in the REDD+ /Forest monitoring team.
Technical Focus
The consultant will support the delivery of the third component of the project focused on the development and implementation of a Forest Information System for the Ministry of Land, Environment and Rural Development that contributes to enhance national forest sector planning and management by making relevant and accurate information and data available.
The Forest information system (FIS) should be developed through a modular approach including 4 main components:
- (i) forest licensing (centralization and management of data related to forest licenses);
- (ii) forest management planning (summary data to support decision making and planning);
- (iii) forest operation monitoring (data related to forest operations);
- (iv) and law enforcement (data on transgressions and from check point). The forest information system should be user-friendly and developed as Open Source, to facilitate external contribution and future development. It will include an on-line geospatial and public interface component and should be linked, as much as possible, to the existing relevant national information systems and databases.
Tasks and responsibilities
The main task of the consultant is to coordinate the development of the new Forest Information System (FIS) in Mozambique within MITADER. He/She will compile/assess the user requirements, provide recommendations on the FIS databases structure and contents, support and coordinate its development.
- Undertake an assessment of the needs and technical capacity of the potential users of the new system: consultation will be Held both in Maputo and in the different provinces ;
- Design a proposed structure for the system using appropriate technologies and develop a detailed work plan and cost analysis for the development and deployment of the system; study feasibility and utility to link to other national forest, tenure and rural infrastructure data management systems ;
- Support and oversee the development and testing of the system and database structures through a modular approach; ensure that all design aspects are addressed and control and security mechanisms are established. Provide professional leadership and work direction to the national consultants /contractors hired to develop the FIS or to populate the databases. Linkages to other systems will be established based on the feasibility study.
- Monitor and report on project progresses against plan, requirements and quality measures.
- Liaise with users on all aspects and during all phases of development and implementation.
- Identify the equipment to be purchased for the relevant national and decentralized offices to roll out the FIS.
- Prepare technical and user documentation for the system. Prepare training materials and detailed technical presentations.
Candidates will be assessed against the following
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced university Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Electric or Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or a related field, and desirable experience in Business Administration (for Consultants). (University Degree in the above fields for PSAs);
- Minimum 7 years of experience in forest information systems;
- Working knowledge of English and/or French and Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two, or of Arabic, Chinese or Russian.
FAO Core 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 developing complex business cases, benefit/cost analysis, project briefs and requirements documentation related to ICT solutions;
- Extent and relevance of experience in process mapping and business process reengineering in the area of corporate IT technology and solutions.