Job Description

Title: Water Management Specialist

Company Name: International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ Bachelor's degree in water management, water resources, or irrigation with 5 years of relevant experience. Master's degree holders will be preferred.

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 7 year(s)

Job Context:
∎ Water Management Specialist-Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity
∎ IFDC is an independent non-profit organization that combines innovative research, market systems development, and strategic partnerships to spread sustainable climate-smart agricultural solutions for improved soil health, food security, and livelihoods around the world.
∎ IFDC is recognized by the Government of the People`s Republic of Bangladesh as an International Organization. IFDC established its Asia Divisional Office in Dhaka Bangladesh and enjoying diplomatic status under the same Government declaration.
∎ IFDC is recruiting for the above project in Bangladesh.
∎ The Feed the Future Bangladesh Climate Smart Agriculture Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will work in 21 Feed the Future Zone of Influence (ZOI) Districts targeting 900,000 farmers and 2,485 private sector enterprises including 10-20 big companies. The Activity`s purpose is to: facilitate farmers, firms, and public sector actors to increase the sustainable productivity and diversity of smallholder farmers through a more resilient and inclusive food and agriculture production system in Bangladesh. The goal is to sustainably improve food security and the nutritional status of the rural population, decrease the incidence and severity of poverty among the rural poor, and better adapt agriculture systems to meet the threats and challenges linked to climate change-related events, thus transforming farming systems through climate-smart agriculture (CSA). Mainstreaming women and inclusive development presents a significant opportunity. Meaningful participation of women is essential to purpose and goal achievement.
∎ The Activity will result in marked improvements in smallholder farmers` access to and use of high-quality CSA technologies and practices as well as CSA inputs, to improve the productivity of target crops such as rice, pulses, legumes, and vegetable, and other suitable crops. More than 200 model CSA villages will be developed in the ZOI districts with a village farm area group seeking advice on how to set up and operate an agriculture cooperative to serve area farmers with CSA input supply and sale of harvested crops by linking farmer-members to buyers. These 200 villages will be advertised as model villages and gradually spread all over the country. Farmers` incomes will increase, bolstering food and nutrition security.
∎ The three intermediate results (IR) of the Activity are:
∎ IR 1: Increased availability of climate-resilient varieties of target crops through seed system strengthening.
∎ IR 2: Enhanced market delivery of climate-adapted innovations of agro-inputs, including seeds, practices, and climate information services.
∎ IR 3: Increased smallholder farmer application of climate-smart agriculture technologies and practices.
∎ IFDC is seeking to recruit a qualified and self-motivated national Water Management Specialist to fill the position, who will be part of the technical team of the above Project, to be based in Dhaka.
∎ Supervision and Team Collaboration
∎ The Water Management Specialist is supervised by and reports to Deputy Chief of Party. She/ he works in close collaboration with project colleagues, other IFDC staff and colleagues from other consortium members.
∎ Position and Duty station
∎ The Water Sector Management Specialist is a national position with a duty station in the IFDC main project office in Dhaka.
∎ ID: 20121055
∎ Full-Time/Regular

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Position Summary
∎ The Water Management Specialist will participate in the selection of the appropriate sites, and in conducting the field surveys of the project sites in which the incumbent will be responsible for identifying water management-related CSA technologies and practices suitable for those locations. He/she will be responsible for data collection and analysis of this survey and suggest appropriate technologies for appropriate sites for use by the farmers involving both public and private sector extension agents. The water Management Specialist will report to Deputy Chief of Party and the Chief of Party. He/she will be responsible for devising a strategy and program to ensure proper use of CSA technologies and ensuring working with the technical team to develop and deliver effective strategies and annual work plans. Will lead sustainable water management use and crop production in the development and refinement of CSA technologies and practices. He/she will assist the training officers and other related technical experts to lead farmers on the efficient use of water and practices the same as part of the farming system and provide backstopping support on the delivery of these.
∎ Duties and Responsibilities
∎ Lead and assume overall responsibility for water resource-related aspects of the project such as selection of appropriate CSA technologies for appropriate locations, data collection, analysis, and verification.
∎ Draft sketches of irrigation schemes, describe and assess existing water resources, supply and demand, and management.
∎ Assess the irrigation performance of the selected sites.
∎ Evaluate and support initiatives to promote CSA irrigation strategies such as AWD, and other CSA technologies proposed in the project locations in consultation with the Extension and Agri-Machinery specialists. Opportunities to promote CSA water management systems, such as AWD irrigation (which can save water and reduce the environmental footprint of paddy systems), will be assessed in paddy systems involving irrigation service providers in a multi-water user situation.
∎ Evaluate in diversified crop agriculture, surface water retention schemes, drip irrigation, and fertigation and introduce/and/or scale as appropriate.
∎ Assess and promote where appropriate efficiency gains in irrigation water use by smallholders with fragmented land, more appropriate and cost-effective conveyance methods like light portable flexible lay pipes, and in-situ storage of water.
∎ Assess the viability of small-scale solar irrigation (where appropriate) and introduce and scale. Identify appropriate organizations such as International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for potential collaboration in this regard.
∎ Assess the water distribution system among the farmers, and outline the existence of any water conflict or future possible conflicts.
∎ Estimation of conveyance and water use efficiency; Water losses measurement for the selected irrigation schemes, and at the farm level.
∎ Propose recommendations for improving CSAA water management practices.
∎ Propose applicable on-farm interventions for command areas.
∎ Report assessment and recommendations as part of the progress reports.
∎ Prepare a plan of operations for water management improvements through the CSA technologies mentioned above.
∎ Assess local capacity for community-led implementation.
∎ Estimate crop water requirements for each of the four crops of the project.
∎ Assume responsibility for finalizing and submitting timely based Due Diligence Reports (DDR) to the Chief of Party.
∎ Any other work to be assigned by the COP/DCOP.

Additional Requirements:
∎ This position requires highly motivated and self-driven individuals with the following qualifications.
∎ Familiarity with industry-standard current measurement equipment.
∎ Demonstrated experience of more than 7 years in transferring knowledge and capacity-building support to smallholder farmers on CSA technologies
∎ Experience with USAID and/or other donor-funded projects.
∎ Documented proficiency in spoken and written English and Bengali.
∎ Able to perform work independently in his/her own field of specialization, equipped with knowledge and experience of multiple disciplines.
∎ Practical experience in the analysis of hydrological data.
∎ Sound organizational skills and ability to prioritize and deliver assignments in a timely manner often under severe time pressures.
∎ Demonstrated initiative in developing practical approaches that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the project in the water sector.
∎ Strong inter-personnel skills and commitment to work in a team-oriented, multi-cultural environment.
∎ Demonstrated skills in effectively collaborating with local governments, research institutions, development partner projects, local organizations, private companies, and other partners.
∎ Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally in small audience and large audience settings.
∎ Team player, at ease in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
∎ The position requires intensive field travel (up to 50% of the time) in the target ZOI districts in Bangladesh.
∎ Ability to interact effectively with a geographically dispersed multicultural team composed of international and national personnel
∎ Ability to work independently under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
∎ Act in accordance with and defend the best interests of IFDC. GOB and the donor.
∎ Ability to work independently, under pressure to meet tight deadlines with quality output.
∎ Strong network in local and national communications and ability to find cost-effective means of promoting the project's achievements.
∎ Strong sense of integrity and personal commitment to the achievement of goals.
∎ Consistently maintains focus and perseveres in the face of obstacles, inspiring others to do the same.
∎ Strong interpersonal and team working skills with the ability to maintain effective work relationships.
∎ Excellent communication skills with the ability to express ideas clearly, logically, and effectively.
∎ Anticipates key issues in work and identifies creative and practical solutions.
∎ Great organizational skills and attention to detail in the operationalization of administrative and finance tasks.
∎ Honors all commitments made to colleagues and partners.
∎ Can work in a multicultural environment, be open-minded and seek to understand.

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 15 Jun 2023

Company Information:
∎ 25 May 2023
∎ International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Category: NGO/Development

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