WATER & IRRIGATION / GIS SPECIALIST
Baghdad, Iraq
ARD, Inc. (http://www.ardinc.com) requests expressions of interest from qualified Water & Irrigation/ GIS Specialist consultants for USAID-funded activities intended to improve agricultural productivity and provide agricultural business development services to USAID beneficiaries in the 18 governorates in Iraq.
Background and Objectives
The program will promote economic diversification and job generation,
with an emphasis on the growth of the agriculture and agribusiness
(“agro-food”) sectors in the provincial, regional and sub-regional
economies. Improvements in the regional and sub-regional economies
and close collaboration and program coordination with the Iraq
Provincial Councils, Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and other
partners will contribute significantly to security and stability. The
program will facilitate linkages between and among farmers,
agribusinesses other small and medium-sized businesses and local and
national government officials, associations and cooperatives, and
financial services institutions. It will build the capacity of and
provide productivity tools to farmers, agribusinesses, and small-,
and medium-sized entrepreneurs. Strong emphasis will be placed on
expanding the competitiveness of the private sector in the production
agriculture and agribusiness sectors in both domestic and
international markets. The program is expected to achieve this by
taking a systemic approach in addressing all of the elements in a
value chain–from field to fork.
Responsibilities:
* With the identification of the communities and irrigation command
areas (ICAs) involved in specific commodity value chains the
irrigation component will first evaluate the condition of the
delivery canals and drainage network, including the condition of all
control structures and pumping stations, as well as major
obstructions such as impromptu bridges and causeways. Knowledge of
GIS applications will be necessary for this activity.
* In coordination with Inma technical sectors and with the Iraqi
Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), develop scopes of work for the
repair and rehabilitation of main and secondary canals up to and
including the farm canal outlets and the main and secondary drains.
* Evaluate targeted lands in need of reclamation for salinity.
* Assist the MoWR and local farmers in developing statements of,
water use entitlement, right of intervention above their outlets, and
recourse for disputes.
* Respond to inquiries from the PRTs interested in irrigation issues.
* Conduct qualitative evaluation of the ICA analysis using remote
sensing imagery available and looking at the approximate area, length
of primary and secondary canals involved, the number of field canals,
any major obstruction that may need attention, identify control
structures and pumping stations that may need to be rehabilitated,
and the area impacted by salinity which may need reclamation.
* Conduct quantitative evaluation of identified ICAs using available
remote imagery and field trips.
* Liaise with the necessary personnel within the Inma team, the PRTs,
USAID, US military, Iraq MOA and MoWR personnel, and other essential
personnel involved in agriculture development and irrigation.
* Field visits to the ICA to ground-truth the remote analysis.
* Evaluate the need for and assist in recruiting national staff for
the IWM&SR effort within Inma.
* Develop local partnership with individuals or organizations
expected to be sub-contracted for civil works within the ICA.
* Develop local partnerships with NGOs expected to be subcontracted
to facilitate working with the farmers on operating and maintaining
field canals.
* Be an active Inma team member accepting other duties and
responsibilities as requested by the Chief of Party.
Essential Qualifications:
* The successful candidate will be a small-scale irrigation
specialist with formal training at the graduate level in agricultural
engineering or a related field.
* 10+ years of experience in small-scale irrigated farming systems,
including at 5+ years of experience in the context of donor-funded
development projects.
* Experience in overseeing and providing technical support to
implementation teams.
* Minimum of 3 years relevant experience working on irrigation
projects in developing countries.
* Skilled in interpreting of remote sensing / GIS imagery for mapping
out Irrigation Command Areas.
* Familiarity working in Iraq or elsewhere the Middle East preferred.
* US Citizenship is not required
To apply:
Please email a letter of application with a current curriculum vitae
(CV) in reverse chronological format to DLangevin@ardinc.com
<mailto:DLangevin@ardinc.com>
Please refer to Iraq Water Specialist in the subject line.
Applications that do not meet the minimum requirements listed above
will not be considered.
No phone calls will be accepted.
ARD, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Closing Date: Open
