Water Technical Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31 articulates FAO’s vision of a sustainable and food secure world for all, in the context of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. FAO Strategic Framework 2022–31 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through 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.

FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) provides support to its member countries to access resources from various donors and partners through project identification, proposal development and implementation to meet its overall global strategic vision. Working closely with its member countries, RAP ensures multidisciplinary support to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with the Offices, Centres and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to country and regional priorities.

As part of the RAP Integrated Water Programme (WP G2 ) 2026–2030, Water programming and resource mobilization for work on water at RAP is expanding rapidly – including a suite of new projects under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and other development partners. To support this expanding portfolio, FAO is developing a roster of skilled and experienced professionals to provide specialized technical support across a wide range of water-related disciplines. Experts may be engaged to support project formulation, technical reviews, implementation support, capacity development, monitoring and evaluation, technical studies, knowledge management, and policy advisory services across Asia and Pacific countries.

Reporting Lines

The incumbents will work under the overall technical supervision of the RAP Land and Water Officer, in close collaboration with the Land, Water and Climate Change Module Leader, other RAP technical officers, FAO country offices.

Technical Focus

The overall technical focus is to strengthen FAO's capacity to deliver high-quality technical support across its regional water portfolio. Specialists may be engaged in one or more of the following areas:

•     Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
•     Transboundary Waters and Regional Cooperation
•     Water Resources Planning, Allocation, Accounting, Water Scarcity and Drought Management
•     Agricultural Water Management and Water Productivity
•     Irrigation Modernization, Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
•     Water Infrastructure Planning and Design
•     Water Governance, Policy, Water Tenure and Water Rights
•     Groundwater Assessment, Hydrogeology and Aquifer Management
•     River Engineering, River Basin Infrastructure, Hydrology, Hydrological Modelling, Sediment Management, Flood and Erosion Control, and Hydrometeorological Services 
•     Water Quality Monitoring, Wastewater Management, Reuse and Pollution Control
•     Climate Change Adaptation, Resilience, Nature-based Solutions, Watershed Management and Ecosystem Restoration
•     Sustainable Land and Water Management
•     Renewable Energy for Water Systems, Solar-powered Irrigation, Small-scale Hydropower, Bioenergy Production and System Design, and Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus Approaches
•     Water Data Management, Hydroinformatics, Remote Sensing, GIS, AI and Digital Water Solutions
•     Environmental Economics, Valuation of Water and Ecosystem Services, and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)

Tasks and responsibilities

Depending on the assignment and the specific technical expertise required, the expert may be requested to perform one or more of the following duties:

•     Undertake technical assessments, feasibility studies, diagnostic analyses, modelling, risk and vulnerability assessments, and other analytical work related to water resources management and development;
•     Provide technical reviews, quality assurance, peer review and technical clearances for project documents, studies, reports, policies, strategies, guidelines and knowledge products;
•     Support activities related to integrated water resources management, transboundary water cooperation, water allocation and accounting, water scarcity and drought management, groundwater and surface water management, hydrology, hydrological and hydraulic modelling, river basin management, river engineering, sediment management, flood and erosion control, hydrometeorological services, water infrastructure planning and design, irrigation modernization, irrigation and drainage systems, and water governance;
•     Provide technical support on agricultural water management, water productivity, climate change adaptation, resilience building, watershed management, ecosystem restoration, nature-based solutions, sustainable land and water management, water quality monitoring, wastewater management, water reuse and pollution control;
•     Apply and promote innovative approaches and technologies, including hydroinformatics, remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence, digital water solutions, renewable energy applications for water systems (including solar-powered irrigation, small-scale hydropower and bioenergy systems), and water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus approaches;
•     Conduct environmental, economic and financial analyses related to water resources, including valuation of water and ecosystem services and payment for ecosystem services mechanisms;
•     Deliver technical advisory services, capacity development activities, stakeholder consultations, policy dialogue, institutional strengthening and partnership development;
•     Support monitoring, evaluation, reporting, knowledge management, communications, resource mobilization and collaboration with governments, development partners, research institutions, academia, civil society organizations and the private sector;
•     Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     For Consultants: Advanced University degree, or a Bachelor’s degree with two additional years of experience, from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Water Resources Management, Irrigation Engineering, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Climate Change, Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Management, Renewable Energy, Agricultural Engineering, Ecosystem Restoration, or other relevant disciplines. 
•     For PSA.SBS: University degree (or technical degree/certificate) from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Water Resources Management, Irrigation Engineering, Hydrology, Hydrogeology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Climate Change, Geography, GIS, Remote Sensing, Natural Resources Management, Renewable Energy, Agricultural Engineering, Ecosystem Restoration, or other relevant disciplines.
•     At least 5 years of relevant experience in the area of water resources management.
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills  

•     Demonstrated technical expertise in one or more of the roster disciplines. 
•     Experience in project formulation, implementation support, technical advisory services or evaluation. 
•     Experience working with governments, international organizations, development partners, research institutions and/or the private sector. 
•     Experience in developing technical reports, guidelines, strategies and knowledge products. 
•     Experience working in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. 
•     Experience in Asia and the Pacific region is highly desirable. 
Familiarity with FAO procedures and technical approaches is an advantage.

Selection Criteria  

•     Knowledge of additional FAO languages is considered a strong asset and may be required for specific assignments. 
•     Relevant experience and demonstrated expertise in one or more of the technical areas identified under the roster disciplines
•     Experience in the design, implementation, monitoring, evaluation or technical support of water-related programmes and projects
•     Experience in preparing technical studies, assessments, project documents, strategies, guidelines and knowledge products.
•     Demonstrated ability to analyse technical information and provide practical recommendations.
•     Experience working with governments, development partners, research institutions, communities and/or the private sector.
•     Demonstrated experience working successfully in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, particularly in developing countries and countries in transition.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in Asia and the Pacific region.
•     Familiarity with FAO, UN, GEF, GCF, ADB, World Bank or other international development programmes and procedures is an advantage.
•     Proven ability to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.