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
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
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