National AFOLU GIS/MRV Specialist

The National AFOLU GIS/MRV Specialist will support the operation and strengthening of national Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) GIS and Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems through technical support in GIS, remote sensing, and geospatial data management. The role contributes to national climate reporting, REDD+ implementation, and NDC progress monitoring, providing technical coordination, capacity development, and knowledge management.

Responsibilities

• Compile and organize spatial, activity and supporting data required for the AFOLU components of the BTR and National Communication, REDD+ FRL processes and other national AFOLU MRV requirements.
• Prepare maps, statistics, tables, metadata and technical inputs for national MRV reporting under the guidance of relevant technical experts.
• Support the monitoring of NDC AFOLU actions, indicators, implementation progress and related evidence.
• Maintain MRV data inventories, tracking tables, reporting-period records and supporting documentation.
• Support coordination and technical review with agencies contributing to national AFOLU reporting.
• Support the maintenance of inventories of SLMS datasets, software, equipment, user accounts and other technical resources.
• Support data organization, naming conventions, version control, backup, access arrangements and archiving, in coordination with authorized CCDA and ICT personnel.
• Prepare and update GIS/MRV workflows, standard operating procedures, processing records and data-management notes.
• Provide day-to-day GIS, remote-sensing and data-management support and training to CCDA officers and relevant counterparts.
• Coordinate the receipt, QA/QC, documentation and integration of datasets produced by consultants, service providers and partner institutions.
• Support the preparation, organization and QA/QC of raster-based Forest Cover Benchmark Map and Annual Forest State datasets.
• Compile and review data relevant to forest/non-forest classification, canopy cover, forest change, degradation, mangroves, plantations and observation quality.
• Support the preparation of 2025 forest state data and related 2023–2024 retrospective and 2026 onward monitoring datasets.
• Prepare classification notes, masks, confidence information, metadata, processing logs, maps and summary outputs.
• Support the use of forest-monitoring datasets for the BTR, FRL, ART-TREES, TFFF, GCF RBP2 and related national forest-monitoring needs.
• Compile, clean and improve existing land-use, commodity, plantation and road-network spatial datasets.
• Use Collect Earth, Earth Map, satellite imagery and other tools to support priority-area interpretation of land use, commodity type, plantation establishment or conversion year, road type and development period.
• Support the development and QA/QC of time-series road-network datasets, including flagging of uncertain features and possible river-channel misclassification.
• Prepare attribute tables, metadata, confidence information, accessibility layers and data-limitation notes.
• Support the preparation of technical specifications, technical coordination, QA/QC and SLMS integration where large-scale data production is undertaken through separate contracts.
• Compile forest-change, land-use, commodity, plantation, road-network, concession, settlement and accessibility datasets for driver analysis and risk mapping.
• Analyze spatial relationships between deforestation/degradation and potential drivers, including roads, logging access, agriculture, plantations and settlements.
• Support the preparation of risk factors, risk strata and allocation-support layers for REDD+ nesting and benefit-sharing planning.
• Prepare spatial summaries for provinces, districts, LLGs or other agreed units to support REDD+ nesting and benefit-sharing planning.
• Prepare maps, tables and technical notes documenting input data, methods, assumptions, uncertainties and limitations.
• Review MRV data and reporting requirements for ART-TREES, TFFF and a possible future GCF REDD+ Results-Based Payment programme (GCF RBP2).
• Support the preparation of TFFF Eligibility Area, Eligible Forest Cover and other readiness-related maps and datasets.
• Compile MRV data packages, evidence inventories, data-gap assessments and recommended work plans for ART-TREES and GCF RBP2 preparation.
• Support the review and updating of approved MRV content, maps, reports, metadata and technical links on the national REDD+ website.
• Prepare user guidance, technical notes, training materials and handover records to support institutional knowledge management and continuity.

Requirements

• University degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing, Forestry, Geography, Environmental Science, Natural Resources Management, Geomatics, or a related discipline
• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in GIS, remote sensing, geospatial analysis, spatial database management, forest and land-use monitoring, and/or Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) MRV systems
• Working knowledge of English
• National of Papua New Guinea
• Experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, spatial analysis and geospatial data management.
• Experience in forest and land-use monitoring, spatial database management, and the application of GIS and remote sensing technologies for natural resource management.
• Familiarity with Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, forest monitoring methodologies, and geospatial data quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC).
• Experience supporting national climate reporting, REDD+ implementation, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) monitoring or similar environmental programmes is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing maps, spatial datasets, technical documentation and reports, and coordinating with government institutions and development partners.
• Proficiency in at least one desktop GIS platform, such as ArcGIS or QGIS, together with practical experience in relevant remote-sensing or geospatial platforms, such as Google Earth Engine, Collect Earth, Earth Map or equivalent geospatial tools.
• Experience in capacity development, knowledge management and providing technical support to multidisciplinary teams and government counterparts is an asset.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge and practical experience in GIS, remote sensing, spatial analysis and geospatial data management.
• Proven ability to analyse, manage and interpret geospatial data to support forest and land-use monitoring and environmental reporting.
• Experience supporting AFOLU MRV systems, REDD+ initiatives, climate change mitigation programmes, or other natural resource management projects.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality technical outputs, including maps, spatial databases, reports and documentation.
• Ability to work effectively with government institutions, technical partners and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Skills

• Geographic Information System
• Remote Sensing
• Geospatial Analysis
• Spatial Database Management
• Forest and Land Monitoring
• AFOLU MRV Systems
• Geospatial Data Quality Control
• Climate Reporting Support
• REDD+ Process
• NDC Monitoring
• Map Preparation
• Spatial Dataset Management
• Technical Documentation Production
• ArcGIS
• QGIS
• Google Earth Engine
• Collect Earth
• Earth Map
• Capacity Development
• Knowledge Management
• Technical Support

Languages

English