GIS And Remote Sensing Specialist [open To Internal And External Applicants]

Organizational Context

The Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI) is a partnership between six Central African countries and a coalition of donors aimed at preserving the region's vital forests. CAFI's objective is to mitigate climate change, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable development by implementing national-scale REDD+ and Low Emissions Development frameworks. Payments for Environmental Services (PES) are a key financial instrument, supported by digital tools for transparency and accountability. This role supports CAFI's geospatial data architecture and analytical systems.

Job Purpose

This role is crucial for strengthening CAFI's geospatial data architecture, analytical systems, and digital workflows to support the Payments for Environmental Services (PES) Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework. The GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist will enhance programme monitoring, reporting, and decision-making processes across all CAFI countries. The specialist will be responsible for designing, implementing, and operationalizing geospatial data systems, automated workflows, GIS tools, and spatial reporting processes. This includes managing and quality-checking spatial data submitted by implementing organizations and partner institutions, ensuring compliance with CAFI standards, and supporting partners in data submission. The ultimate goal is to improve the integration, automation, and leverage of geospatial analyses and AI for effective PES monitoring and overall program success.

Responsibilities

The GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist will manage CAFI's geospatial data architecture and platform, including assessing and documenting relevant datasets, developing the PES GIS platform using ESRI systems, and supporting GIS services and workflows. Responsibilities include designing end-to-end geospatial workflows for data ingestion, processing, analysis, and visualization, and contributing to the GIS database development. The role involves spatial data management, integration, and automation, including developing scripts for data ingestion and processing, supporting data integration, and quality-checking submitted spatial data. Harmonizing datasets across entities and exploring AI solutions for geospatial processing are key. The specialist will also develop geospatial analytical tools and visual products, create dashboards and interactive interfaces, produce maps and spatial analyses, and support the integration of spatial information into broader CAFI processes. Additionally, the role includes providing partner support on GIS methodologies and data submission, advising on system linkages, and promoting good practices. Finally, the specialist will contribute to reporting, technical documentation, and knowledge management related to CAFI's geospatial systems.

Work Experience

Previous experience in a GIS/Remote Sensing expert role focusing on forests and land use is required. Experience working on Payments for Environmental Services (PES) is also mandatory. Prior experience working with countries in the Congo Basin is essential. Experience with the UN or in a developing country is desirable, as is experience in environmental conservation, forest management, or sustainable agriculture programs.

Skills

GIS and Remote Sensing expertise, proficiency in ArcGIS, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, Python, data management, spatial analysis, workflow automation, visualization tools, reporting, and knowledge management. Experience with forest and land use analysis, Payments for Environmental Services (PES), and working with Congo Basin countries is required.

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