GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist [Open to internal and external applicants]

Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
• Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

1. Office/Unit/Project Description

The Congo Basin, home to over 200 million hectares of tropical forest, represents one of the world’s most vital carbon sinks and biodiversity reservoirs. Sadly, the region continues to experience alarming rates of forest loss. Over one million hectares of forest is lost annually, driven by small-scale agriculture, infrastructure expansion, and unsustainable logging practices. Despite its ecological and climate significance, Central African forests receive only 11% of forest climate financing worldwide. This deforestation not only undermines global climate goals but also threatens the livelihoods of over 75 million forest-dependent communities.

On this basis, a coalition of donors – Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Norway, the Netherlands, the Republic of France, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – together with Central African partner countries – Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, and the Republic of Gabon – have decided to enter into a collaborative partnership to establish the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). The CAFI Trust Fund is the principal means to implement the Central African Forest Initiative. It is administered by the MPTF-Office, that also provides the Secretariat services.

CAFI’s objective is to recognize and preserve the value of the forests in the region to mitigate climate change, reduce poverty, and contribute to sustainable development. This objective will be attained through the implementation of country-led, national scale REDD+ and Low Emissions Development (LED) investment frameworks that include policy reforms and measures to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and promote sustainable development.

In response, Payments for Environmental Services (PES) have emerged as a strategic and innovative performance-based financial instrument to incentivize conservation, enhance community resilience, and mobilize sustainable finance. PES schemes offer direct financial rewards to local actors (farmers, indigenous groups, and landowners) for maintaining or restoring ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, watershed protection, and biodiversity conservation. These voluntary contract-based arrangements have proven effective in aligning economic incentives with environmental stewardship, especially in regions where traditional conservation funding is limited.

Governments of Congo Basin countries and CAFI have designed a standardized regional PES programme and committed to scale it to address the drivers of forest loss while providing direct support to local actors. Groundbreaking digital tools tailored to the context of the Congo Basin countries have been developed to ensure unprecedented transparency, accountability, and measurable impact. PES are foreseen to become a major part of CAFI’s portfolio in the coming year.

To support the effective management, monitoring, and transparency of PES schemes, a dedicated digital PES tool has been developed. The system supports the full PES implementation cycle, from project setup and beneficiary enrolment to field monitoring, validation, and payment execution, while ensuring data integrity, traceability, and accountability.

The tool currently supports six types of PES activities: Agroforestry, Reforestation, Deforestation-Free Agriculture, Natural Regeneration, Assisted Regeneration and Conservation.

The PES digital tool is structured around five core modules:

• Administration - to create, configure and manage PES projects
• Admission - to manage PES beneficiaries' applications, enrolment and contract generation
• Monitoring - to track and evaluate field visits results and inform payment decisions
• Payment - to initiate and track PES payments to beneficiaries through mobile money services
• GIS Portal - to visualize contracted PES areas as national allowed areas for PES on interactive maps

Building on ongoing investments in GIS platforms and digital infrastructure, CAFI is strengthening its capacity to integrate, automate, and leverage geospatial analyses and AI to support the monitoring of PES interventions. Also, some partner countries have highlighted their interest to connect the PES database to institutional databases such as the national land registry.

The CAFI Secretariat is seeking a GIS and Remote sensing specialist to support the systematic development of scalable data pipelines, automation scripts, and interactive visualization tools, ensuring full integration into CAFI’s GIS portal and analytical workflows.

2. Scope of Work

The objective of this assignment is to strengthen CAFI’s geospatial data architecture, analytical systems, and digital workflows in support of the PES MRV framework and broader programme monitoring, reporting, and decision-making processes across all CAFI countries.

Under the supervision of the relevant CAFI manager, the GIS and Remote sensing specialist will support the design, implementation, and operationalization of geospatial data systems, automated workflows, GIS tools, and spatial reporting processes. The Specialist will also be responsible for compiling, quality-checking, managing, and reporting spatial data submitted by implementing organisations and partner institutions, and for supporting partners in complying with CAFI spatial data submission requirements.

a. Geospatial data architecture and platform administrationSupport the design and strengthening of CAFI’s geospatial data architecture and workflow systems.

Key responsibilities:

• Identify, assess, validate, and document geospatial and related datasets relevant to CAFI’s MRV indicators and programme monitoring needs;
• Continue the development of CAFI’s PES GIS platform within existing ESRI systems, including ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Server, ArcPy workflows, ArcGIS Experience Builder, and related solutions;
• Support deployment, maintenance, and improvement of GIS services, applications, and workflows within CAFI’s enterprise architecture;
• Design and document end-to-end geospatial workflows for data ingestion, processing, analysis, visualization, and dissemination;
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of CAFI’s GIS database and related geospatial data structures;
• Establish and apply protocols for metadata, traceability, and quality assurance of geospatial data;
• Ensure compatibility with PostgreSQL/PostGIS, OGC services, and Python-based geospatial libraries where relevant;

b. Spatial data management, integration, and automation

Support the integration, automation, and operational management of geospatial data and workflows across CAFI systems and partner reporting channels.

• Develop and maintain scripts and automated workflows for periodic ingestion and updating and bulk processing of of geospatial datasets to support indicator production and reporting
• Support integration of parcel-level and other implementation-level spatial data where relevant;
• Compile, organize, manage, archive, and quality-check spatial data submitted by implementing organisations and partner institutions for completeness, consistency and alignment with CAFI standards
• Contribute to harmonization of spatial datasets across countries, projects, and implementing entities to improve consistency and comparability.
• Identify opportunities to optimize workflows and modernize GIS operations across CAFI systems;
• Improve existing ESRI-based tools through custom ArcGIS Experience Builder widgets, interface enhancements, and related developments;
• Ensure that geospatial data management practices comply with UNDP requirements on data protection, cybersecurity, and secure digital operations.
• Explore opportunities to apply AI-based solutions for geospatial data processing, analysis, visualization, and reporting, where feasible;

c. Spatial analytics, dashboards, and visualization

Support the development of geospatial analytical tools and visual products for operational, technical, and strategic use.

• Develop query tools, dashboards, and interactive geospatial analytical interfaces for operational use and PES monitoring.
• Produce maps, visualizations, and spatial analyses related to MRV indicators, land-use change, and other CAFI priorities;
• Conduct technical reviews to ensure to ensure that geospatial tools and visual products are functional, user-centric, and fit for use within the CAFI GIS portal and related systems;
• Support the preparation of maps, geospatial summaries, and analytical outputs for internal coordination, programme monitoring, donor reporting, and other Secretariat needs;
• Contribute to the integration of spatial information into CAFI’s wider monitoring, reporting, and decision-support processes.

d. Partner Support, Interoperability & Field Integration

Support the continued development and maintenance of CAFI’s geospatial infrastructure within its enterprise environment while promoting interoperability and long-term sustainability.

• Support implementing organisations and partner institutions in preparing and submitting spatial data in the required formats and according to agreed protocols;
• Provide technical guidance on GIS methodologies, field data workflows, and relevant equipment for teams using CAFI PES tools;
• Provide technical assistance to improve the preparation, formatting, transmission, and usability of partner-submitted spatial data;
• Advise on linkages between CAFI PES geospatial systems and relevant national tenure registries and land information systems;
• Promote good practices in spatial data quality, field data standards, and operational reporting;
• Support the effective use of geospatial tools in field implementation, monitoring, and verification processes.
• Incorporate feedback from users and stakeholders to refine tools, workflows, and data structures

e. Reporting, documentation, and knowledge management

Support institutional reporting, technical documentation, and knowledge generation related to CAFI’s geospatial systems and data.

• Prepare monthly progress reports on activities, outputs, challenges, and planned next steps;
• Report on the status, completeness, and quality of spatial data submissions from implementing organisations and partner institutions;
• Deliver technical documentation for workflows, scripts, datasets, systems, and developed tools;
• Prepare user guidance and operational documentation to support the sustainability and handover of geospatial systems;
• Contribute to technical notes, lessons learned, and other knowledge products related to geospatial monitoring and spatial data management;
• Support preparation of geospatial inputs for CAFI reporting, strategic reviews, and other institutional processes.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

3. Institutional Arrangement

The incumbent will work under the PES Lead in the CAFI Secretariat, under the day-to-day technical supervision of the PES Information System Manager.

4.Competencies

Core
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problems
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demands
Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivity
Cross-Functional & Technical competencies
Thematic Area Name Definition
Business Management Working with Evidence and Data Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making.
Digital Geospatial analysis Skilled in techniques which study entities using their topological, geometric, or geographic properties.
Business Direction & Strategy Systems Thinking Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system.
Business Management Monitoring & Evaluation Ability to provide managers and key stakeholders with regular feedback on the consistency or discrepancy between planned and actual activities and programme
performance and results. Ability to make an independent judgement based on set criteria and benchmarks –
Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns
Digital and innovation Digital product management Ability to design and lead digital product development including testing, ongoing product iteration, product strategy and delivery.
2030 Agenda: Planet Nature, Climate and Energy Climate and Forests: Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation

Minimum Qualifications of the Successful IPSA

Min. Academic Education Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in GIS, Remote Sensing, Environmental Science, Data Science, or related field is required Or A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Min. years of relevant Work experience Minimum 5 years (with master’s degree) or 7 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible experience in GIS and remote sensing, Monitoring & Evaluation, Performance-based Payment Mechanisms, Participatory Natural Resource Management, Environmental Protection, or related fields.

Required skills and competencies

• Ability to use current software (ArcGIS, QGIS, Google earth engine, Python, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Internet) is required.
• Previous experience in a GIS/Remote sensing expert role on forests and land use is required.
• Previous experience in working on Payments for Environmental Service is required
• Previous experience in working with countries from the Congo Basin is required
Desired additional skills and competencies • Previous experience working with the UN and/or in a developing country is desirable.
• Experience with environmental conservation, forest management and/or sustainable agriculture programs is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in relation to land tenure registries and land surveyor methods is an asset.
Required Language(s) (at working level) Fluency in English and French languages is required.

4.Travel:

1. UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.
2. Include any official travel expected to be associated with performing the functions 5.The following documents shall be required from the applicants: a. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers. b. A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position. c.Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.

6.Annexes to the TOR

1. CAFI website

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Use of AI by candidates

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