Call for Interest for Consultants – Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation _at International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Job Title: Geospatial Analysis & Earth Observation Consultant

Location: Remote

Job Type: Full-Time / Temporary (Consultancy Roster)

Job Summary

Are you an experienced Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Earth Observation (EO) professional looking to make a global impact? The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is seeking qualified Geospatial Analysis and Earth Observation Consultants to join our consultant roster.

In this remote consulting role, you will provide high-level technical expertise across IFAD’s global portfolio in agriculture, climate adaptation, natural resource management, and rural development. You will support projects across the entire operational cycle—from design and monitoring to impact assessment and corporate reporting.

Key Responsibilities & Focus Areas

Depending on your specific area of expertise, responsibilities include:

GIS & Spatial Analysis: Perform multi-criteria suitability analysis, watershed/landscape analysis, climate risk assessments, and rural connectivity modeling to support evidence-based decision-making.
Earth Observation & Remote Sensing: Process and analyze optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery for crop monitoring, land degradation assessments, flood/drought monitoring, and time-series environmental analysis.
Geospatial Data Engineering & Automation: Build scalable, reproducible geospatial pipelines using Python, R, and Google Earth Engine (GEE). Automate vector/raster data workflows and manage spatial databases.
Cartography & Data Visualization: Produce official maps and thematic atlases following United Nations cartographic standards for technical publications, supervision reports, and corporate dashboards.
Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact Assessment: Design spatial sampling frameworks, track project baselines, and analyze pre/post-intervention changes using satellite imagery and geospatial indicators.
Technical Advisory & Capacity Building: Provide expert technical reviews, participate in project design missions, and lead GIS/EO training programs for government counterparts and field teams.

Qualifications & Key Requirements

Education

Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in GIS, Remote Sensing, Geoinformatics, Geography, Environmental Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field.
(Candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience may be considered for entry-level/junior roles).

Professional Experience Levels

Senior Level: 12+ years of relevant experience.
Mid-Level: 8–11 years of relevant experience.
Entry-Level: 2–7 years of relevant experience.
Junior Level: Bachelor’s degree with 1+ years of experience.

Technical Skills & Tools

GIS Platforms: QGIS, GeoServer, PostGIS, Mapbox, Power BI.
Remote Sensing & Data Processing: Google Earth Engine, Optical Imagery, SAR, UAV Imagery, Deep Learning / Machine Learning for EO.
Programming Languages & Frameworks: Python (GeoPandas, Rasterio, Xarray), R, SQL, GDAL/OGR, Git, Jupyter Notebooks.
Languages: Professional fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French, Spanish, or Arabic is a strong asset.

Preferred Experience

Background working with UN agencies, International Financial Institutions (IFIs), or international development organizations.
Applied experience in agriculture, climate resilience, food systems, or rural infrastructure.

How to Apply

Application Instructions

To apply for inclusion in the roster:

Submit a Cover Letter explicitly detailing the Area(s) of Expertise (Sections A–H) you are applying for.
Outline your relevant technical experience, specific software/programming tools used, key deliverables produced, and past project roles.
Highlight any experience in agriculture, rural development, climate adaptation, or monitoring & evaluation.