Call for Request for Application (RFA) for Pest Surveillance Experts (Pathologist, Entomologist, and Agronomist specializing in weeds) for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)

Call for Request for Application (RFA) for Pest Surveillance Experts (Pathologist, Entomologist, and Agronomist specializing in weeds) for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs)

ANSAB is a civil society organization that has been working for biodiversity conservation and livelihoods improvement across South Asia for over three decades. With a vision of rich biodiversity and prosperous communities, ANSAB places community empowerment and economic incentives at the heart of its approach, and has been consistently evolving, consolidating, institutionalizing and advancing the approaches and strategies for the promotion of community-based enterprises and value chains, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation, enabling policy environment and multi-stakeholders.

TRAFFIC International and ANSAB, along with other national and international partners are implementing a UK Government through Darwin Initiative funded project entitled "Scaling conservation of Himalayan plants and fungi through sustainable trade". This project aims to improve local livelihoods, elevate traditional knowledge, and strengthen national and regional approaches to sustainable biodiversity-based trade. At the impact level, the project will contribute to the sustainable management of Himalayan wild plants and fungi, with value chains that promote equitable trade, increase value addition, reduce poverty, and conserve species and ecologically fragile landscapes.

Along with many others, this project aims to facilitate trade of export-oriented medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) through addressing trade barriers related to phytosanitary concerns of the importing countries through generating pest related data and information serving for pest risk analysis. For this, ANSAB in collaboration with National Plant Protection Organization-Nepal (NPPO) is conducting pest surveillance for the following five selected MAP species of high economic value and conservation importance. This activity focuses on the Himalayan region of Nepal, spanning east to west, at elevations above 2000 m asl.

Selected species for surveillance: Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi); Kakoli (also called Ban Lasun or Pode) (Fritillaria cirrhosa); Setakchini (Polygonatum cirrhifolium / P. verticillatum); Attis (Delphinium himalayae);and Satuwa (Paris polyphylla).

The purpose of the Pest Surveillance is to collect and record pest information (pathogens, insect pests, and weeds) of the above mentioned MAP species including their presence, distributions, intensities, alternative hosts, and their enemies in natural ecosystems (both farm and forests) in the given geographical areas; and generate data and document information systematically as per requirements of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) adopted by the IPPC and recommended format of the NPPO-Nepal. 

The specific tasks include: 

Undertake pest detection survey under the following terms and conditions.

Develop species specific pest detection survey plan: Develop survey methodology and plan for collecting pest information including:

• General sampling procedures, site selection, sample collection and laboratory analysis.
• Diagnostic procedures of specific pest as and when required (as decided by NPPO-Nepal); 
• Statistical tools and procedures for data analysis and reporting;
• Process for quality assurance of the pest data and information.
• Develop specific protocols for survey of specific pest as and when required (as decided by NPPO-Nepal)

Undertake field survey: 

This assignment envisions field survey for two time: first during the post-harvest/storage season, and second during the growing season. In each field survey, the team will 

• Collect specimens of diseases, insect pests, and weeds; conduct laboratory tests; and document evidence of their presence or absence; 
• Assess the extent of pest spread (specially for pests targeted by importing country);
• Identify the lifecycles of identified pests; define identifiable characteristics; update the specific survey protocol; identify pest vectors, their alternative hosts, natural enemies, and other prevailing ecological factors.  

Develop survey and surveillance report:

• Develop finding reports which includes: 
  • Plant pathological findings; 
  • Entomological findings; and 
  • Weed related findings.
• Analyze and document, pest data and information systematically as per requirements of the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) adopted by the IPPC and the NPPO-Nepal; 
• Suggest biosecurity and incursion management plan (contingency plan) and phytosanitary measures as per need to the NPPO for decision making. 

Collaborate with NPPO throughout the surveillance process and incorporate its technical feedback and suggestions as needed.

Survey areas: Consultant should suggest five out of 10 districts (Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura, Humla, Jumla, Mugu, Dolpa, Rukum-East, Gorkha and Taplejung) where the study will be conducted. The selection should be based on scientific and statistical reasoning to ensure a representative sample distribution across the survey range and alignment with the survey objectives. 

In this context, ANSAB is seeking to recruit individuals for the following short-term positions.

Position: Pathologist 

Required Numbers: 1

Duration: Effective 78 days within the period from October 2025 to July 2026

Responsibilities

• Prepare list of potential pathogens including bacteria, viruses, fungi and nematodes of selected MAPs species in the given geographical locations;
• Develop general survey methodology conduct field survey, develop survey report, and any other tasks related to pathogens as defined under specific tasks heading;   
• Suggest disease specific biosecurity and incursion management 
• Develop survey protocol and plan (phytosanitary measures for pest mitigation) as per need of the NPPO-Nepal and/or of the NPPO-importing country or according to the recommendation of initial field survey report for decision making. 

Qualifications and experience

• An advanced degree (Master’s required, PhD preferred) in Plant Pathology;
• Minimum of five years of professional experience (for Master’s degree) or two years (for PhD) in disease related works in agricultural crops and/or MAP and wild plants and fungi species. 
• Skills in disease/pest monitoring, disease/pest data collection, laboratory analysis, and reporting for informed decisions. 

Position: Entomologist

Numbers: 1

Duration: Effective 78 days within the period from October 2025 to July 2026

Responsibilities 

• Lead the survey team developing survey plan, conducting field survey, documenting data and information and report writing;
• Responsible for the overall quality assurance of the survey and pest data and information; 
• Take responsibility for insect pest related task defined under specific tasks heading;  
• Suggest insect pest specific biosecurity and incursion management plan (phytosanitary measures for pest mitigation) as per need of the NPPO-Nepal and/or of the NPPO-importing country for decision making. 

Qualifications and experience

• An advanced degree (Master’s required, PhD preferred) in entomology;
• Minimum of five years of professional experience (for Master’s degree) or two years (for PhD) in entomological work related to agricultural crops, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), or wild plant species;
• Skills in pest monitoring, pest data collection, analysis, and reporting for informed decisions. 

Position: Agronomist specializing in weeds

Numbers: 1

Duration: Effective 32 days within the period from October 2025 to July 2026

Responsibilities 

• Prepare list of unwanted plants and invasive species associated with selected MAPs cultivation/presence areas;
• Develop weed and invasive species specific – survey methodology (initially general methodology will be applied. Specific methodology on the basis of initial report, when recommended and agreed by the NPPO-Nepal), conduct field survey, develop survey report, and any other tasks related to weeds and invasive species as defined under specific tasks heading;   
• Suggest weed and invasive species specific biosecurity and incursion management 
• Plan phytosanitary measures for pest mitigation as per need of the NPPO-Nepal and/or of the NPPO-importing country for decision making. 

Qualifications and experience

• An advanced degree (Master’s required) in Agronomy or botany with a specialization in weeds/invasive species; 
• At least two years of experience in weeds and invasive species survey surveillance in agricultural and/or MAP, wild plants
• Skills in weeds monitoring, weeds data collection, analysis, and reporting for informed decisions.  

Level of efforts required