Locust Group
The Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases Group at FAO Headquarters is responsible for assisting Member Countries throughout the world in managing migratory pests, mainly locusts, and diseases through early warning and early reaction. The Group consists of staff at FAO Headquarters as well as in Algiers, Algeria and Cairo, Egypt.
Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases (NSPMD)
The Locusts and other transboundary plant pests and diseases Team has been working for several decades on locusts with staff at FAO‐HQ and within three regional commissions for controlling theDesert Locust. CLCPRO in north‐west and western Africa, CRC in the Near‐East and SWAC in south‐west Asia. The experience gained in managing locust issues such as the development and implementation of the preventive control strategy and the Desert Locust global monitoring, information and early warning system, both part of the Strategic Programme 5, was extended to other transboundary plant pests and diseases. The actual composition of the Team reflects its work with six officers and two general service staff(GS).
Who is who in Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases (NSPMD) Team
Mr. Shoki Al-Dobai
Team Leader of the “Locusts and other Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases”, NSPMD; Senior Agricultural Officer
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Supervision and coordination of the FAO work on Locusts and other Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases, including the support and improvement of locust and transboundary pest and disease preventive control strategies and response to plant health emergencies.
- Policy and technical advice: support to the three FAO Desert Locust commissions (CLCPRO, CRC and SWAC); technical advice to locust and plant pest affected countries.
- Management: day to day management of NSPMD, including programme of work and budget.
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 570 52730
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Keith Cressman
Senior Locust Forecasting Officer
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS): analyze global weather, ecological and locust situation to produce national assessments and 6week forecasts, monthly bulletins, sub-monthly warnings and alerts to Member Countries.
- FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in SW Asia (SWAC): Executive Secretary.
- Technical assistance: strengthening of national locust programmes through training, workshops, technical backstop visits on survey, information/reporting, control and contingency planning; advice on early warning systems for other TPPDs.
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 570 52420
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Alexandre V. Latchininsky
Agricultural Officer/Locust Management
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Provide technical assistance to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia.
- Plan and deliver advice and programme management support to member countries concerning Desert Locust preventive strategy (i.e. survey, monitoring, management, environment issues and contingency planning).
- Provide technical assistance on locust management in other geographical areas or for other locust pests.
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 570 50534
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Fazil Dusunceli
Agricultural Officer (Plant Pathology)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Identify global, regional and sub-regional priorities to mitigate food security threats caused by transboundary plant diseases in close collaboration with decentralized offices.
- Design, coordinate and monitor projects and activities with focus on transboundary plant diseases and sustainable crop production.
- Provide technical support to projects on plant production improvement in Central Asia and Caucasus.
- Provide support for projects on "One Country One Product (OCOP)" and on "One Health".
Duty station: Ankara, Turkey
Tel: (+90) 312 307 95 00
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Maged ElKahky
Agricultural Officer (Plant Pathology and Transboundary Insect Pests)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Red Palm Weevil (RPW): Support the establishment of the global management platform and the development of a mobile app for its monitoring.
- Fall Armyworm (FAW): Provide assistance for HQ activities related to its management, including translation of important information materials into Arabic, and support the developing of the Arabic interface of the current FAW mobile app (FAWEWS).
- Plant diseases: Provide technical assistance and support implementation of the wheat rust programme and global programme on Fusarium wilt diseases of banana.
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 570 50409
E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Marion Chiris
Locust Programme Officer
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Coordination, implementation and monitoring of the multi-funded Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (EMPRES) and of the related projects.
- Liaison with resource partners and reporting.
- Fund-raising efforts for locust projects/programmes.
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 570 54525
E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Bahromiddin Husenov
Agricultural Officer (Plant Protection/Locusts)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Support to GCP/INT/384/JCA project implementation to improve locust management in Central Asia, and more specifically:
Technical assistance on locust preventive strategy
Operational assistance for field activities.
Duty station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
Tel: (+992) 93 512 6017
E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Safa Gritli
Programme Assistant, GS Focal Point
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Monitor the status of both Regular Programme and Projects budgets (including CRC and CLCPRO budgets) ensuring that funds are properly allocated and inform BH of any budget issues
- Provide support to BH in the preparation of the PBR, PWB and Financial reports for Finance Committee and any other report for the division
- Prepare all Projects’ budget revisions and extensions
- Coordinate the full array of administrative and financial actions related to staff management, payments, and procurement to the team as well as CRC and CLCPRO commissions
- Informing management and team members of process, procedures and timeframes to secure administrative services needed for programme execution
- GS focal point and GS coordinator
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 570 50500
E-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Ludovica Tunetti
Office Assistant
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Support the Desert Locust Information Service (DLIS) and the Executive Secretariat of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in South-West Asia (SWAC)
- Support in arranging/organizing events, surveys, meetings and trainings, prepare TAs, TECs, and follow visas and relevant clearances procedures
- Perform the full array of administrative actions linked to NSPMD
- Maintain two of the Desert Locust web sites, Locust Watch and SWAC
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 0657051682
e-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Benson Ekakitie
Office Assistant
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Assist the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), support in arranging/organizing surveys, meetings and trainings, prepare TAs and TECs, visas and relevant clearances
- Support in arranging/organizing surveys, meetings and trainings, prepare TAs and TECs, visas and relevant clearances
- Perform a variety of administrative duties, raising and extension of contracts, raising PO and PRs, assist in official correspondence with donors, member countries and FAO field offices
- Maintain the CCA locust website
Duty station: Rome
Tel: (+39) 06 570 54724
e-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Greta Garavaglia
International consultant, Operations Expert
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Ensure and follow up on the procurement of locust equipment in the countries covered by the Programme to improve national and regional locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia.
- Contribute to the organization and implementation of project activities in the framework of the Programme.
- Assist in monitoring project expenditures and in preparing financial and narrative reports
Duty station: Luxembourg
Tel: (+352) 661 61 2011
e-mail: [email protected]
Field Staff (CRC)
Mr. Mamoon AlSarai AlAlawi
Executive Secretary of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Coordinate operational, administrative and financial aspects of the CRC and implement the recommendations of the sessions
- Encourage member countries to implement the preventive control strategy, provide technical and organizational assistance to the National Locust Control Units and the Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA)
- Collaborate with the two other Commissions (CLCPRO and SWAC)
Duty station: Cairo, Egypt
Tel: (+20) 2 33316018
e-mail: [email protected]
Ms. Lidia Naguib Abdel Shahid
Administrative Assistant (Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region – CRC)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Coordinate logistical preparation of CRC Sessions/meeting/workshops/ training courses
- Provide financial support and monitoring of contribution and expenditure
- Provide the CRC Secretary with administrative assistance relating to the activities of the Commission
Duty station: Cairo, Egypt
Tel: (+20) 2 33316000
e-mail: [email protected]
Field Staff (CLCPRO)
Mr. Mohamed Lemine Hamouny
Executive Secretary of the Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region (CLCPRO)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- CLCPRO: implementation of the Commission policies, supervision of technical and administrative activities, advocacy to decision makers for implementation and sustainability of the preventive control strategy
- EMPRES Programme in the Western region: supervision of coordination and implementation of technical and administrative activities, advocacy to the donors to contribute to the Program funding
Duty station: Algiers, Algeria
Tel: (+213) 21 73 33 54
e-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Hichem Dridi
Programme officer (Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region – CLCPRO)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- CLCPRO Secretary Activities: regional trainings, expertise missions, follow up of the activities and projects with partners; monitor the System of National Locust Control Mechanisms of the Locust Control Units (SVDN), the Monitoring and Evaluation System (SSE) and the Pesticide Stock Management System (PSMS)
- Desert Locust information: contribute to the development of Desert Locust information tools and provide technical support to the locust information officers in collaboration with DLIS
- UNDSS: focal point for CLCPRO and FAOR Algeria
Duty station: Algiers, Algeria
Tel: (+213) 6 67 82 62 04
e-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Khaled Moumene
Agricultural consultant (Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region – CLCPRO)
Main tasks and responsibilities:
- Provide technical support on monitoring the locust situation in the Western Region and in the implementation of regional training and research plans
- Provide analysis of data from the Monitoring and Evaluation System of activities
- Contribute to the implementation of the CLCPRO Communication Plan