Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. The organization supports countries, farmers’ organizations, Regional Economics Communities (RECs) towards this objective.
Within the strategic priority “Promoting inclusive, competitive, sustainable and nutrition-sensitive food systems”, the subregional office for West Africa (SFW) is working on the transition to sustainable crop production systems, increasing of agricultural productivity and resource use efficiency, promoting integrated pest management, conservation and management of the continuum soil-plant-atmosphere, enhancing resilience to climate change and improvement of livelihoods and governance.
The Agricultural specialist will oversight the projects, programmes and initiatives of SFW Agricultural Unit and supports the development and delivery of products and services related to sustainable crop intensification, inputs access and affordability, good agricultural practices, soil nutrient efficiency use, integrated pest management and small-scale mechanization.
Reporting Lines
The Agricultural specialist reports to the SFW Agricultural Officer, under the overall guidance of the FAO Sub Regional Coordinator for West Africa.
Technical Focus
Team leadership, technical expertise for the appropriate planning, development and implementation of the FAO projects and timely delivery of the project outputs and strategic capacity development.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Provide advice and support in the design, planning, and implementation of field projects, products, and/or services aimed at enhancing sustainable crop production systems, improving crop productivity, and promoting sustainable crop protection.
• Contribute to the development and application of innovative and creative approaches to address challenges in the field, ensuring the integration of best practices and sustainable solutions.
• Monitor and evaluate project outcomes, providing recommendations for continuous improvement and adapting strategies to enhance long-term sustainability.
• Provide support to address FAO country requests for technical assistance on agricultural inputs specifications (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and implements)
• Provide technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives including backstopping to field projects.
• Support capacity development activities in Member Countries involving the provision of advice, technical assistance projects, training workshops, seminars, and meetings as well as oversee the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Support in programme development, meetings and conferences preparation and reporting
• Report on progress against plans, agreed outputs, and challenges;
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree in agricultural crop sciences preferably agronomy or a related field such as seed breeding and production, horticulture, entomology, civil engineer, etc]
• At least five years of relevant experience in [agricultural project design and delivery aimed at promoting sustainable cropping systems, resilience, innovations and technologies dissemination and scaling up]
• Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions in Africa is essential
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing and delivering programmes of work or projects related to sustainable plant production
• Extent and relevance of experience in managing and promoting multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships
• Extent and relevance of knowledge of the linkages between field, national and regional programs as a basis for community development for sustainable production systems;
• Demonstrated experience in collecting, analyzing and disseminating technical information and data.
• Experience in the preparation, editing and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing meetings and workshops.
• Relevant experience in soil science, seed technologies, integrated pest management, small scale family farming systems, or small scale mechanization