Organizational Setting
Climate change is affecting crop yields worldwide, which will lead to changes in food production and consumption, prices of agricultural commodities, and farm incomes. Climate change can also affect the population size, survival rate, and geographical distribution of pests; and the intensity, development, and geographical distribution of diseases. Climate breakdown provides a more habitable environment for many types of insects - resulting in pests, crop damage, and increased diseases. Climate change is one factor driving the spread of invasive plant pests and diseases. Climate change induce pest population, which likely lead to large increases in the use of pesticides and is responsible for harmful emissions that further exacerbate climate change.
Countries are facing about 25-30% crop losses by pests insects, and diseases and are compelled to use highly hazardous and environmentally damaging chemical pesticides. Producers overwhelmingly rely on chemical pesticides. Farmers’ exposure and environmental pollution are serious concerns all over the world, which is pronounced in developing proposed countries where large proportion of the farmers are illiterate.
Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change and impacts are projected to become more intense in the future. The capabilities, expertise, and resources to fully implement the management practices are limited in most of the developing countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and Viet Nam in the region. In recent years, the production and use of bio-pesticides have increased and replaced some synthetic pesticides applied to food commodities. But insufficient production, supplies, difficulty in finding quality products, and registration hurdles were major concerns. These gaps have been identified in targeted countries and how to address problems of climate change, the spread of insect pests, and the use of chemical pesticides. There is also a technical gap in the targeted countries regarding indigenous bio-pesticide production, and registration into their existing policy framework (Pesticide Acts and Regulations) and effective usage. This suggests a big challenge in substituting pesticides, especially Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) in agricultural production and public health in Asian Region, which needs time, greater efforts, and drastic actions to tackle the issues and problems. Most recently, developing countries in Asia reported detected of Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) which is a serious concern for this Region as it may implicate huge financial losses and requirement of large control measures if adequate attention are not committed timely. There’s increasing recognition that current crop production practice needs to be critically examined, redesigned, and remediated. This problem could be narrowed considerably by revitalizing environmentally sound (non-chemical) alternatives such as Nature-Based Crop Protection Solutions (NBS) in crop protection elements, strengthening technical and functional capacities of the Government counterparts and relevant stakeholders in preparedness, strengthening laboratory facilities and capacity for information repository, diagnostic services, production of foundation materials for mass multiplication of bio-pesticides/bio-control agents (living organism based). While climate change and the biodiversity crisis are driving demand for NBS, more needs to be done to build confidence in nature-driven solutions. Thus, there is growing awareness that NBS can help to protect us from climate change impacts while slowing further warming, supporting biodiversity and securing ecosystem services. However, to be resilient (and hence sustainable), NBS must be implemented in such a way as to support biodiversity and people. Being faced with this problem, targeted countries need to strengthen the technical capacity and capability of their institutions, and also promotion is required to encourage research projects on the possibility of industrial production of bio-pesticides and use of NBSs to mitigate the problems of climate change. To respond to this threat and scale-up regional efforts to control the spread of invasive pests, the proposed project could play a crucial role in implementing the regional action to reduce the risk of further introduction of invasive pests into new territories using ecologically effective pest management strategies.
This project will provide support to strengthen national and local capacity in providing technical support for sustainable management of pests in targeted countries using the components of NBSs.
Reporting Lines
Under the overall supervision by the FAO Representative, technical supervision by the Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Protection) in FAO-RAP, day-to-day management by Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and in collaboration with the Programme Specialist for Soil Health and Food Systems at FAO in Vietnam and the international consultant for the project. The incumbent will work to ensure the timely implementation of the project and timely providing all relevant deliverables of the project.
Technical Focus
The National Project Coordinator will support the implementation of the project activities and provide technical assistance in developing training materials in the application of NBS for crop pest management, and a guideline on the safe use of plant protection products, how to use and manage the products effectively to minimize risks.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Support in preparation of a project proposal for an approval of Government of Vietnam
• Support the formulation, finalization and implementation of Letter of Agreements as deemed necessary.
• Provide technical assistance to conduct a capacity need assessment in application of NBSs for crop pest management
• Provide technical assistance to develop training programme for Training of Trainers (ToT) and farmer training classes.
• Provide technical assistance in reviewing and developing training materials for the ToT course and core farmer training classes (FFS - Farmer Field Schools) on the application of Natural-Based Solutions (NBS) for crop pest management.
• Provide technical assistance in developing a guide on the safe use of plant protection products, how to use and manage the products effectively to minimize risks.
• Work closely with International Consultant (IC) and LTO of the project for the preparation of the work plan, knowledge products (KPs), training guidelines, flyers etc
• Submit documents to IC for review of the documents and make them final in consultation and clearance with LTO
• Provide technical assistance for feedback and clarification to the comments from project teams, FAO officers, governments counterparts, local institutions, relevant stakeholders, and developing a national project report.
• Ensure the timely implementation of the project and completion of the project with the extended NTE of the project which is December 2025.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree preferably in Plant Protection, Agronomy or related field is required
• Minimum 10 years of experience in plant protection issues in Vietnam
• Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese.
• National of Viet Nam or resident of the country with valid work permit.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Prior experience in working on projects on the nature-based solution in crop protection, and/ or bio-pesticides is an asset.
• Previous successful developing training materials is an asset.