FAO Jobs: International Agronomist and Capacity-Development Specialist

The main aim of the FAO office in Georgia is to assist the government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

The International Agronomist and Extension Officer shall operate under the overall guidance and responsibility of the FAO Representative in Georgia; direct supervision of the ENPARD Coordinator, under the technical support of the technical officers in charge of plant protection, extension and climate smart agriculture in the FAO Regional office for Europe and Central Asia and AGDR, and in close collaboration with other international and national consultants of the ENPARD II and III projects, FAO Representation Office and Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) of Georgia.

Technical Focus

The Agronomist will be in charge of the day to day technical support to the ENPARD Programme in terms of Agronomy, with an especial focus in providing technical support in the evaluation of the individual or municipal investments under the matching grant component of ENPARD III, as well as supporting the extension component, including the technical support in the preparation of extension materials, the preparation of a training programme for extensionists, as well as the support to the concrete technical activities to be implemented in the field, in terms of extension methodologies such as Farmer Field Schools through demonstration plots. The International Agronomist will also provide technical support in the shaping of a Climate Smart Agriculture training programme to be developed within ENPARD.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support in the implementation of the project components related to agronomy and extension under ENPARD Programme
• Provide technical guidance to the national project team in the implementation of activities related to agronomy and capacity development.
• Analyse data, technical and policy issues, strategies and programmes, in the frame of ENPARD, in terms of agronomy and extension.
• Provide technical support to the MEPA officials in terms of policy analysis and policy development in terms of agronomy, and participate in the discussions of the Working Group on Extension created within MEPA.
• Liaise with different stakeholders active in agriculture, rural development and extension, and support technical support in agronomy and promote the coordination amongst stakeholders and the information sharing within ENPARD Programme.
• Provide general technical advice to the MEPA and the EU Delegation in terms of agronomy and capacity development.
• Provide general technical support in agronomy related to the technical evaluation of individual and municipal investments for the ENPARD Programme.
• Provide technical guidance to the national project team and the implementers in the implementation of activities in the field in terms of selection, implementation and evaluation of investments.
• Provide overall technical assistance in developing and reviewing extension and information materials and guidelines related to agronomy, including Climate Smart Agriculture practices.
• Provide technical support, organise and participate the different activities of extension and capacity development, including the implementation of Farmer Field Schools.
• Provide technical guidance to the national team and implementers in the implementation of demonstration plots for extension purposes, including agronomic activities and taking into consideration also Climate Smart Agriculture considerations.
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

 Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in agronomy, extended education in extension would be an asset.
• At least 3 years of practical experience in project management in agronomy and/or extension related projects.
• Excellent knowledge of English (level C) and working knowledge of any other UN language (level B).

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in field project development and implementation, with a focus on agronomy, extension and/or climate smart agriculture
• Work experience managing and leading teams
• Advanced knowledge on capacity development and participatory extension methods.