Agricultural Officer (Plant Production And Protection)

Organizational Setting FAO's Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). It assists the FAO Representations (FAORs) in the subregion with addressing subregional food security, agriculture and rural development issues at country level. The Subregional Office (SLC) is supervised by FAO's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC).

The post is located in the Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Reporting Lines The Agriculture Officer (Plant Production and Protection) reports to the Subregional Coordinator for the Caribbean, and is part of one or more regional technical teams.

Technical Focus Agricultural production and crop protection that is more efficient, competitive, sustainable, climate resilient and socially inclusive, especially for small and medium-scale farmers. This focus entails complementary work inter alia on digital agriculture and technological innovation; nature-based solutions, crop diversity, and ecosystem approaches; reduction in waste and input use; pesticide use and international standards; extension and technical advisory services.

Key Results Comprehensive technical, statistical, analytical and/or policy analysis services and the development of specialized tools, methodologies, systems and/or databases to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of the programme of work and related products, projects, publications, and services.

Key Functions • Plans and leads components of multidisciplinary teams, leads and/or participates in internal committees, project teams, and working groups and/or provides specialized expertise on technical networks and/or international technical policy and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies; • Develops technical, analytical, monitoring and reporting frameworks, and related methodologies, tools, systems and databases etc. to support the planning, implementation/delivery and monitoring of programmes of work, projects, products and/or services; • Designs and conducts research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovative approaches and strategies, new tools, technologies, technical reports/publications, and/or policy proposals as well as the provision of technical/policy/ specialist/advice and expertise; • Responds to country requests for technical and policy assistance, provides technical advice, assistance and solutions to Decentralized Offices and provides technical backstopping to field projects; • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools; • Promotes international cooperation/advocates best practices, increased policy dialogue and provides technical expertise at international/intergovernmental meetings; • Participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate strategy.

Specific Functions • Promotes agricultural production and crop protection that is more efficient, competitive, sustainable, climate resilient and socially inclusive, especially for small- and medium-scale farmers. • Promotes agricultural digitalization and technological innovation for sustainable crop production, crop diversification, and climate smart agriculture to improve people's nutrition, livelihoods and incomes in both rural and urban areas. • Promotes an ecosystem approach to crop production to develop agro-ecological knowledge and practices which enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services, and contributes to climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience. • Improves timeliness and productivity of agricultural operations, and enable a shift from subsistence to more competitive, market-oriented farming through appropriate mechanization systems, improved technologies and seed-delivery systems and strengthened extension services. • Promotes precision agriculture to improve productivity and efficiency of production, particularly optimizing water efficiency, soil regeneration, nutrient and input use, and reducing waste at all stages of the production process. • Improves pesticide management and reduce reliance on pesticides by applying an integrated pest management approach. • Supports monitoring of transboundary plant pests and diseases and supports countries to mitigate their impact by setting up surveillance, early warning and effective pest control systems. • Facilitates the participation of countries in regional and international bodies and treaties dealing with plant genetic resources, developing international quality standards, and technical guidelines to reduce the risks of pesticide use, leading to consumer and environmental protection. • Promotes good agricultural practices that incorporate global agronomic, environmental and decent work standards to facilitate access to and competitiveness in international markets.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in agriculture, crop production, crop protection, plant sciences or related field • Seven years of relevant experience in technical and policy advice to promote agricultural production and crop protection that is more efficient, competitive, sustainable, climate resilient and socially inclusive, especially for small- and medium-scale farmers • Working knowledge (level C) of English and Spanish

Competencies • Results Focus • Team Work • 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 is desirable • Extent and relevance of experience in one or more of the following fields related to sustainable agricultural production: plant production and protection, digital agriculture and technological innovation, precision agriculture suited to small-scale farmers, water use efficiency, pesticide management and regulations, climate smart agriculture • Extent and relevance of experience in the Caribbean is considered a strong asset • Extent and relevance of experience in project/programme formulation and implementation of projects, programmes and studies • Extent and relevance of experience in providing policy advice at local, national, and regional levels in plant production • Extent and relevance of knowledge in the implementation of international instruments, including the International Plant Protection Convention and the Rotterdam Convention • Ability to organize and conduct technical meetings, conferences and workshops • Ability to mobilize resources and to build and nurture effective relations with both public and private partners