Agricultural Officer (Plant Protection/Locusts)

Organizational Setting The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) promotes the transition to sustainable crop production systems. It promotes an integrated approach for crop production policies and practices within the framework of sustainable food and agriculture and its underlying principles: increasing productivity and resource use efficiency, conservation and management of natural resources, enhancing resilience to climate change and improvement of livelihoods and governance.

The position is under the Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases Team (NSPMD), one of the six teams in the Division. NSPMD provides advice, technical support and guidance to countries on the sustainable management and control of transboundary plant pests and diseases and locusts. The team is comprised of technical specialists managing transboundary plant pests and diseases, in close collaboration with countries, by monitoring, early warning, forecasting, rapid response, communication and capacity development and by promoting sustainable and environmentally sound management and control techniques.

The post is located in Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Reporting Lines The Agricultural Officer reports to Senior Agriculture Officer, Team Leader, Locusts and Transboundary Plant Pests and Diseases Team (NSPMD), and works under the direct administrative supervision of the FAO Representative in Tajikistan.

Technical Focus Support the implementation of the regional project on the improvement of locust management in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Key Results

Collection and analysis of information, data and statistics and support to programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions • Collects and analyses relevant technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related information, data and/or statistics to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services; • Undertakes analysis, provides technical input for plans and reports and edits/revises technical/scientific documents; • Participates in the development of improved work methods, tools and systems; • Updates databases and web pages; • Participates in multidisciplinary project/work teams; • Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars etc; • Participates in the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions • Contributes to implementing, coordinating and following-up on project field activities in the six countries covered by the project, such as training sessions, cross-border surveys, country-to-country visits, dispatch of background literature, pesticide risk reduction activities, etc; • Supports at field level the procurement of locust survey and control equipment and monitors and reports on field dispatch, use and maintenance, in coordination with the Heads of the Anti-locust units of the six countries; • Supports locust and anti-locust data collection at national levels and assists in preparation of monthly locust bulletins for Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA); • Supports the introduction, use and management of the Automated System for Data Collection (ASDC) and of the 'Caucasus and Central Asia Locust Management System (CCALM)', through advocacy and assistance to the six countries, and contributes to identify systems' improvement based on users' feedback; • Contributes to the smooth flow of information, in particular with the national authorities and national technical staff of the six countries; • Follows-up on project field implementation and provides timely inputs for monitoring and reporting purposes, including participating in missions to countries during key activities.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in agronomy, plant protection, entomology, crop science, or any other relevant field; • Three years of relevant experience in relevant experience in plant production and protection, or pest management; • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of Russian.

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 is desirable; • Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in plant production or protection and in transboundary plant pest management, in particular locusts in Central Asian countries; • Extent and relevance of experience in collecting and analysing technical information/data and demonstrated ability to draft technical/scientific documents and/or training tools, information material, reports, briefs and meeting minutes; • Experience in coordination of multicountry and/or multistakeholder projects with proven effectiveness and ability to work in multicultural and/or gender/culturally diverse environment; • Knowledge of FAO's procedures, especially concerning procurement, would be considered as an asset; • Working knowledge of Russian is considered a strong asset.