Agronomist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representatives, is to assist Governments to develop policies, programs and projects to achieve food and nutrition security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use the environment and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

In Ethiopia, FAO in collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia prioritizes improving crop and livestock production and productivity, and sustainable natural resource management, while addressing crosscutting themes of resilience, climate change, nutrition and gender. To increase production and productivity of key staple food and commercial crops, FAO provides access to quality seeds and appropriate training/extension services as well as farm equipment. The UN agency promotes value chain and agribusiness development for high value agricultural commodities and supports investment planning for Ethiopia’s Agro-Commodity Procurement Zones (ACPZ) through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative. More still, FAO supports improved post-harvest management to reduce post-harvest losses in fruits and crops including maize, wheat and sorghum, through awareness creation and supporting the production and adoption of storage technologies and practices. Within framework of the Northern Ethiopia Response Plan, which is an integral part of the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan, FAO supports households affected by conflicts and other disasters with Emergency livelihood kits aimed at protecting and restoration of livelihood of the most vulnerable.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Ethiopia and the direct supervision of the Emergency Program Officer and in close technical and administrative relation with other colleagues of FAO Ethiopia, the Agronomist will perform the tasks below.

Technical Focus

Sustainable crop production and protection

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support to FAO Field Offices in Mekelle and Shire, the regional bureau of agriculture and NGO partners to inform programing on sustainable crop production and protection • Work closely with regional agricultural research programs in planning and coordinating seed systems research to leverage FAO’s seed supply chain initiatives and create a mechanism for awareness on new varieties among small scale farmers • Ensure safe storage and handling of FAO seeds and agricultural tools at field level. Where necessary, carry out germination test to ascertain viability of crop seeds before distribution to farmers • In collaboration with FAO’s implementing partners, carry out timely distribution of agricultural inputs in accordance with the agricultural calendar of the region • In collaboration with the regional bureau of agriculture, identify and promote appropriate agronomic practices and innovations and post-harvest management related to the main crops in the region • Participate in the design and implementation of agriculture/food security assessments including but not limited to Rapid Seed Security Assessment (RSSA), Crop and Food Security Assessment (CFSAM), and other join interagency assessment that take into consideration agriculture/food security • Document and disseminate best agronomic practices, varieties, post-harvest management practices etc. for wider replication • Carry out any other activities as assigned by the direct supervisors (operation and technical) • Perform other related duties and activities upon instructions from Head of Field Office

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced degree in agriculture, crop production, soil science and or related discipline; • Five years of experience in implementation, monitoring and coordination of projects related to agriculture and food security. • Five years of experience in agricultural training and extension • Nationals of Ethiopia • Very good knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building effective relationships • Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement • Technical/Functional Skills

• Open to change and ability to manage complexity • Ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a multicultural environment • Capacity to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time to meet goals in a high-pressure environment • Working experience at regional and field levels • Working knowledge and experience in monitoring and evaluation • Demonstrated competence to support institutional capacity building processes • Demonstrated ability to liaise with multiple UN, NGOs, governmental, and media agencies • Relevant understanding and experience in institutional mainstreaming, institutional change and institutional reform • Strong communication, writing and presentation skills in English

Selection Criteria:

• Minimum MSc. in relevant field • Additional relevant training • Experience (year) in agronomic programing • Experience (years) in agriculture program/project management/Coordination • Experience in trainings and extension • Experience in UN and/or NGO procedures will be an advantage

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/