Community Development Specialist

Organizational Setting

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

The work under the project falls within FAO’s global mandate to defeat hunger and achieve food and nutrition security. Through the project interventions, a more cohesive approach on food availability and nutrition, increased crop productivity, and improvement on the availability of community services will promote social cohesion and peace and stability in the target communities. While the primary FAO strategic objective that the project directly contributes to is Better Life, the project interventions also promote the remaining strategic objectives, Better Production, Better Nutrition, and a Better Environment.

The Project aims to sustain the increase in productivity of rice and corn farming communities in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to avoid local food insecurity and rural unemployment due to the rippled effect of the ongoing Russia - Ukraine war. The Project’s expected outcome is “increased productivity and income of small-holder rice and corn farmers through the provision of inorganic fertilizers and training on soil testing and efficient use of fertilizers”. Moreover, it will contribute to BARMM’s ongoing programs and plans, such as the updated Bangsamoro Development Plan and BARMM Food Security and Nutrition Roadmap, and will complement the ongoing initiatives peace and development initiatives of the Government of Japan in BARMM.

Reporting Lines

The Community Development Specialist will be under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, with supervision by the Assistant FAO Philippines Representative for Programmes, and directly reports to the Project Team Leader.

Technical Focus

The Community Development Specialist will closely work with the project stakeholders to ensure that all community-related tasks are coordinated and monitored while ensuring community processes to monitor the cost recovery scheme is observed.

Tasks and responsibilities

• With guidance from the assistant FAO Representative for Programmes, the head of the Mindanao Sub-Office, the project team leader and in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and other stakeholders, formulate a general framework in the implementation of cost recovery scheme for inorganic fertilizers that the project will distribute to farmer beneficiaries.

• In relation to the above cost recovery framework, assist the farmers’ groups in formulating their specific cost recovery scheme and guidelines.

• Under the supervision of the assistant FAO Representative for Programmes, the head of the Mindanao Sub-Office and and the project team leader, coordinate with MAFAR, local government units (LGUs), service providers and relevant entities, prepare training plan for the strengthening of farmer’s cooperatives/associations and management of funds from the cost recovery scheme with detailed training programme for each of identified training courses including training coverage, duration, venue, target beneficiaries, resource persons/institution, training details, and estimated budget requirement;

• Serve as resource person and/or facilitator during the conduct of training courses.

• Prepare training report and training materials as output of the training sessions conducted.

• Document lessons learned in establishing the cost recovery scheme and provide recommendation for its enhancement and sustainability.

• Provide monitoring support and reports as required, including progress, and terminal/technical reports for donor and partners;

• Perform any other tasks/functions that may be assigned by the FAO Representative, and the FAO Mindanao Sub-Office Head.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, agricultural extension, community development, or other related fields

• At least five (5) years of professional experience in agriculture, community engagement and providing training related to rural development projects

• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Filipino

• A national or resident of the Philippines

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Good knowledge of the socio-economic and agricultural situation in the Philippines

• Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute complex processes across a wide range of stakeholders, advance ability to work quickly and under pressure

• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and take leadership when appropriate

• General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Filipino