Crop production Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is the specialized agency of the United Nations for food, nutrition, agriculture, and forestry. FAO’s global vision is for a world free from hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture contribute to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active and healthy lives.

The mission of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is to work to eradicate hunger and promote global food security together with balanced and complete nutrition. Our mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.

Our three main goals are the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition; the elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all; and, the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate, and genetic resources for the benefit of present and future generations.

The FAO Ethiopia, assist the Government of Ethiopia to develop policies, programs, and projects to achieve food security and reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors and use their environmental and natural resources sustainably.

Ethiopia hosts one of the highest numbers of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) globally. The Federal Government of Ethiopia (GoE) is exerting efforts to advance solutions for internal displacement, including through establishing the Durable Solutions Initiative (DSI) designed to provide a principled operational framework for durable solutions and shape multi-sectoral and collective programs to return, relocate, and locally integrate IDPs. Somali and Oromia regions, particularly Oromia Region bordering areas with Somali Region, present priority geographic areas for DSI in general. DSI Ethiopia, in consideration of the socio-political dynamics between the two regions, socio-economic grievances, and security environment, is prioritizing progressive resolutions of the complex displacement situations in these regions.

In light of the complexity and the dimensions of displacement situations in Somali and Oromia regions, FAO, IOM, and UN-HABITAT designed a joint project entitled Strengthening Resilience of Disaster Affected Communities through Durable Solutions in Oromia and Somali Regions of Ethiopia. The plan is to employ durable solutions that enhance IDPs' and host communities’ capacities to move towards recovery and resilience with a particular focus on the Fafan and Shabelle zones of the Somali Region, and the East and West Hararge zones of the Oromia Region.

Among others, FAO will support dryland farming practices and rangeland restoration to enable targeted displacement-affected communities to increase crop production and productivity, and income as well as expands local economic growth.

It is under this context; FAO Ethiopia is seeking to recruit crop production specialist to perform the below-mentioned tasks based in Jigjiga.

Reporting Lines

The Crop Production Specialist works under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Ethiopia (FAOR), technical supervision of the NRM and Resilience Officer, and direct supervision of the FAO Field Office Coordinator.

Technical Focus

The Crop Production Specialist - Dry land Agronomist will provide technical support to the implementation of a project on Strengthening crop intensification and diversification pertinent to dryland ecosystem through promotion of improved technologies and best practices in close collaboration with key partners. In addition, the specialist provides technical support, facilitate capacity building training, monitor and evaluate project implementation at field level.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Support the identification, planning, implementation and monitoring of the Sustainable Crop Production Intensification and diversification practices and technologies suitable for the target areas context. • Provide technical support for the implementation of the identified practices and technologies and promote climate smart agriculture- conservation agriculture, soil and water conservation, soil fertility management, drought tolerant and escape varieties planting and introduce community-based seed multiplication and FFS. • Follow-up and monitor the progress of the implementation of dryland farming and rangeland plans of the project and identify any deviation and take corrective measures to ensure timely delivery of projects. • Participate in the preparation of technical guidelines, manuals, training materials and leaflets on improved crop production technologies and best practices. • Provide training on agronomic practices/ dryland farming practices, conservation/climate smart agriculture (CSA), integrated pest management (IPM), post-harvest management (PHM), Soil and water conservation, soil fertility management, crop/livestock interaction, grassland management, farmer manged natural regeneration (FMNR), FFS and home gardening. • Liaise with Service Providers of the project and any other stakeholders in the target woredas to ensure timely and relevant participation of the stakeholders in the coordination platforms and mechanisms established for project implementation at woreda level. • Contribute to the conducting of periodic reviews and appraisals of crop production in the target woreda/kebele. • Assist in the timely distribution agricultural inputs to targeted farmers. • Collect and document all the necessary dryland farming and FMNR activities information disaggregated by sex and age composition of targeted households and their family on project activities. • Facilitate environmental and social impact assessments for dryland agriculture and FMNR and preparation of Social & Environment plans. • Contribute towards the dryland and FMNR activities visibility and communication plan including relevant case stories, success stories, pictures, photographs, and lessons learned and IEC materials development. • In collaboration with the project team and FAO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, participate in the design and implementation of baseline surveys and mapping of the target woredas and beneficiary sites; and monitor and evaluate the progress of activities, the impact of programming and drawing up lessons learned; and implement suggestions to improve performance and the necessary adjustments to the work plans. • Contribute to the detailed project annual work plans related to the crop production portion of the project and make necessary arrangements for their successful implementation. • Compile and submit weekly/bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports timely against the plans, highlighting any constraints to project implementation and possible solutions. • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in crop production. • 8 years of relevant experience in dryland crop production • Working knowledge of English and the official language of the country. • National of the country

FAO Core 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 • Extent and relevance of experience in climate smart agriculture. • Extent and relevance of experience in integrated pest management (IPM). • Familiarity with the government's current systems and policy environments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.