Digital Agriculture and Innovation Specialist(s)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to More efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life, leaving no one behind.

The Office of Innovation (OIN) provides strategic direction and helps drive and coordinate innovation across the work of the Organization by consolidating and strengthening FAO's innovative spirit, including innovation of approach and cooperation models. The Office identifies, strengthens and complements priority areas for collective action; ensures that FAO mainstreams innovation in its programmes; facilitates cross-collaboration between the various FAO units; and aids in forging and reinforcing transformative partnerships.

Requested Profiles (or Job Titles)

1. Digital Agriculture Specialist
2. Innovation Specialist

Reporting Lines

Under the supervision of the Senior Technical Officer in the Office of Innovation (OIN), the incumbent will support various digital agriculture and innovation programmes in the Office and support the uptake of innovation in the Organization.

Technical Focus

Supports policy and technical advice on innovations in agrifood systems. Leads innovation projects, including country-level programmes and provides support to regional and country-level innovation initiatives.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will work within the Office of Innovation at headquarters or in other units or countries where OIN leads in providing support to FAO Members, extension workers, farmers, and other stakeholders.

The Office of Innovation runs several programmatic areas of focus in the following areas where the incumbent could be assigned:

1. Digital agriculture and Innovation
2. Supporting national digital agriculture strategies
3. Global Network in Digital Agriculture and Innovation Hubs
4. Innovation and frontier technologies specialists (including blockchain, IoT, AI, chatbots, etc.)
5. Behavioural science in support of innovation
6. Innovation and partnerships and support various stakeholders
7. Design thinking and hackathons

More specifically, the incumbent will :

• Provide support to identify, accelerate and scale-up innovative and digital solutions and business models in countries.
• Contribute to the establishment of partnerships with academia, civil society, and private sector to support joint initiatives related to digital agriculture and innovation.
• Collect and analyze data on digitalization status and trends, policies and strategies, challenges for rural and urban areas, and understanding different forms of the digital divide, as well as assist in monitoring indicators on digitalization and other information in support of programme of work.
• Contribute to the implementation of the Global Network of Digital Agriculture Innovation Hubs. Support the country offices implement their respective national node of innovation hubs through coordinating via the local FAO Office, national stakeholders and organize workshops to identify and share knowledge, good practices and lessons learned in digital agriculture and innovation.
• Provide inputs to documents, proposals, materials, speeches, presentations, and assistance on matters related to the digital agriculture and innovation.
• Manage and run hackathons, developing a hackathon methodology for agriculture.
• Align the OIN work on digital innovation on digital agriculture strategies, blockchain, artificial intelligence, data, behavioural science and design thinking and innovation hubs.
• Develop slides or speeches for presentations by senior FAO management related to the innovation domain.
• Lead or support the ideation, set-up and running of events from online webinars through to workshops and conferences.
• Perform other duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, management, development studies, behavioural science, innovation, computer science and engineering, communications, or related studies or any other relevant degree.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish) for Consultants. For PSA.SBS working knowledge of English will be sufficient.
• At least 5 years working experience in digital agriculture, innovation methods (hackathons, design thinking, etc.), and innovation strategies.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Awareness of the global, regional and country-level digital initiatives.
• Familiarity with the ecosystem surrounding digital agriculture and the capabilities and services required by FAO.
• Demonstrated organization, research, presentation and writing skills.
• Knowledge of digital agriculture innovation areas such as design thinking, boot camps, innovation challenges, hackathons, behavioural science and frontier technologies.
• Excellent organizational, time management and planning skills with demonstrated capacity to work in a fast-pace, high pressure environment.