Field Facilitator

Organizational Setting

The massive influx in 2017 forced more than 650,000 people from Myanmar to leave their country and settled down in two southern most upazilas of Cox’s Bazar district. FAO in collaboration with the government and under “SAFE Plus” UN Partner consortium began serving the host communities, who are affected by the influx, in building their livelihoods and skill development opportunities in Cox’s Bazar from October 2017. To support continuation of the crisis response interventions in agricultural livelihoods, DFID agreed to fund the SAFE Plus project’s livelihood component which is implemented primarily by the FAO. The funds will be used to promoting economic inclusion and strengthening local production, supply chains and markets, as well as development of private sector partnership across the sub-sectors of crop production and fisheries.

The SAFE Plus project contributes in improving the ecosystem services by thorough management of the natural resources and building capacity of the communities in conserving the characteristics of the local environment. In addition, the project continues FAO’s commitment to environmental rehabilitation and economic support for the local communities. The restoration of environmental balance to the targeted area is a core commitment in creating sustainable livelihoods.

Reporting Lines :

The Field Facilitator is a SC 1 position and will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, the direct supervision of the Snr Resilience and Rehabilitation Officer and close contact with the Livelihood Coordination Officer in Cox’s Bazar. The Field Facilitators will be based in project locations at sub-district level in Cox’s Bazar and will work in coordination with the contracted service provider (implementing partner), Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Fisheries and Department of Livestock Services

Technical Focus

The Field Facilitators will support the FAO Emergency Response and Resilience Programme in Cox’s Bazar in conducting beneficiaries’ capacity building activities, promotion of ecosystem based agricultural livelihood, improving local agricultural value chains, agricultural input distribution, and facilitating natural resource management, etc. The Field Facilitators will also support in collecting need-based data from the field to prepare reports and design agricultural activities.

Tasks and responsibilities :

• Organize in-depth Trainings on ecosystem based resilient agricultural interventions including market development for the host community beneficiary farmer groups through in-house and field learning sessions.
• Support in distribution of agricultural inputs like agro-machineries, seeds, feeds and good agricultural practice items like vermi-composts, sex-pheromone traps, etc. and organize relevant trainings for the farmer groups
• Facilitate implementation of Integrated farming practices (Vegetable-poultry-fish) in collaboration with government technical departments.
• Support potential farmer groups in establishing High Value Crop nurseries at the feasible project locations.
• Engage active farmer groups to set Dry season Irrigation options as well as support farmers to cultivate low water demanding crops.
• Promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAP-IPM) like production of vermi-compost, growing leguminous plants, mulching, cover shed, etc.
• Visit farmer communities and local markets to monitor and collect real time data on supply chains, productions as well as identify potential opportunities and scopes.
• Inform beneficiaries of the AAP (Accountability to the Affected People) message, feedback mechanism and ensure all complaints from beneficiaries are recorded, resolved and adequate feedback is timely provided;
• Perform other related activities duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Diploma in Agriculture, higher degree any other discipline related to rural livelihood is also preferable.
• At least one year of practical experience in agricultural livelihood promotion with NGOs.
• National of Bangladesh or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Working knowledge of English is essential and communication skills in Bangla is required;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required;
• Ability to work independently and without close supervision;
• Self-motivation, willingness to learn and strong work ethics in managing a multi-disciplinary team.
• Practical experience in farmer group capacity building and market development activities;
• Experienced in monitoring and reporting on field interventions
• Sound understanding on ecosystem based agriculture and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) would be preferable