Innovation and Digital Agriculture Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Asia-Pacific is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the Region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities.

RAP also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the Region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAP develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The innovation and digital agriculture consultant supports regional digital agriculture strategy development, rural transformation through digitalization, and support technology in FAO projects and ICT innovations related to food security, agriculture and rural development issues, supports to strengthen regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

The post is located in the Regional Office for Asia-Pacific

Reporting Lines

The innovation and technology consultant reports to Group Leader of the Socio-Economic Development Policy Support group (SEDPS) of the FAO Regional Office for Asia-Pacific and maintains regular contact with FAO headquarters in Rome for functional guidance on matters relating to digital agriculture/ICTs and digital innovations and technology in the food and agricultural sectors.

Technical Focus

Development of strategy and country technical assistance to facilitate sustainable uptake, use and deployment of innovations (ICTs and processes) to address some of the challenges in agriculture and rural development, digital innovation and technology processes, digital village development, partnership work and resource mobilization.

Tasks and responsibilities

Development and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective strategy assistance and capacity development work on digital innovation and technology to support member states at regional, sub regional and country level: i) in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and its delivery mechanisms, and ii) in response to new ICT/digital agriculture/digital village development/digital innovation and technology assistance requests.

• Provide technical support and guidance on digital village developments and rural transformation through digital innovations in countries participating in Digital Village Initiative.
• Develop and support the DVI tools, guides and methodologies to guide, support and assist member countries in design, testing, piloting and full deployment of digital services, solutions and innovations in support of rural transformation
• Provide technical support and guidance in DV readiness assessment in member countries in consultation with RAP and country DVI teams and national partners.
• Review state of digital platforms, digital databases and ICT applications from public agency departments, private companies, academia, farmers’ groups, and CSOs in participating countries in DVI.
• Provide technical support and contribute content and updates to the DVI Web platform.
• Review existing E-agriculture strategies and national digitalization programs in member countries and provide technical guidance for evaluating the link with digitalization strategies, capacity development needs, data and standards requirements, and priority options for governments suitable for digital village initiatives
• Provide guidance to national consultants engaged with national partners (public and private actors) as part of evidence and consultations to develop a concept note or guide on required actions to test, deploy and service digital solutions within the DV pilot, including provision of training and skill building for end-users (farmers, household residents, youth, women, SMEs).
• Provide guidance on disseminating, use and accessibility of digital platforms and facilitate data exchange and interoperability protocols, transparency and facilitate access, use and management.
• Conduct desk review on digital agriculture transformation, capacity development and digital skills relevant to digital village initiative;
• Understand the needs of all parts of a geographically dispersed users and prioritize and triage which redesign requests will be prioritized, who should execute these requests, and what level of design support is needed to fulfil the request; and
• Provide technical assistance to FAO projects in the region in identifying, developing and sustaining ICT solutions and services
• Contribute to capacity development, training and advocacy to improve the participation of young women, girls and youth into agriculture and promoting the creation of agri–entrepreneurs.
• Coordinate RAP’s work on digital agriculture strategy development and related activities in the region
• Provide technical backstopping to projects that have a strong ICT/digital innovation component
• Co-ordinate with other UN agencies, partner agencies to promote the use of sustainable ICTs for achieving the SDGs
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in information technology, computer science, engineering or related field with experience working on thematic areas related to agriculture and food systems.
• Five years of relevant experience in national strategy, policy advice and analysis relating to use of innovation/technologies for agriculture.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish).

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, particularly in field positions is desirable

Extent and relevance of experience in roles related to ICT strategy, policy analysis and advise and implementation related to sustainable innovations and technology in agriculture and rural development

• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams
• Working knowledge of capacity development at the individual and institutional level.