Junior Agronomy and Extension Specialist

Organizational Setting

The position is located at the FAO Representation in Georgia. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

The Junior Agronomy and Extension Specialist shall operate under the overall guidance and responsibility of the FAO Representative in Georgia; direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator, technical supervision of the International Agronomist & Capacity Building Specialist, and in collaboration with other international and national consultants.

Technical Focus

The Junior Agronomy and Extension Specialist will provide technical support to the extension activities linked in several projects in Abkhazia and in the rest of Georgia.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical guidance to the local teams (both in Abkhazia and in the rest of Georgia) in the implementation of demonstration plots for extension purposes, including GAPs, CSA and IPM.
• Provide general technical support in agronomy related to the technical evaluation of individual and municipal investments for ENPARD III and other programs
• Support to design and follow the Annual Workplan of projects on Agronomic related Outputs, and further revise performance of Agriculture activities on a monthly and quarterly basis
• Revise weekly workplans of Agronomists to be in alignment with project targets
• Support Agronomy and Extension Specialists on specific problems with pests and diseases in vegetables and fruit trees
• Support in the development of training material for farmers and extension providers focusing on brochures on irrigation, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Good Agriculture Practices.
• Participate in the Internship Program annual plan and selection process. Interact with Agronomy Interns in the field to build their technical capacities.
• Provide technical support, organize and participate in the different activities of extension and capacity development, including the implementation of Farmer Field Schools
• Collaborate with Monitoring of staff to plan and organize monitoring activities. Support M&E with information requested.
• Support the activities of the project EUIPSC 013 on technical assistance to nurseries, with the focus on planting material certification process
• Provide technical support to agriculture projects in Abkhazia specially on the implementation of at least 18 Farmer Field Schools, supporting the project staff, FFS Facilitators and farmers
• Participate actively in Farmer Field Days where extension activities are being developed in Georgia proper and Abkhazia
• Other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• A university degree in Agronomy or Veterinary
• 2 years of relevant experience in agronomy, including direct field work with farmers
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Good written, oral, and analytical skills;
• Ability to work as an effective team member;
• Self-initiative, self investigation of solution to technical problems