National Agriculture and Land Management Specialist

Overview

Provide technical support for land consolidation activities in Georgia.

You have:

• Master’s degree in agriculture, land management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in agronomy, horticulture, plant protection and production, amelioration or soil management.
• Working knowledge of English (C level for both speaking and writing).
• National of Georgia.

Organizational Setting

The position is located at the FAO Representation in Georgia, based in Tbilisi. 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.

The National Agriculture and Land Management Specialist will be recruited under the UTF/GEO/034/GEO-F project titled: “Formulation and design of Land Consolidation in Georgia (hereafter referred as “UTF Project”)”.

The overarching goal of the project is to support the introduction of a fully operational land consolidation instrument in Georgia integrated with irrigation rehabilitation in the World Bank Georgia Resilient Agriculture, Irrigation, and Land (GRAIL) Project. The project is expected to contribute to future increased agricultural production and investments, more efficient use of land and of water for agricultural purposes, more dynamic agricultural land markets, improved access to credit, and improved access to land and strengthened land rights, including for women who own land alone or jointly with men.

Land consolidation in Georgia is expected to result in more efficient farm structures through reduction of land fragmentation and the voluntary facilitation of farm enlargement and in this way contribute to local agricultural development. Land consolidation is planned to be introduced in a multi-purpose approach, integrating the objective of agricultural development with additional public objectives related to nature, environment and climate change adaptation and mitigation depending on the situation in the project areas.

The project will result in a National Land Consolidation Strategy document, legal framework assessment for land consolidation, initiation of implementation of land consolidation pilot projects, initiation of country-wide multicriteria assessment for future land consolidation efforts and the initial development of technical and administrative capacity for implementation of land consolidation projects and management of a future national land consolidation programme.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall responsibility of the FAO Representative for Georgia, and the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator, and in close collaboration with all relevant units of the FAO Country Office in Georgia and international experts.

Technical Focus

This specialist delivers essential technical support to pilot activities by analysing the local agricultural situation, assessing crop suitability, and reviewing soil productivity and irrigation/drainage networks. The role involves leading local agronomists, coordinating discussions for state-owned assets, and providing quality control for feasibility studies and land consolidation plans.

The incumbent will provide technical support to the implementation of the UTF Project with focus on all land consolidation related activities.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support for the implementation of land consolidation activities under the GRAIL Project, in close collaboration with and under the technical and operational supervision of FAO and the relevant units within MEPA and the LMA. • With technical guidance from FAO, contribute to the successful implementation of the land consolidation pilot projects under GRAIL in selected rural areas. This includes supporting the field teams in analysing the agricultural situation and assessing its potential, supporting land valuation, participating in the re-allotment planning process, providing advice on crop suitability, soil productivity, irrigation and other agriculture infrastructure, as well as other relevant aspects. • Align land consolidation activities with agricultural support programmes and Government policies to incentivise participation and ensure the engagement and active participation of landowners and farmers. • Supervise and coordinate the work of the Local Agronomists, ensuring quality and timely delivery of outputs. • Provide guidance and technical support to the Local Agronomists, assess their performance and give feedback where necessary. • Engage in discussions with relevant units in MEPA, LMA and other government institutions on making state owned agricultural land available for the land consolidation process in general and in the pilot areas (land banking). • Participate in trainings for LMA staff and other stakeholders, national and local (in pilots) workshops and awareness raising related to land consolidation. • Support the drafting of the National Land Consolidation Strategy. • Contribute to the assessment, development and updating of legislation, regulations, and operational procedures related to land consolidation. • Contribute to quality assurance and technical control of all deliverables related to the land consolidation component of the GRAIL Project, including feasibility studies and land consolidation plans in pilot areas. • Contribute to the development of the National Land Consolidation Programme under the GRAIL Project, based on pilot experiences and technical oversight from FAO.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in agriculture, land management, or a related field. • Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in agronomy, horticulture, plant protection and production, amelioration or soil management. • Working knowledge of English (C level for both speaking and writing) • National of Georgia.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Computer literacy with spreadsheets, databases, data and analytical information management, Microsoft Office. • Ability to assess agricultural potential, crop suitability, and land productivity. • Experience with irrigation systems, agricultural infrastructure, and land improvement. • Understanding of land consolidation processes (land valuation, re-allotment, farm structuring). • Knowledge of land tenure, land governance, and agricultural land use in Georgia. • Ability to align agricultural activities with government policies and support programmes. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills related to rural and agricultural development. • Excellent coordination, reporting, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Selection Criteria

• Strong understanding of the agricultural sector, Government policies and support programmes. • Familiarity with land governance and land tenure systems. • Proven professional experience in agronomy, horticulture, plant protection and production, amelioration or soil management. • Any knowledge of land consolidation will be an asset. • Proven experience in team supervision. • Proven experience of working with rural communities and farmers. • Demonstrated experience in supervising and providing technical guidance to agronomy staff or field teams. • Experience in working with international organizations, government agencies and development partners is an asset; • Working experience at a UN organization is an asset. • Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills. • Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams and large-scale development projects will be an asset. • Proven experience in team supervision. • Experience working with international organizations, government agencies and development partners is an asset. • Proven experience of working with rural communities and farmers. • Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 18 hours ago - Updated 8 hours ago - Source: fao.org