National Agrobiodiversity Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO is implementing a Global Environmental Facility project, jointly with IOM, UNICEF and UN Women, titled “Facilitating agrobiodiversity (ABD) conservation and sustainable use to promote food and nutritional resilience in Tajikistan”. The project objective is the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Securing of the national and globally significant agrobiodiversity and the associated knowledge and cultural aspects of traditional agro-ecosystems of Tajikistan. This encompasses the valuation and maintenance crop landraces, crop wild relatives and their associated knowledge and cultural methods within the traditional agro-ecosystems of Tajikistan.

The project supports building an evidence-based conservation planning approach that includes the production of inventories of diversity; mapping hotspots; the identification of stakeholders and the fostering of linkages between them. The project is organized into 3 components:

Component 1: Agrobiodiversity conservation and policy enhancement to benefit local communities; Component 2: Strengthening local community and breeding sector’s capacity to use the breadth of indigenous agrobiodiversity and ensure climate resilience; Component 3: Support policy development, knowledge management, improved financing and monitoring and evaluation.

The project is built on current initiatives and processes and involves several stakeholders, including farmers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to assure its sustainability after the project is over. Furthermore, the project promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment by supporting women’s participation and decision-making capabilities; improving access to resources and technologies; and, creating financial opportunities for income-generating activities.

Reporting Lines

The National Agrobiodiversity Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAOR in Tajikistan, and under the technical guidance and supervision of the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and National Technical Officer and/ or National Project Coordinator, and relevant technical and programme units in FAO Representation Office in Tajikistan, Sub-regional Office (SEC) and Regional (REU) and at Headquarters in Rome. He/She will co-operate closely with national counterparts, including local authorities (Hukumat/ Jamoat), local farmers and national consultants, as well as with local/ regional branches of Ministry of Agriculture, CoEP, Forest Agency, Protected Areas, and the joint PUNOs implemented this project.

Technical Focus

• Conducted assessment of current active CWR and landrace in situ and ex situ conservation actions, including comparison analysis undertaken on CWR and landrace diversity with CWR taxa actively conserved in the wild and landraces cultivated on-farm. • Conducted gap analysis and identified gaps of indigenous ABD, CWR and landrace diversity (set targets to fill gaps), covering: - Description of the state of agrobiodiversity and agroecosystems in each of the 4 districts. - Compile a list of cultivated species and wild relatives of agrobiodiversity across four districts. Description of features. - List of globally significant types of CWR for certification and marketing. - Environmental problems, threats and barriers to the development and improvement of agrobiodiversity. - Describe how efficiently and productively agrobiodiversity species are cultivated and generate income. • Completed Mapping of the willingness of the farmers to work with the project team and improve they access to market. • Number of Training modules closely relevant to the subject developed based on the needs assessment; Need assessment report developed and submitted. • Conducted professional trainings to 50 local farmers for: (i) establishment of LR on-farm sites for maintenance of landraces; (ii) identification, planning, establishment and management of CWR genetic reserves; (iii) developing protocols for seed accessions; • Conducted gap analysis and assessment of existing policy related to agrobiodiversity and developed recommendations for policy/ legislative frameworks improvements for on-farm maintenance of LRs, CWR genetic reserves, etc. • Developed list of recommended in-situ and ex-situ conservation actions and strategies to be eventually integrated into the National Strategy and Action Plan. Reviewed NSAP-CUA recommendations for climate resilience that includes at least 2-4 gender-sensitive actions. National CWR inventory created/ maintained; • Prepared georeferenced occurrence database for CWR taxa and cultivated landraces nationally and in target areas. Formal and informal CWR genetic reserves designed. • Provided guidelines and designed the process for the implementation of 40 active on-farm sites (out of total 80 active on-farm sites). Established 2 community seed banks (out of 3 community seed banks). • Conducted monitoring at on-farm level. Final Report with all annexes developed and submitted to FAO through NC IEPA.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Specialist on Agrobiodiversity will be responsible for the below mentioned: • Provide technical support and best practices and training for (i) establishment of LR on-farm sites for maintenance of landraces; (ii) identification, planning, establishment and management of CWR genetic reserves; (iii) developing protocols for seed accessions; and (iv) assessing existing gaps in policy related to agrobiodiversity and recommendations for policy improvements for on-farm maintenance of LRs, CWR genetic reserves, etc. • Undertake of a conservation assessment of current active CWR and landrace in situ and ex situ conservation actions. Compare overall CWR and landrace diversity with CWR taxa actively conserved in the wild and landraces cultivated on-farm. Identify gaps (gap analysis) of indigenous ABD, CWR and landrace diversity. Set targets to fill gaps (recommended in situ and ex situ conservation actions and strategies) that will form the basis for the National Strategy and Action Plan. Create a national CWR inventory and • Prepare georeferenced occurrence database for CWR taxa and cultivated landraces nationally and in target areas. Design of formal and informal CWR genetic reserves. • Design the process for the implementation of 80 active on-farm sites, guide the process for establishment of 3 community seed banks established. Support the Management and monitoring of on-farm population. • Mobilize the necessary work force to ensure that all project results are achieved at high quality; • Facilitate communication between FAO and government, resource partners, partners from/into local languages; • Prepare an end of assignment report for approval by the FAOR and LTO. • Perform other duties within the National Project Coordinator’s technical competence as required by the FAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• PhD or Master’s degree(s) in agriculture (agrobiodiversity), natural resources management (land, water, forest, pasture), biology, endemic and genetic resources or related fields. • A minimum of 5 years work experience on planning, establishment and management of ABD, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; develop training modules and deliver of professional trainings to local farmers (preferable, on-farm LRs and CWR conservation); policy gap analysis and policy/ legislative frameworks improvement on agrobiodiversity (ABD), including on-farm maintenance of landrace (LR), crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic reserves; • Working knowledge of Tajik and Russian, English is an asset; • National or Resident of Tajikistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in the gap analysis, assessment, formulation, analysis, planning and/or implementation of projects related to agrobiodiversity conservation and sustainable development of ADB production and marketing; • Relevance of experience in the field of the group-based, market-led and participatory approach to agrobiodiversity conservation and sustainable use, i.e. “establishment and management of ABD, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; develop training modules and deliver of professional trainings to local farmers (preferable, on-farm LRs and CWR conservation); policy gap analysis and policy/ legislative frameworks improvement on agrobiodiversity (ABD), including on-farm maintenance of landrace (LR), crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic reserves, as well as marketing and value-chain development”. • Relevance of knowledge and experience in climate reliance and natural resources management (land, water, forest, pasture); and breeding and production of agrobiodiversity crop products/ food crops, on-farm and in wild landscapes. • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions within Tajikistan. • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered an asset; • Proficiency in Tajik is an strong asset and an advantage. • Analytical and report writing skills (including technical reports); • Experience on Monitoring & Evaluation (SMART) of indigenous ABD, CWR and LR;

Selection Criteria

• Prove professional education degree on agrobiodiversity, natural resource management, climate resilience, biology, endemic and genetic resources governance, or relevant fields; • Demonstratable experience (5 years) in the planning, establishment and management of ABD, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; on delivery of professional trainings to local farmers (on-farm LRs and CWR conservation); policy gap analysis and policy/ legislative frameworks improvement on agrobiodiversity (ABD), including on-farm maintenance of landrace (LR), crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic reserves; • Capacity for data collection (database) and information management system / exchanges; • Skills such as preparation of policy gap analysis, analytical and evidence-based reports/ technical assessment/ survey; • Experience on development of training modules and delivery training courses (Certificate, etc.); • Knowledge on the project areas of intervention; • Excellent working knowledge of Excel/ Word and other software.