National Agronomist- Specialist in Farmers Field School and Junior Field Schools

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) Representation in Tajikistan, which is headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist the Government of Tajikistan to develop policies, programmes and projects to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind, in line with the Organization’s Strategic Framework and United Nations’ global and Government of Tajikistan’s national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). FAO is implementing a Migration Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) project, jointly with IOM, UNICEF and UN Women, titled “Empowerment of ‘Families left behind’ for improved Migration Outcomes in Khatlon, Tajikistan”. The objective of project component 2 is to “increase economic resilience and addressed gender related barriers to economic inclusion of families left behind”, which will be reached by five outputs, three of them being implemented by FAO: • increased capacity of women left behind to utilize their land and water resources to carry out farming activities through Farmers Field Schools (FFSs); and built interest of schoolchildren in agriculture and nutrition through Junior Field Schools (JFSs). • increased/improved value chains through farming, small scale processing initiatives, retail and marketing; • improved financial inclusion and increased skills and knowledge to manage debt. As a result, about 500 women smallholder farmers would increase their income through improved skills in farming and climate-smart agriculture, business management, inclusion and linkages and enhanced collective capacity. FAO is well-known for its Farmer Field School (FFS) approach as an effective capacity building and extension approach for farmers. FAO leads the way in advocating for Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA). It is also a means to a diversified group of beneficiaries that includes not only men but women and youth as well. Moreover, projects build on the FFS approach of group and individual learning, capacity building, experimentation and critical discussion help small-scale producers increase production and higher incomes through: i) technological adaptation; ii) co-creation of good agricultural practices; iii) improved post-harvest techniques and practices; iii) better processing; and iv) enhanced market leverage.

Reporting Lines

The National Agronomist- Specialist in FFS and JFS will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Tajikistan and under the technical guidance and supervision of the project Lead Technical Officer (LTO), in close collaboration with the National Technical Officer and the National Project Coordinator. He/she will work closely and coordinate with the project agronomist and agricultural economist, and relevant technical, and programme officers in FAO Representation Office in Tajikistan, Sub-regional Office (SEC) and Regional (REU) and at Headquarters in Rome. He/she will cooperate with the national counterparts; national consultants and the joint PUNOs implementing this project.

Technical Focus

• Develop a FFS training curriculum, train FFS trainers in project targeted districts and oversee/supervise the implementation of the FFS approach and activities of the project, including reviewing the technical work of the implementers (FFS masters and facilitators). The work is expected to cover several missions, while others, such as curriculum development can be done from home-base. • Technical support and supervise the mobilisation, implementation and monitoring of FFSs/JFSs on sustainable Climate Smart Agriculture and Natural Resources Management practices and technologies by smallholder women farmers and school children, respectively. • Field project development, implementation and quality assurance - Oversee the implementation of the FFS approach in the field that includes training of community facilitators, the formation of FFS groups and the actual hands-on training conducted in the field. • Project cycle management (PCM), donor and government compliance and alignment of project actions to FAO’s PCM guidelines. • Leadership and co-ordination and supervision and guidance of FAO operational work. Tasks and responsibilities More specifically, the National Agronomist- Specialist in FFS and JFS will carry out the following tasks: • Assess the project’s socio-economic and bio-physical area (and all existing surveys), and identify the specific geographical focus and crops and processing activities of FFS implementation. He / she will work closely with the project National Agricultural Economist to conduct a rapid-value chains analysis and stakeholders’ consultation in the two target district to design project interventions’ scope of (i) Farmers/Junior Field Schools and (ii) small-scale productive sub-projects to increase agricultural production, self-sufficient farming and enhanced home-based processing and farming value addition activities (competitive proposals subprojects or matching grants); • Develop a FFS curriculum for the project, including themes such as Climate Smart Agriculture, Natural Resources Management (sustainable water management), productivity improvement, value chain addition and agro-processing, commercialization, gender approach and/or other relevant issues into the FFS curriculum. This will include develop tailored guidelines, curricula, training manuals and extension materials for the training of trainers (facilitators); • Make sure that all training materials will be available during the schools session and technically backstopping the FFS / JFS facilitators; • Contract and train Farmers Field Facilitators (FFFs), Community Facilitators and Junior School Facilitators (extension service providers) to conduct the training on establishment and running of FFSs / JFS; • Present the FFS / JFS approach to the relevant district/community authorities in the context of the farming and agro-processing systems present in the project area; • Contribute with the formation of FFS groups; and the actual hands-on training conducted in the field and support FFSs to identify male and female (at district and community-level) subject matter specialists to perform as “trainers” for the Project’s FFS programmes; and in mobilising and guiding FFS / JFS participants in their experimentation practices and technologies; • Design of group-based study plots and on-farm experimental plots; • Oversee the implementation and supervision of FFS / JFS in the project targeted areas and focus on monitoring progress and documentation by these groups as evidence; • Prepare monthly, and six monthly report according to FAO format and support project report to the donor; including technical progress reports on FFS / JFS; demonstration plots activities, and backyards of secondary schools; • Remotely assist the National Project Coordinator and team to monitor the performance of: (i) the FFS / JFS facilitators; • Conduct a mid-term review of the FFSs implemented to date and recommend any corrective measures required to improve the organisation and impact of the project’s FFS interventions, including any follow-up mentoring of FFS co-ordinators, master trainers and FFS facilitators; • Prepare regular progress reports, an end of assignment report for approval by the FAOR and LTO; • Perform other duties within the National Agronomist’s technical competence as required by the FAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in a field related to agronomy and horticulture sciences, rural development, food sciences, agricultural extension, and other related areas. • At least five years of proven experience in agricultural development with at least three years expertise in FFS curriculum preparation (including topics such as crop production, smart agriculture practices and technology transfer, preparation of business plans, etc) and agricultural extension for smallholder women farmers and rural livelihoods. • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Russian). • National o Tajikistan 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

• Mobilisation, implementation and monitoring of FFSs/JFSs for smallholder women farmers and school children, respectively. • Extent of experience in developing FFS / JFS training curriculum, training of trainers; and supervising FFS / JFSs implementation (including FFS masters and facilitators). • Extent of knowledge in Value Chain Analysis and Development (VCAD) framework; “Market for Poor” approach; Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) and Natural Resources Management (NRM) practices and technologies; and awareness of existing tools that enable private investment in agriculture sector. • Field project development, implementation and quality assurance. • Leadership and co-ordination and supervision and guidance of FAO operational work • Proficiency in Tajik would be a strong asset and an advantage.

Selection Criteria

• Relevance of experience in the field of the group-based, market-led and participatory approach to agricultural extension and adult learning, i.e. “FFS methodology for adaptive research and participatory learning”. • Working experience with women farming groups will be an asset. • Demonstrable knowledge and experience in Climate Smart Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (drip irrigation, greenhouses, soil and water conservation); and small scale processing and value adding activities. • Demonstrable experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions within Tajikistan. • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.