National Crop Scientist/Agronomist

Organizational Setting

The project, Support to Soyabean Development in Ghana, is being implemented in Ghana under FAO’s Global Programme on Green Development of Special Agricultural Products: One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative. The project employs the green production technologies; green processing and green marketing to harness the potential of soyabean to increase small actors’ resilience and improved livelihoods. The OCOP soyabean development project is being implemented by FAO Ghana under the overall supervision of the FAO representative to Ghana and technical supervision of the assistant FAO representative/head of programmes and the Lead Technical Officer (LTO).

The project seeks to build capacities of smallholder farmers to adopt green production; good agronomic practices in soyabean production; green processing and storage and promotion of soyabean based nutrition for improved household nutrition. The project is being implemented directly with the Directorate of Crop Services of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana; East and West Gonja Districts Department of Agriculture under the Savannah Regional Department of Agriculture.

Reporting Lines

The Crop Scientist/Agronomist will be under direct supervision of the FAO Representative to Ghana, and technical guidance of the Assistant FAO representative to Ghana and the Lead Technical Officer.

Technical Focus

The Crop Scientist/Agronomist will work together with other technical members to contribute to FAO strategic framework; BP4 (Small-scale producers’ equitable access to resources) by aiming to enhance access to financial and economic resources, markets, services, information, education and technologies for women and men in soyabean production; and provide Gender equality and rural women’s empowerment (BL1) that will contribute to inclusive rural and transformation of the highly food insecure (BL2). The project will seek to better the environment by promoting an agri-food system that mitigates climate change from climate smart soyabean production practices while building resilience of soyabean farmers. This will be achieved through solar-powered irrigation based system, land development and integrated soil fertility management practices among others (Better Environment BE1: Climate change mitigating and adapted agri-food systems).

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative to Ghana and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in charge of Programmes and Lead Technical Officer, the incumbent shall undertake the following tasks:

• Assist to train project partners and beneficiaries on improved production technologies and Good Agronomic Practices on soyabean production; • Support training of project partners and project beneficiaries on group dynamics and cohesion; • Contribute to community engagement and selection of project partners and beneficiaries; • Support training of water users association production, marketing and financial management; • Develop letters of agreement, develop TORs and bill of quantities to engage service providers; • Support project activities, monitor progress according to approved work plan; • Ensure timely and orderly delivery of project equipment, materials and other necessary inputs from FAO to project beneficiaries; • Coordinate the activities of the project consultants, and project personnel and ensure that information is disseminated between project partners; • Prepare progress reports of project activities for submission to FAO through the FAOR-Ghana; • Prepare the final project report (terminal report) according to FAO guidelines and format; • Perform any other duties as may be required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advance University degree in Agriculture or Agronomy or Agribusiness and any related discipline • 5 years of relevant experience in project management; and at least 1 year experience in managing emergency food security and livelihoods projects • Working knowledge of English • National of Ghana or a legal resident in the country

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• The position requires good technical knowledge of the soyabean value chains in Ghana • Extent and relevance of experience in project management and coordination • Extensive knowledge and understanding of inputs credit schemes; matching grants; VSLAs; market oriented Agriculture schemes and water users association • Extent and relevance of experience in management of computer programs such as Excel, Word, Power Point and statistical software • The candidate must demonstrate high communication skills, both verbal and written, negotiation, leadership, vision, strategy, coordination and teamwork • Experience working with smallholder producers in northern Ghana will be an added advantage