National Digital Agriculture Policy Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The FAO Albania is responsible for leading FAO’s response to the national priorities for food security, agriculture and food systems including forestry and fisheries in the country. The Country Programme Framework (CPF) agreed between the Government of Albania and FAO defines the response to the priorities FAO Albania works in close collaboration with the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and relevant Headquarters division in the implementation of the CPF including the private sector, academia and the civil society organizations.

The FAO Office in Albania is multi-accreditation country of FAO and the FAO Representative for Albania is the Regional Programme Leader for Europe and Central Asia residing in the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in Budapest, Hungary. The FAO Office in Albania leads efforts with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to support the sustainable digital transformation of Albania’s agriculture and rural areas with an ambitious 3-years joint programme (JP): “Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation (DART)” funded by the SDG Fund – Digital Transformation Window call.

DART aims to increase agriculture productivity, advance socio-economic growth, and enhance rural livelihoods in Albania by 2027. It harnesses the potential of digitalization to transform the agri-food sector from national level to underserved rural areas in Albania delivering on three components: 1) the formulation of Albania’s National Digital Agriculture Strategy and Action Plan (led by FAO) 2) the farmer-centric design and delivery of digital services via the recently launched national Farmers’ Portal (Portali i Fermerit) (led by FAO) 3) the development of digital capacities among national public workers, TVET schools and centres; smallholder farmers and other vulnerable groups in rural areas (led by ILO).

The Digital Agriculture Policy Specialist (DAPS) will play a prominent role in the formulation of an inclusive, gender-responsive, and human-rights based National Strategy and Action Plan for Albania’s Digital Agriculture and Rural Transformation. Under the supervision of the DART’s Technical Advisor (TA) and in liaison with the DART’s National Programme Coordinator (NPC), this role involves the engagement of a wide range of relevant stakeholders throughout the participatory policy design process, as well as the elaboration of a comprehensive policy strategy and action plan which address sustainability challenges, aligns a broad range of actors towards common goals, and supports Albania in meeting the EU pre-accession requirements.

The incumbent will be based in Tirana, Albania, with the FAO country office. The assignment is of initially 11 months, with the prospect for extension for the entire duration of the project, totalling three years, contingent upon the individual's satisfactory performance.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in Albania, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer/ Head of Digital Agriculture and the technical leadership of the DART Technical Advisor, the National Digital Agriculture Policy Specialist will work in synergy with national and international consultants, stakeholders and partners to deliver on the DART programme’s components and outputs, and more precisely on the tasks and responsibilities outlined below.

Technical focus

Digital agriculture policies and strategies, agriculture and rural development, information and communication technologies applied to food system transformation, digital services, e-government, technical assistance, and project implementation.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Revise and update previously-conducted baseline assessments with new and existing data about the state of digitalization in Albania’s agriculture and rural areas and its alignment with the EU pre-accession requirements in this field, employing multiple research methodologies (e.g., in-depth interviews, technical workshops, large scale surveys, desk research) • Assist DART Technical Advisor and National Programme Coordinator with the liaising activities with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that are necessary to ensure that the elaboration of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Digitalization of Agriculture and Rural Areas in Albania will result in a comprehensive roadmap aligning multiple stakeholders and sustainability dimensions • Support DART Technical Advisor with communicating effectively, mobilizing and engaging all national stakeholders, ensuring that their needs and requirements are well reflected, and the National Strategy and Action Plan are coherently integrated within the broader landscape of Albania’s policies, resources, governance arrangements, and EU accession • Support DART Technical Advisor in the effective engagement of international, national, regional and local stakeholders throughout the entire elaboration of the National Strategy and Action Plan via the establishment and coordination of a Digital Agriculture’s working group, the organisation of various workshops and other engagement activities • Actively contribute to drafting of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Digitalization of Agriculture and Rural Areas and work collaboratively with the DART’s Technical Advisor to ensure that multiple inputs and comments from stakeholders are effectively integrated in the drafting process • Ensure that the programme’s commitments towards gender-equality, human-rights, and EU pre-accession are met throughout the elaboration of the National Strategy and Action Plan for the Digitalization of Agriculture and Rural Areas • Contribute to work of the DART Technical Advisor and other FAO staff in the coordination with the programme partners (ILO, ITU) and contribute to their project outputs (rural connectivity paper, large-scale survey with farmers, digital skills council, etc.) to ensure the effective integration and coherence between the National Strategy and Action Plan and other outputs and components of the joint programme (i.e. upgrade of the farmers’ portal, building digital capacity at scale) • Support the design and delivery of outreach and dissemination activities to raise awareness about the National Strategy and Action Plan among the programme’s target groups, particularly smallholders and rural citizens • Provide support and undertake additional tasks, as may arise within the scope of the project, to ensure successful completion of the expected outcomes, as may be required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agricultural science; political science; development economics; science, technology and innovation; international relations; or any relevant specific field related to the joint programme, OR education in a reputed college of advanced education with a diploma of equivalent standard to that of a university degree in one of the above-mentioned fields • Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in the following areas: policy advice and analysis; stakeholder engagement; digital transformation, agriculture and rural development • Working knowledge of English and Albanian • National of Albania or resident in the country

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in Albania. Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly the Balkans, is an advantage • Extent and relevance of experience in policy design, stakeholder management, programme management • Familiarity with agriculture and rural development in Albania, as well as knowledge and relationships with local actors

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Added 12 days ago - Updated 7 hours ago - Source: fao.org