National Project Assistant

Organizational Setting

The position is located at the Zugdidi project office of FAO Representation in Georgia. 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 FAO / UN Women project “Fostering economic empowerment of women farmers by supporting homemade dairy production in Georgia through the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach” aims at developing a network of women dairy farmers in Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti region; and strengthen their skills. The project will last 48 months from 1st October 2020.

Reporting Lines

The Project Assistant will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator, and the direct supervision of the International Project Manager and of the National Dairy Specialist based in Zugdidi.

Technical Focus

The FAO/ UN Women project “Fostering economic empowerment of women farmers by supporting homemade dairy production in Georgia through the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) approach” will demonstrate along the production cycle upgraded technical practices in terms of improved food safety for dairy produced by women in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. The Project Assistant will assist the National Dairy Specialist and International Project Manager of Dairy FFS in creating and support a network of 20 Dairy Farmer Field Schools (approx. 400 farmers trained annually) in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. The Project Assistant will provide technical, administrative and logistic support to all FFS activities undertaken in Samegrelo Zemo-Svaneti.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Assist in identification and selection of 5 Dairy FFS Master Trainers and 20 Dairy Lead Farmers
• Provide administrative and logistic support in organizing project baseline surveys, and in developing the project monitoring system jointly with UN Women (Women’s Empowerment in Livestock Index WELI)
• Organize and plan exchange visits, field trainings, field days, sharing of good / innovative practices with the larger community at regional level and other FFS groups; in coordination with Lead Farmers, Master trainers and the project’s partners.
• Provide administrative and logistics support required for FFS meetings training and demonstration foreseen
• Support the National Dairy Specialist in the preparation of work plans, workshop updates and the project reporting.
• Assist in monitoring implementation of activities to achieve project outcomes
• Perform other duties as assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Working knowledge of English;
• Knowledge of Mengrelian is an asset
• Degree in Agriculture, Veterinary, Livestock Production, food safety or related disciplines
• Two years of relevant experience in project management, managing field projects in the sector of animal husbandry, food safety or technical support to farmers.
• Nationality of Georgia.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated understanding of dairy production, public and private sector extension services, have knowledge in diversified disciplines of dairy production
• Proven capacity to establish working relationships with smallholder farmers
• Excellent communication skills, proven ability to convey complex ideas through clear and effective oral presentations.
• Good skills in community mobilization as well as inter-personal relations.
• Computer literacy

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/