National Project Coordinator

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.

Reporting Lines

The National Project Coordinator 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 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, national consultants and the joint PUNOs implementing this project.

Technical Focus

• The Values Chain Analysis and Development (VCAD) and “Market for Poor” approaches; Farmers Field Schools (FFSs); Junior Field Schools (JFSs); Climate Smart agricultural (CSA) and Natural Resources Management (NRM) practices and technologies; nutrition of schoolchildren; and awareness of existing tools that enable private investment in agriculture sector. • Project Cycle Management (PCM), donor and government compliance and alignment of project actions to FAO’s PCM guidelines. • Field project development, implementation and quality assurance. • Leadership and co-ordination of the Project Implementation Unit and supervision and guidance of FAO operational work. • Technical support and supervision of the mobilisation, implementation and monitoring of FFSs/JFSs on sustainable climate smart agriculture practices and technologies by smallholder women farmers and school children, respectively. Tasks and responsibilities

The National Project Coordinator will be responsible for the below mentioned: • Guide the project team in the mobilisation, implementation and monitoring of (i) FFSs /JSFs of sustainable climate smart agriculture and natural resources management practices and technologies by smallholder women farmers and children, respectively; (ii) small-scale processing and value addition activities and (iii) financial literacy and inclusion training; • Contribute to the development of value chains analysis to focus the project interventions as well as of the curriculum, training of FFS / JFSs facilitators and master trainers; • Contribute to the design of women group-based study plots, on-farm experimental plots and processing activities; • Review the findings of the Project’s baseline and end-lines surveys, provide comments to improve the findings and recommendations; and participate in consultative meetings with local stakeholders, to discuss the findings and recommendations of the aforementioned surveys and analyses; • Present the FFS/JFSs approach to the target districts and communities in the context of the present farming; systems, and identify the specific geographical focus of FFS/JFS implementation; and small-scale processings and value addition activities; • Participate in a series of stakeholder workshops and meetings (including representatives of the project’s target groups) to design seasonal FFS/JFS agricultural extension programmes for the respective project areas and their agro-ecologies; • Assist the project national team and consultants (agronomist, agro-economist, etc) in the establishment and implementation of FFSs/JFSs (including contributions to FFS/JFS, guidelines, curricula, training manuals and extension materials, CSA and NRM curricula and financial sustainability of those practices and technologies); • Support and launch a competitive call for distribution of materials and equipment to promote processing and value adding activities within women groups and home-based smallholders; • Support the project national team and consultants (agronomist, agro-economist, trainers, etc), remotely if necessary, to establish and implement FFSs/JFSs; to arrange cross visits within women farmer groups, champion farmers; awareness raising campaigns; etc.; • Prepare physical, technical and financial progress reports periodically (monthly, quarterly, biannually and annually) as per needs of the GOT and Resource Partners; • Support the monitoring of the project performance (including, FFSs/JFSs; small-scale processing and value addition activities; trainings on financial issues) and the preparation of (i) a mid-term review of the project (and recommend any corrective measures required to improve the impact of the project activities) and (ii) the final evaluation of project activities; • Arrange and coordinate project planned activities and their timely implementation, including the facilitation of multi-stakeholder workshops, training, meetings and seminars; • Support project cycle management activities, including tasks related to preparation of project work plans; budget estimations; project task force (PTF) meetings; monitoring project activities and reporting on the project outcomes and progress; prepare analytical reports/information on project activities; coordinate the preparation of project related documents, presentations, reports, etc. information, communication and visibility of the project activities implemented by FAO; • 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

• Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, agricultural extension, business administration, public administration, social science, political science or a related field. • At least 5 years of relevant experience in project management in agricultural or rural development with a focus on technology transfer and agricultural extension for smallholder women farmers and rural livelihoods. • At least 5 years of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas: value chain analysis and development, agribusiness and market development, agro-food processing, post-harvest handling, and agro-food industry technologies, rural finances or other related discipline. • Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Russian). • Excellent working knowledge of Excel. • National of 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

• Extent and relevance of experience in the formulation, analysis, planning and/or implementation of projects related to sustainable development of smallholder agriculture. • Relevance of experience in the field of the group-based, market-led and participatory approach to agricultural extension, i.e. Value Chain Analysis and Development; Market for Poor; FFS methodology for adaptive research and participatory learning. • Relevance of knowledge and experience in climate smart agriculture and natural resources management (drip irrigation, greenhouses, soil and water conservation); and home-based and small scale processing and value adding activities. • 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 a strong asset and an advantage.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrable experience in the formulation, analysis, planning and/or implementation of projects related to sustainable development of smallholder agriculture. • Demonstrable experience in the field of the group-based, market-led and participatory approach to agricultural extension, i.e. Value chain analysis; Market for Poor; FFS / JFS methodology, etc. • 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. • Excellent working knowledge of Excel.