National Specialist - Capacity Development and Sustainable Agriculture

Organizational Setting

FAO has an ongoing project TCP/IND/3805 with the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA)[1] under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India. The project is titled “Technical support to develop forecasting/predictive techniques to assist vulnerable farmers and planners at district and state level to make informed decisions on crop choices and plans for rainfed agriculture,” aims to enhance resilience and sustainability of livelihood options of rainfed farmers to climate variability and market dynamics. The project will focus on developing effective, location-specific forecasting framework and models to support rainfed farmers and planners to make informed decisions on crop choices and planning.

For the purpose, the project envisages developing forecasting/predictive techniques and tools using multiple data points and big data analytics. Additionally, the project aims to enhance capacities of rural extension workers to support famers in making informed crop choices using the framework developed. This would require development of requisite training material for rural extension workers, support the implementation agency to identify and manage rural extension workers and train them in utilizing the tools for deployment with rainfed farmers. A policy brief and recommendations at the end of the project period will also be developed.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, TCP/IND/3805 and the overall supervision of the Officer-In-Charge, FAO Representation in India, the National Specialist - Capacity Development and Sustainable Agriculture will undertake the following duties.

Technical Focus

Expertise in developing training materials and guidelines for rural extension workers to operate effectively in this new environment that will use digital tools to support the existing practices of providing extension services.

Expected outputs:

• Tasks described below satisfactorily carried out
• Training module on Informed Crop Choices for the Rural Extension Workers developed
• A guideline for selection and management of Rural Extension Workers developed
• A guideline to deliver extension services developed
• Leaflets/poster developed for each training session
• Rural extension workers trained for extension services

Tasks and responsibilities

The selected candidate will undertake the following duties:

• Finalize a framework for developing a gender sensitive and social inclusive Training Module on Informed Crop Choices for the Rural Extension Workers by integrating digital technology with the existing extension practices.
• Review existing literature and good practices on Extension Advisory Services (EAS)
• Finalize a guideline for the selection and sustainable management of the Rural Extension Workers
• Provide guidance to the implementing agency to develop a guideline for Rural Extension Workers to deliver extension services in the project context
• Provide guidance to develop visual aids and other appropriate training devices for each training session
• Review the performance of the implementing agency in the context of development to training modules, provision of training to rural extension workers, documentation review, etc.
• Provide technical inputs to Country Office, where required, for meetings with the NRAA and other relevant stakeholders
• Provide technical assistance to FAO Representative in India

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in Agriculture, Agri-business, Agriculture Extension, Rural Development or equivalent.
• 5 years of relevant experience in developing training materials, guidelines, decision making tools, management of Rural Extension Workers, delivering extension services and impart trainings.
• Working knowledge of English language with strong oral, written and presentation skills.
• National or Resident of India.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• At least 5-10 years of relevant experience in developing training materials, guidelines, decision making tools, management of Rural Extension Workers, delivering extension services and impart trainings.
• Experience of working with government agencies and in development projects.
• Experience working with or in international non-governmental and donor organizations (UN agencies, World Bank, IFAD, Asian Development Bank, etc.) with implementation of participatory projects
• Experience in understanding the adult learning principles, gender sensitive climate resilient strategies, agroecology and sustainable production systems.
• Good analytical and report writing skills.

[1] The Union Government had constituted the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) in 2006 to give focused attention to the problems of rainfed areas of the country. The NRAA is an advisory, policymaking and monitoring body charged with examining guidelines in various existing schemes and in the formulation of new schemes including appropriate farming and livelihood systems approaches.