National Specialist on Information, Communication and Knowledge Management/Sharing

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is an intergovernmental Organization with more than 192 member countries. Since its inception, FAO has worked to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development, improved nutrition and the pursuit of food security - defined as the access of all people at all times to the food they need for an active and healthy life.

TCP/UZB/3808: Preparing the grounds for digital transformation of agriculture.

Agriculture is an important sector of Uzbekistan's economy with about 27 percent of the country's labour force employed in agriculture, contributing 28 percent to GDP. The importance of digital transformation of the sector is emphasized in the national agricultural priorities, Presidential Decrees on Digital Uzbekistan and Agriculture Innovation Systems signed in 2020-2021, as well as outlined as one of the priority cooperation areas in the recently signed FAO–Uzbekistan CPF for 2021–2025. A range of digitalization projects focused on digital transformation of agriculture sector were launched by the Government of Uzbekistan with support of several international partners (such as UN agencies, European Union, WB), enabling the required preconditions for rapid and successful transformation of agriculture.

The lack of decentralized knowledge exchange mechanisms available to farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs is an obstacle towards successful rural transformation and extension services. The stakeholders include public and private sectors, smallholder and family farmers, academia, civil society. In view of these challenges, there is a need for: 1) Assessing the enabling environment for digital transformation of agriculture in Uzbekistan with a special focus on small farmers' and rural development needs and 2) Developing capacities on innovation and knowledge transfer with smallholders and family farmers at decentralized level.

FAO has the expertise, methodologies that can address the above challenges such as the guide on e-agriculture strategy, Virtual Extension Research Communication Network (VERCON) conceptual framework, Technologies and Practices for Small Agricultural Producers (TECA), etc.

The outcome of the project will address the national and decentralized levels by developing a national programme of action on the digital transformation of agriculture developed and piloting at decentralized level with smallholder and family farmers.

The first output can be achieved relying on both the outcomes of the relevant completed and ongoing projects (e.g. EU Ask Facility) and FAO's own methodologies and expertise.

The second output requires detailed stakeholder analysis of existing knowledge exchange system accessible to smallholder and family farmers and developing capacities matching the identified gaps and needs. The mechanism will be shaped following the analysis during the first stage of the project, but it will 1) follow the FAO's vision of multi-stakeholder decentralized approach; 2) spread across public, private and other relevant sectors; 3) focus on all types of agriculture related innovations and knowledge (including, but not limited to digital).

Reporting Lines

National Specialist on Information, Communication and Knowledge Management/Sharing will work under overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Uzbekistan and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR Programme, and technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer, in collaboration with the FAO Uzbekistan team and national team of the project.

Technical Focus

Position holder is intended to provide overall support and technical assistance to FAO’s detailed work plan of the assignment and take FAO eLearning course on experience capitalization and communication for rural development. Capitalize on inception workshop presentations and organize them on FAO website as video recordings and PDF presentations. Analyse the content provide during inception workshop to support the Innovation and digitalization roadmap prepared by project team. Develop communication and knowledge sharing strategy at decentralized level (Fergana region).

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will undertake the following duties:

• Prepare detailed work plan of the assignment and take FAO eLearning course on experience capitalization and communication for rural development

• Capitalize on inception workshop presentations and organize them on FAO website as video recordings and PDF presentations

• Analyse the content provide during inception workshop to support the Innovation and digitilization roadmap prepared by project team

• Develop communication and knowledge sharing strategy at decentralized level (Fergana region)

• Establish a working group on content co-creation, documentation and sharing;

• Develop communication channels for decentralized services delivery on agriculture innovation knowledge;

• Organize regular stakeholder meetings on communication, knowledge sharing and management;

• Undertake activities for development of rural communication services in Fergana region in collaboration with AKIS Living labs and Novkent Digital Village Project;

• Organize required capacity development workshops on experience capitalization and knowledge sharing, participatory video, and digital skills

• Prepare Terminal Report of the project;

• Perform other relevant tasks.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in communication, knowledge management, agriculture, computer science, information technology, or a related field.

• At least 5 years of proven experience in agriculture, digital technologies or digital agriculture fields is required.

• Proficiency (Level C) in English and Uzbek (both written and spoken) is required, including excellent reporting skills. Proficiency in Russian is an advantage.

• National or holder of a valid work permit in Uzbekistan.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Good communication skills.

• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team.

• Expertise on video (making, editing, sharing) will be considered as an asset.

• Expertise in the Uzbek food and agricultural system will be considered as an asset.