NATIONAL SPECIALIST ON INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

Organizational Setting:

For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.

Reporting Lines:

The National Specialist on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) reports directly to the Normative Support Team Leader/Programme Assistant.

Technical Focus:

The Global Action (GA) Plan on FAW Control was launched in December 2019 by Mr QU Dongyu, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to curb the growing spread of FAW and ensure a strong coordinated approach at country, regional and global levels to sustainably control FAW. It aims to integrate, demonstrate and extend innovative technologies and facilitate the adoption at scale of region-specific and ecosystem friendly integrated pest management (IPM) strategies to effectively and sustainably suppress this highly destructive pest.

To address the global threat of FAW, concrete impact at country levels is key. Therefore, building on baseline studies and analyses, including FAW ecological zones and yield losses caused by this pest, eight countries have been identified as demonstration countries for the implementation of the GA in Africa, Asia and Near East. Together these countries represent approximately 50 percent of the total maize acreage in the three regions. It is envisaged that each demonstration country will scale up and extend area wide IPM strategies to several pilot countries in its respective region, and thus enhance national capacities to sustainably manage FAW.

For Southeast Asia, Philippines has been nominated as the demonstration country to organize and manage FAW in its own country, and additionally share experiences and innovations with, and support 8 pilot countries in the region

Tasks and responsibilities:

With technical guidance from the Plant Protection Officers based in the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and Headquarters, the National Specialist on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will work in close collaboration with the National Task Force for Fall Armyworm Control. He/She shall perform the following responsibilities:

1. Provide necessary technical support on the implementation of the country work plan aligned with the implementation of the FAW-Global Action Plan, including support in the updating of the work plan as necessary.

2. Provide technical support, as well as monitoring of the implementation of activities under the Letters of Agreement (LoA) with the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry and National Crop Protection Center.

3. With the guidance of the FAO FAW Secretariat and theregional FAW Coordinator, and International expert on IPM/ biocontrol, and in close collaboration with National Task Force for Fall Armyworm Control, support the finalization and implementation of the regional IPM package.

4. With the support of the FAO FAW Secretariat and FAO Philippines, provide guidance in the conduct of high-level activities on Regional Technical and Demonstration Conference and Large Scale Demonstration with the Geo-Zone Pilot Countries in the Southeast Asia.

5. Lead the preparation of Advocacy Materials and provide support in the development of presentations for Geo-zone meetings.

6. Provide support in mobilizing possible resources to continue the support to the Government in FAW Management in the country.

7. Carry out activities in close coordination of the regional plant protection officer in FAO regional office, Bangkok and obtain necessary clearances where necessary.

8. Carry out any other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as may be requested by the FAO Representative.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree (Masters Degree Preferred) in Agriculture, Crop Science, Plant Entomology, Plant Pathology or other related disciplines. • At least ten (10) years of relevant experience in crop protection and management, plant entomology and integrated pest management • Working knowledge (level C) of English and Tagalog • A National of the Philippines 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

• General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)