Protected Cultivation Specialist

Overview

Provide specialized support for innovative farming technology implementation.

You have:

• University degree in Agriculture, horticulture, agriculture engineering or related areas
• 7 years of relevant experience in agriculture production and innovative protective farming technologies
• At least two years of agriculture project management experience including capacity building of trainers and farmers
• Working knowledge of English

Organizational Setting

The Governments have identified the need to reduce the import dependence for nutritive vegetables and other food items, financial costs of imports, and the financial and social costs of NCDs arising out of the current unhealthy diets of the populations. Many countries in the Pacific region must deal with often unfavourable and unpredictable weather conditions on top of the low availability and poor quality of soil and water for their food production. FAO is working with the national agriculture ministries to explore innovations in production systems that need less soil, less water, less space, and can produce various food products even under unfavourable climatic conditions.

An ongoing TCP/SAP/3908 project aims to address these challenges through the identification of the most appropriate innovative farming technology and system suitable for each country context in Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands and Solomon Islands through establishment of a protected cultivation demonstration site, capacity building of relevant Government staff and technicians and selected farmers on innovative farming practices, and creating an enabling environment to ensure sustainability of the interventions. There is also a need to educate the communities and consumers to consume locally grown, nutritive vegetables to create the needed demand side pull. The project ends in November 2025.

Through this vacancy announcement FAO aims to identify the most suitable candidate to work with partners and stakeholders in the three countries to help coordinate and ensure the best outcomes as planned in the project. Other qualified candidates will be registered in the roster for any future vacancy in the same area of expertise.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall upervision of the Subregional Coordinator, direct supervision of the Agriculture Officer, and in close coordination and consultation with the Assistant FAO Representative for Programme based in FSM, CKI, & SOI, the International Protected Cultivation Expert will work with the relevant Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry staff and partners to implement the agreed activities under the project to ensure best possible project outcomes.

Technical Focus

The objective of this assignment is to provide specialized technical support for developing the national capacities for producing adequate quantities of nutritive vegetables in view of the known challenges for doing so and reduce the import dependence. The incumbent will work to ensure timely implementation of all relevant deliverables of the project and effective closure of the project.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Quickly understand the objectives of the ongoing project and its status of implementation to be able to plan an effective completion of activities and achievement of all project deliverables. • Handhold the national consultants and other key stakeholders to ensure completion and effective utilization of the demonstration site, and train management staff to manage a protected cultivation demonstration facility in each country. This may require a site visit to each country after construction has been completed. • Develop / refine appropriate training materials to train key stakeholders about protected cultivation methodologies and seedling production and its handling in a business-oriented manner. • Create list of potential partners and strategies to initiate partnerships with domestic youth, NGOs, agencies, task forces to carry the initiative forward after the catalytic TCP has ended.

• Document success stories and the learnings from the pilot, farmers and stakeholder experiences and constraints and include the same in the final report will be created thoroughly explaining the TCP’s progress and finalization status at the end of the programme. This report will outline key findings and will provide recommendations for the actors, facilities, regions and stakeholders to maintain protected cultivation as a viable production method for nutritious food and economic stability. • Ensure full and proper utilization of the project funds towards meetings the original objectives of the project. • Complete the Terminal Report for the TCP under the guidance if ministry and FAO colleagues and the LTO.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agriculture, horticulture, agriculture engineering or related areas • 7 years of relevant experience in agriculture production and innovative protective farming technologies out of which at least two years of agriculture project management experience including capacity building of trainers and farmers • Working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

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Potential interview questions

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org