Technical Adviser (Cereals Breeder)

Organizational Setting The Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025) facilitates, coordinates and manages all technical and advisory services to be provided by FAO to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MoEWA) and its sister agencies. Within the framework of the Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF) Technical Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the period 2019-2025 signed on 13 February 2019 between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represented by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and FAO, the UTF project 'UTF/SAU/051/SAU: Promoting efficient irrigation and water productivity amongst farmers' was approved by FAO and the Saudi Irrigation Organization (SIO). The Project, developed jointly by SIO and FAO focuses directly on supporting implementation of the Saudi Irrigation Organization Corporate Strategy, which was developed within the context of the Saudi Vision 2030 and aims at strengthening the capacity of SIO to improve irrigation efficiency among small-scale farmers. The Project is expected to achieve the Outcome 'Increased adoption of innovative and efficient irrigation technologies and practices in target Saudi regions', and in turn contributing towards achieving the national development goal of improving irrigation efficiency and ensuring sustainable use of water resources in the Kingdom. The position is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the PMU of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme, Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa.

Reporting Lines The Technical Adviser (Cereals Breeder) reports to the Programme Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the overall guidance of the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa.

Technical Focus Capacity development and knowledge management for the development of rainfed cereal production.

Key Results Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support technical cooperation-related programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned technical cooperation-related programmes/projects; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies follow-up actions.
• Coordinates technical cooperation activities and programme-related activities and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for their implementation and leads the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provides advice regarding the development of policies and strategies related to technical cooperation, as well as regional, subregional and national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.

Specific Functions

• Advises on and coordinates the planning, implementation and monitoring progress of the project component in accordance with the project document.
• Leads comprehensive review and diagnostic studies of rainfed cereal production to give direction to the sustainable development of the sector.
• Leads the development of post-harvest technologies and infrastructure, marketing strategies and value chain analysis for rainfed cereal agrifood incubation programme and assists the development of pilot business model for rainfed cereal growers' cooperative in Saudi Arabia.
• Identifies and promotes sustainable and efficient conservation agriculture practices and mechanization potential among smallholders for production of the targeted rainfed cereal crops including options for supplementary irrigation options for smallholders in rainfed farming systems.
• Develops a programme to ensure access of rainfed cereal small producers to pest and disease control services.
• Establishes and operates community seed system for the target crops in the target regions.
• Reviews and validates the list of identified technical experts for the project component, prepares their Terms of Reference (ToRs) and manages their recruitment, supervises and guides the technical team, consultants and the support staff to carry out their duties.
• Leads and/or supervises preparation and dissemination of various written project component outputs, e.g. background papers, sector reviews, technical reports, sections of reports and studies, manuals, guidelines and checklists and knowledge products.
• Leads and supervises preparation of quarterly and semi-annual project component progress reports; identifies lessons learned, constraints and issues that require timely resolution and corrective actions and presents recommendations for improving the performance.
• Leads development of demand driven and responsive partnerships to benefit Saudi Arabia from proven innovation and good practices in the south and north for rainfed cereal production.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), plant production/breeding, agronomy or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Team Work
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with intergovernmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Extent and relevance of experience in development of rainfed cereal production systems, including experience in conservation agriculture or climate smart agriculture technologies.
• Extent and relevance of experience in technical cooperation-related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Extent and relevance of' experience in working with intergovernmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of Arabic is considered a strong asset.