Technical Assistant (Plant Production and Protection)

Overview

Provide technical support for plant production and protection initiatives

You have:

• A university degree in Agriculture, agronomy, crop production, science or related field
• At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in agricultural development with emphasis on production in agricultural production systems and 2 years in project management and implementation
• Working knowledge of English
• National of the country or resident with a valid work permit

Organizational Setting

The FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) was established in 1996 and is based in Barbados. It is headed by a Sub- Regional Representative/Coordinator and is staffed by a Multidisciplinary Team that supports 13 member countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Moreover, FAO Representations are present in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas.

SLC provide technical support to programs and projects for the Caribbean countries in the area of crop production and protection developing project proposals with a value chain approach in the context of small-scale farmers in rural, peri-urban and urban areas. FAO promotes sustainable and adapted systems to improve livelihoods for people in the Caribbean region through developing training materials and/or publications for practitioners and policy makers on sustainable crop production systems focused on horticulture crops; developing and support farmer field schools guidelines for horticultural crops; assisting and supporting emergency programs and disaster risk reduction and management in countries in crisis due to extreme climate events with implications on food security; promoting adapted technologies and practices to improve productivity, income and employment generation; adoption of sustainable cropping systems including protected agriculture, greenhouses, net-houses and soilless culture; and supporting innovations as well as the integrated crop management as the best approach to increase climate change resilience, productivity and increase the efficiency in the use of natural resources (including climate smart practices) taking in consideration the soil management, water management, plant nutrition, pest and diseases management and crop cultural practices.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the FAO Subregional Office for the Caribbean (FAO-SLC), the direct supervision of the Technical Assistant (Plant Production and Protection) reports to the Plant Production and Protection Officer who is based in the FAO sub-regional office in Barbados.

Technical Focus

Provide technical and operational support to the timely and efficient implementation of projects activities in accordance with FAO rules and procedures focusing in the area of plant production and protection across the Caribbean to increase capacities to sustainably manage crops and cropping systems with adapted, affordable and efficient practices and innovative technologies to achieve income generation, better nutrition and food security in the region.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support for all activities related to Plant Production and Protection in the Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean; • Technically support LTO on project implementation through keeping day-to-day contact with teams in the project countries and SLC staff providing advice and timely support when needed; • Assist and closely collaborate with the LTO in following up planning and implementing the project activities and support the monitoring and evaluation; • In cooperation with the LTO and with the support of the national teams, support monitoring projects’ annual work plans, procurement plans, travel plans and HR plans; • Support LTO and project coordinators in each country in organization of workshops, trainings, technical meetings, consultations and conferences; • Efficient organization of project team meetings, participate, take notes and support developing reports; • Assist on the timely development of progress reports, and submission to donors, programme officers, HQ and regional offices; • Provide support following up missions of international consultants and FAO Officers, follow up on mission reports and travel expense claims; • Liaise with Admin staff to ensure timely and appropriate oversight on all travels, procurement, human resources and financial transactions according to the existing rules and regulations, adhering to the rules of transparency, accountability, fairness and best value for money; • Support LTO and programme team on keeping the project page on FPMIS up to date; • Support LTO in keeping a close monitor of expenditures transactions for each budget line and support the process of budget revisions, when necessary; • Support LTO in preparing routine documentation and correspondence related to assigned procurement actions and follow up processes including purchase requisitions/orders, delivery of items and payments in coordination with Admin staff; • Assist and collaborate with Admin staff on the organization of interviews, participate and support the development of interviews reports; • Any other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• A university degree in Agriculture, agronomy, crop production, science or related field • At least 3 years of relevant professional experience in agricultural development with emphasis on production in agricultural production systems and 2 years in project management and implementation • Working knowledge of English • National of the country or resident with a valid 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) • Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team and take leadership when appropriate • Work experience in more than one location or area of work is an asset • Familiarity with the agriculture sector in the Caribbean is an asset • Ability to produce high quality technical documents • Strong knowledge of the agricultural context in the English-speaking Caribbean is preferred • Knowledge of FAO’s Gender Mainstreaming policies and strategies, will be an asset

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Potential interview questions

Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org