Technical Specialist in SPAA Tool

Organizational Setting

FAO's work in Angola is focused on three medium-term priority areas for technical support: - strengthening smallholder production and productivity to improve food security and nutrition; - enabling farmers to apply improved production techniques through Farmer Field Schools; enhancing family farming capacity for commercialization and value chain approach, strengthening sustainable management of natural resources; - increasing resilience of rural livelihoods to climatic shock and climate change, through the development and application of an integrated Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan.

In the context of the activities implemented with Farmer Field Schools (FFS), the FAO experience in Angola started in 2005 with FAO’s Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS). The positive SPFS impact led the FFS approach to be recognized by the MINAGRIF as the preferred capacity-building methodology for family farmers. FAO is currently the agency of reference in rural development and FFS is recognized by public institutions, development partners and civil society organizations.

The FFS approach has been scaled up by several Projects such as: the IFAD-funded Market-Oriented Smallholder Agriculture Project (MOSAP I); the United States-funded Disaster risk reduction/management to support agro-pastoral communities affected by recurrent droughts and other natural disasters in southern Angola and northern Namibia (PIRAN) and the GEF-funded Land Rehabilitation and Rangelands Management in Small Holders Agro-pastoral Production Systems in Southwestern Angola (RETESA). Those projects better defined FFS in the context of southern Angola, incorporating livestock-related issues (pastures management, animal health, herbs management, etc.) as a key resilience-enabling factor for communities.

Currently, an increasing number of projects are going to be included in the portfolio of the country. The main objective of these projects is to strengthen and consolidate the FFS long-term interventions, which have been developed in Angola over these last years.

Reporting Lines

Under the general supervision of the ASSISTANT FAOR PROGRAMME, the candidates will facilitate the execution of Participatory Surveys with an Agroecological Approach (SPAA) and deliver all the respective reports and inputs according to the work plan.

Technical Focus

The candidates will be responsible for facilitating the execution of SPAA in 6 FFS of the FRESAN project, including the training of FRESAN project technicians in the use of this survey tool and in the preparation of materials and the realization of field dynamics with the producers. They will provide support to ensure a good implementation of activities for the survey in line with the mission results framework and work plan.

Tasks and responsibilities

In collaboration with the SPAA-FRESAN Head of Mission and a multidisciplinary team, the technical specialist in the SPAA tool will support the following activities:

• Participate in field data collection on socio-environmental and productive characteristics in 6 eco-regions covered by the FRESAN project, in the provinces of Namibe, Huila and Cunene. • Participate in the refinement of the SPAA tool adapted to the FRESAN project. • Participate in training events for the project technicians to provide training in the application of the refined SPAA tool. • Facilitate the execution of participatory surveys with an agroecological approach in 6 FFS of the project. • Participate in the systematization of secondary information on Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) techniques adapted to the local context of southern Angola, to integrate them into a practical guide.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Technical diploma/high school diploma in environmental sciences or other related professional fields; • Two years of relevant experience in the environment • Working knowledge of English or Spanish languages. • National of Angola.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Field work experience in southwestern Angola • Good knowledge of the sustainable agriculture approach and/or sustainable forest management. • Experience in working with rural farmers applying participatory methodologies. • Familiarity with the FFS methodology. • Knowledge and practice in the application of the Participatory Agroecological Approach Survey (SPAA) tool.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.