Young Professional Officer (Digital Agriculture)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for Better production, Better nutrition, Better environment and Better life, leaving no one behind.

In collaboration with the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU), the Subregional Office for Central Asia (FAO-SEC) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing strategies for addressing priorities relating to food security, agriculture and rural development, natural resource management, climate change and sustainable food systems in the Central Asia subregion. The Organization’s technical assistance includes institution building, development of knowledge and competencies, and exchange of experience among FAO member countries. FAO-SEC supports regional policy dialogue on the above issues, facilitates the emergence of regional and subregional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization in the subregion. Guided by the FAO Strategic Framework and the objective of supporting countries in their aspiration of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the priorities defined by the Regional Conference for Europe, FAO-SEC and the other FAO Offices in the Region are implementing their programmes under the programmatic umbrella of the Regional Initiatives. The Regional Initiatives are supported by a multidisciplinary team of technical experts assigned to achieve the desired results and to support the country offices in facilitating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in close collaboration with technical experts at FAO headquarters.

Reporting Lines

The Young Professional Officer (YPO) will report to the Senior Policy Officer (SEC) and work in close collaboration with the Innovation in Digital Agriculture team in FAO’s Office of Innovation (OIN).

Technical Focus

Digitalization in agriculture in selected countries of REU, with special attention to FAO member states in the SEC subregion. Development of draft national digital agriculture strategies for three countries in the REU region, of which at least one will be in the SEC subregion.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of assigned projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Analyses relevant technical social, economic, environmental, and technology information, data and/or statistics for input in various documents;
• Maintains records and updates databases and web pages;
• Provides technical support to various projects;
• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars etc.;
• Participates in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions

• Supports the development of a draft national e-agriculture strategies for selected countries based on agricultural priorities, information and communication technology readiness and cross-sectoral leverage opportunities;
• Contributes to a subregional mapping of digital readiness and identification of pilot sites (country/ village); Provides support to a mapping of on-going Technical Cooperation Programmes and ongoing projects and initiatives that could benefit from digital innovation;
• Provides support to engagement and knowledge sharing with countries to present the advantages and opportunities in FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, Digital Villages Initiative and other relevant digital initiatives;
• Assists in dialogue with FAO country offices to explore demand, opportunities, constraint and expertise needed to support Members;

• Collects and compiles data on strategic partners, initiatives and resources to build and scale-up digital interventions for agriculture in member states.

  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agriculture, information technology, economics or similar degrees;
• One year of relevant experience information technology and/or digitalization;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in digital technology and innovation;
• Work experience in agriculture digitalization and information technology is desirable;
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

NB Please note that candidates should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.