Organization: FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Monrovia
Grade: Consultancy – Consultant – Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
Agriculture and Forestry
Food technology (Food tech)
Closing Date: 2024-09-13
IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner to ensure zero hunger in the country. FAO provides support in three priority areas\: sustainable increase in production and productivity, agriculture-based economic growth, and increased resilience of livelihoods to threats and crisis.
The current portfolio of projects in Liberia includes activities related to agriculture (crop), animal health, Fisheries, Natural Resource management and Climate resilience.
Reporting Lines
The incumbent will contribute to the country’s programme and portfolio as foreseen in the project he/she will coordinate and be assigned.
Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) for Liberia and the direct technical supervision of the Assistant FAOR for Programme and the Plant Production and Protection Office in the Sub regional Office for West Africa, in collaboration with the staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Communal Farming Division of the Ministry of International Affairs, and other relevant institutions, the incumbent will perform the following duties\:
Technical Focus
The National Agronomist will contribute to FAO Liberia programme implementation and resource mobilization efforts. This includes leading capacity building efforts for farmers, government and other extension agents, and relevant value chain actors. The role entails working with agronomists/plant production and protection specialists and other specialized officers (including seed, soil, water management experts) in the Sub-regional (SFW), regional (RAF) and headquartered technical units of FAO for effective knowledge transfer. S/he support the monitoring and implementation of interventions to which s/he serves as focal person.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Contribute to the sensitization of communities and stakeholders (project sites and aspects associated with rice, vegetable, and other crops production and marketing,)
• Collect information required for the identification of Beneficiaries for projects supported by the agronomist
• Participate in various project trainings (including Leadership and Group Management Practices), using; Farmers’ Field School, Farmers’ Business Management, and other FAO-recommended approaches
• Participate in studies, joint missions, technical monitoring of production sites and beneficiaries
• Actively contribute to agricultural producers (field crops, horticulture) needs identification and capacity assessment, as well as to the definition of priorities and requirements for targeted beneficiaries.
• Support the establishment of procurement needs, plan and technical specifications of the inputs to be procured by projects supported by the incumbent
• Implement the agricultural/agronomic components of projects including emergency components
• Conduct training on sustainable farming techniques, good agricultural practices, technology use and maintenance and agro-ecological farming approaches for crops, fruits and vegetable production.
• Record data and analyze relevant technical, social, economic and technology related information to support the delivery of outputs and activities of various projects
• Provide technical inputs for project activities work plans and reports and edit/revise technical documents
• Collaborate with other stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, and civil society groups, farmer organizations (including cooperatives) to promote sustainable and integrated food systems.
• Participate in the development of improved work methods, tools and systems
• Participate in multi-disciplinary work teams and missions on the projects ‘sites
• Collaborate in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops
• Participate in the organization of workshops and meetings
• Provide back to office report after each mission; monthly and progress reports
• Perform other duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree in agronomy/agriculture, entomology, plant pathology, pest management or plant protection, crop science, agroecosystem, crop production, or a closely related field;
• At least seven years relevant experience in plant protection, agriculture, agronomy and agroecology crop production, especially seed systems development, agricultural services delivery and capacity development;
• Working knowledge of English;
• National of Liberia.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Having good knowledge of sustainable agricultural technologies/practices including agro-ecological and post-harvest handling and storing technologies;
• Having good project management (design, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and results reporting) skills;
• Having good skills in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point programs.
Selection Criteria
• Having previously worked for any reputed agricultural development organizations
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
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.
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp
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