Agriculture Specialist (Crops)

Organizational Setting

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has been supporting the Government of Pakistan at the national and provincial level through its technical assistance in policy and program. FAO Country Office, at Islamabad is headed by an FAO Representative, endeavoring to assist governments in developing policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, help to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources sustainably.

The position is envisaged at SB4-SC 9 level.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative Program, the Agriculture Specialist will perform the following tasks\:

Technical Focus

• Help design agricultural crop production management plans and related interventions in program and project formulation and implementation.
• Prepare knowledge products related to agriculture.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Assist in developing agricultural production and crop protection initiatives for more efficient, competitive, sustainable, climate-resilient and socially inclusive agriculture development, especially for small- and medium-scale farmers.
• Promotes agricultural digitalization and technological innovation for sustainable crop production, crop diversification, and climate-smart agriculture to improve people's nutrition, livelihoods, and incomes in both rural and urban areas.
• Support in promoting Climate Smart/Resilient Agriculture through innovation, and technologies and develop multi-sectoral and stakeholder collaboration.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge-sharing activities such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, and online tools.
• Support in the preparation of programme/project proposals related to agricultural research, and extension and advisory services.
• Prepare concept notes and funding proposals for possible funding by potential donors.
• Act as a knowledge resource to develop crop sector strategies for the targeted communities (small- and medium-scale farmers/women farmers) in FAO projects.
• Support in improving productivity of agricultural operations, and enables a shift from subsistence to more competitive, market-oriented farming through appropriate mechanization systems, improved technologies seed-delivery systems and other farm inputs (fertilizers etc.)
• Supports monitoring of transboundary plant pests and diseases and mitigation of their impact by applying an integrated pest management approach.
• Facilitate the organization of webinars, trainings, workshops, and meetings (both online and face-to-face, according to the requirements) related to agriculture.
• Perform any other related tasks assigned;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of Pakistan
• Advanced university degree in agricultural crop sciences preferably agronomy or horticulture
• Minimum 8 years’ field experience in the relevant discipline.
• Working knowledge of English and knowledge of other local languages is an asset.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge of United Nations and International Organizations’ administrative policies and procedures.
• Experienced in conducting literature reviews of academic publications, research reports, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research.
• Demonstrated ability to work with public and private sector, planning and production of training materials; produce and monitor, work plans and progress reports to the standards required by international organizations using appropriate computer software.
• Extent of experience in resource mobilization, programme/project development, implementation, and technical support.
• Extent of experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder platforms, knowledge management and outreach activities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and to work in a team-oriented multi-cultural environment.
• Willingness to travel
• Ability to work independently, with initiative and minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure.
• Good knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations
• Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards
• Display initiative and take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and closely follow up until successful outputs are achieved.
• Continue to seek new, innovative, and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work assigned.
• Identify and recommend remedial measures to address problems in systems design or implementation.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION