Agricultural Extension Consultant

The Government of the United Kingdom through their Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting the Zimbabwe Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP), which aims to contribute to poverty reduction through increased incomes and improved food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the Management Organisation for the Agriculture Production and Nutrition (APN) component of the LFSP.

The programme is being implemented in four provinces covering 12 districts as follows\: Mutasa, Mutare, and Makoni in Manicaland province; Guruve, Bindura, Mazowe and Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central province; Kwekwe, Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Shurugwi in Midlands province and Zvimba in Mashonaland West province. Programme implementation is by consortia of NGO implementing partners and the programme components are structured around the following\: Extension and Advisory Services (EAS); Nutrition and Biofortification; Rural Finance; Policy Support; Market Development and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning. Gender mainstreaming cuts across all programme components. LFSP is implementing pluralistic extension approaches since inception in 2014. The EAS sub component applies innovative strategies for extension and advisory services that particularly emphasize the principles of participation, pluralism, client orientation, environment friendly and gender mainstreaming. The EAS span beyond the confines of agronomic and animal husbandry advice to include nutrition, business development and market linkages, strengthening of farmer groups/organizations, and access to community-based microfinance. These extension approaches ensure greater participation of women in extension.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representation of Zimbabwe, the technical supervision of the LFSP Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), and guidance from the LFSP EAS Thematic Team Lead.

The technical areas/profiles covered will be agriculture, agriculture extension, or related rural development work. The incumbent will be required to make an assessment of extension approaches under LFSP.

• Assess the effectiveness of LFSP extension approaches
• Document lessons and best practices from the application of different EAS approaches
• Develop options for up scaling promising EAS approaches and implications for programming and policy
• Propose how self-financing of the extension system can be maximized
• Propose how identified weaknesses of the extension approaches can be improved and made sustainable
• Identify and recommend extension approaches that can be institutionalized and rolled out at national level.

• University degree in agriculture, agricultural extension, rural development or related field
• At least 12 years of relevant field experience
• Knowledge of the different extension approaches used in agricultural and rural development work
• National of Zimbabwe or resident in the country.

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

• Analytical and report writing skills buttressed by relevant computer/IT skills
• Creativity and ability to work under tight deadlines
• Excellent English, communication, facilitation and computer skills
• In-depth knowledge of agricultural extension delivery systems, particularly for Zimbabwe

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.