Project Specialist (Agronomist)

Technical Focus
This position will support two of FAO South Sudan’s larger resilience projects in addition to the Emergency Livelihood Response Programme (ELRP), specifically working on activities aiming to increase sustainable fish catch and training methods for fish preservation, post-harvest and processing.

The Project Specialist will be responsible for the facilitation/mediation/interface between the project stakeholders, local and traditional authorities, NGOs and grass-root groups. He/she will support the implementation of project field extension activities at the field level and in monitoring Implementing Partners on the ground. The incumbent will therefore contribute to the country's Programme portfolio as foreseen in the project, and specifically will perform the following tasks\:

• Strategy support/formulation at field level
• Provide technical support on extension and training and develop strategy and practical guidance and implementation of enterprise development in agriculture and Natural resource management.
• Document and provide information for development of context-specific approaches, tools and activities and their integration into field projects for addressing production, marketing, access to finance, energy access and climate change adaption.
• Provide support in integrating natural resource management, environment and climate change to support programming and strategy development in implementation areas including agriculture, livestock and conflict mitigation
• Situation review / analysis
• Collect and document relevant information for analysis of constraints, drivers and enabling factors which hinder/enhance sustainable production and marketing of agriculture, livestock in NBeG;
• Conduct field-level analysis of natural resource-related conflicts, including conflict management and resolution aspects
• Intervention technical support
• Liaise and coordinate project activities with NGOs, UN agencies and Government institutions, and explore possible synergies and opportunities for joint projects implementation
• Carry out timely implementation of approved annual work plan including financial and logistical management, planning and resource allocation;
• Provide technical support for the implementation of NRM project related activities at the field-level, including activities related to climate change adaptation, climate resilience, water access and promotion of peacebuilding dialogue processes.
• Training and capacity development
• Conduct community and partner capacity and training needs assessment for the development of training materials for improved community management of natural resources and extension service delivery;
• Provide support and training to NGO and CBOs implementing and participating in the project implementation
• Facilitate and supervise trainings in the field
• Ensure the quality and standards of the training provided under FAO projects are met;
• Project implementation monitoring
• In collaboration with Project Manager, Area Coordinator and the M&E Team, monitor the project activities at field level;
• Organize and participate in stakeholders meetings, workshops and planning exercises, to develop effective delivery mechanisms on issues related to project he/she is assigned to.
• Monitor all partners in the use of appropriate acceptable humanitarian standards and best practices in delivery of food security and livelihood services
• Develop of a results-based monitoring system that is suitable for analysis and documentation of progress on project outcome, outputs and activities and for the establishment of an appropriate learning and knowledge management system
• Liaise with FAO’s Implementing Partners (IP) at State and County level, solve problems if any, and support the Project Manager and Area Coordinator in monitoring the IP’s activities;
• Liaise with Area Coordinator, logistics unit and other relevant actors in the field in order to ensure the successful implementation of distribution operations – to both partners and beneficiaries;
• Build partnerships and promote inclusiveness in all aspects of coordination and project cycle as a representative for FAO;
• Contribute in the preparation of briefs, progress and final reports and final statements related to relevant programmes to be shared with recipient governments and donors as appropriate;
• Prepare for and participate in technical meetings related to the project on humanitarian relief and resiliency matters including the agriculture/food security cluster.
• Perform other related duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements\:

• Advanced University Degree in Agriculture.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in programme/project monitoring and evaluation, and the design and implementation of M&E systems.
• Seven years of relevant experience in planning, formulating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating field agriculture extension programmes
• Working knowledge of English and Arabic
• National of South Sudan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical /Functional skills\:

• Elaborate work plan of “South Sudan Rural Development\: Strengthening smallholders’ resilience in Northern Bahr el-Ghazal” project in respective locations;
• Compilation of training module with the involvement of key stakeholders;
• Support coordination and implementation of training sessions (in case of direct implementation);
• Monitor and follow up all training sessions (in case of NGOs implementing the training) and ensure all documentation are in place;
• Monitoring and follow up reports;
• Experience of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.
• Sound knowledge and experience on writing reports.
• Good interpersonal, communications, and facilitation skills.
• Strong statistical skills including knowledge of Microsoft applications.
• Good knowledge of UN system, procedures and operational activities is an advantage.

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