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Farmer Field School Specialist

Rwanda

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Rwanda
  • Grade: All levels - NPP - National Project Personnel - Local Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • Education, Learning and Training
    • FRRWA
  • Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.


Organizational Setting

The main aim of FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve security and reduce hunger and malnutrition to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forest sectors, and use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

The Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Food Security Project (SAIP), implemented by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board and supervised by World Bank, will consolidate and expand on results from previous projects. It will specifically enhance capacity building activities of farmers’ organizations (Water User Associations, Self Help Groups, and cooperatives); increase access to irrigated water and enhance agricultural productivity; promote market access and improve post-harvest infrastructure and scale up nutrition sensitive and climate resilient agriculture. The Technical Assistance implemented by FAO (TA-SAIP) will improve project performance and impacts, incorporating best practices and documenting lessons learnt to strengthen the capacities of the targeted project beneficiaries and to enhance project effectiveness.

The Farmer Field School/Extension Specialist is hired to provide Technical Assistance in the Implementation of SAIP), especially under the output related to\: Awareness and capacities of farmers’ cooperatives in the application of innovative approaches and best practices. S/he will work under the General supervision of the FAO Representative in Rwanda and direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR/Programme and will work closely with the National Coordinator of the project and the Farmer Field School Knowledge management consultant under the technical guidance of the FAO Lead Technical Officer and supporting FAO Decentralized Offices. The whole work to be undertaken will be done in close collaboration with the World Bank/Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Board for the Sustainable Agriculture and Food security Project (SAIP).


Reporting Lines

The National Consultant (FFS Specialist) will report to the FAO Representative (FAOR) and perform his/her duties in close collaboration with the National coordinator and under the guidance of FAO Assistant in Charge of Programme. In matters of visibility and awareness, consultant will collaborate with the Regional focal point on Communications and OCC to ensure compliance with corporate guidelines.


Technical Focus

The incumbent will develop FFS training curricula and modules, project (FFS component) operational planning, management and monitoring of all FFS activities in Rwanda. S/he will provide regular backstopping for the provision of technical and management support to increase the quality of Farmer Field School in the same line with TA-SAIP project objectives.

Tasks and responsibilities

The FFS/extension specialist will work under the general supervision of the FAO Representative to Rwanda, direct supervision of the TA-SAIP team leader and the technical guidance of the FAO Lead Technical Officer and supporting FAO Decentralized Offices, and in close collaboration with the World Bank Single Project Implementation Unit for the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security Project (SAIP). The FFS/extension specialist will coordinate and guide FAO’s Technical Assistance on capacity development and skills development of Farmer Organizations and other rural stakeholders. This includes capacity development of organizational skills; new technologies and innovations; and Farming as a Business (FAAB). The FFS/extension expert will\:

  • Lead the design and implementation of a self needs-assessment of Farmer Organizations, working closely with the World Bank SPIU in identifying the groups;
  • Interpret the findings of the self-assessment of capacity and skills gaps and identify relevant subjects for training modules for organizational and management skills development;
  • Contribute to the facilitators’ identifications and their supervisors who will directly work with beneficiaries on the field;
  • Organize and supervise required trainings for identified facilitators/ supervisors;
  • Participate in the process of identification of beneficiaries of the project (especially Women and Youth from Farmer organisations and local farmers) who will be members of FFS groups;
  • Closely work with FFS groups in the identification of technologies/innovations to be developed and promoted;
  • Plan and supervise the experimental learning plots with chosen enterprises by FFS groups;
  • Provide technical follow up, including refresher training, coaching sessions, to facilitators and their coordinators as needed;
  • In collaboration with FFS groups, identify participants to be supported in strengthening their “farming as a business” (FAAB) skills;
  • Support the tracking and mapping of SHG/FFS groups and delivery actors in the project sites;
  • Collaborate with SAIP staff and ensure that technical topics are prioritized by the project are taken into account in development of training material and supervise the work;
  • Identify a method to select role model farmers (especially women and youth) to train other FFS participants Coach those new identified trainers in conducting trainings to farmers
  • Closely work with FFS Knowledge management consultant to identify innovations and best practices that will be tested in different FFS groups (learn from other countries technologies);
  • Organize study visits (internal/external to FFS groups) for selected members of FFS groups for trainings, exposure and learning from others;
  • Lead the identification of farmer innovations, best practices, impacts observed and their documentation
  • Organize visibility activities such as field days, develop articles, documentary film, in collaboration with the person in charge of communication at FAO office, Regional Communications and OCC;
  • Plan and supervise the experiential learning FFSs, including selection of FFS groups and technologies/innovations to be used;
  • In collaboration with the TA-SAIP team leader, take responsibility for monitoring TA-SAIP progress on outputs (FFS achievements for each output);
  • Contribute to the recruitment of a service provider who will be in charge of development of training materials;
  • In collaboration with the hired Service Provider, develop training and reference materials for identified farmer organizations, extension staff and Farmer Field School (FFS) facilitators;
  • Provide technical backstopping for implementation of the organizational capacity development trainings (funded under the SAIP project) including supervising the mentoring provided by the service provider and add quality to implementation;
  • Ensure that aspects of the FFS Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework components are incorporated into project activities;
  • Prepare assignment reports as required (monthly, quarterly, annual,) and final report upon completion of his/her assignment; Coordinate with communications focal point in country to produce visibility materials based on content of reports.
  • Liaise with the appointed national FFS focal point and the Eastern Africa FFS Support Hub for sharing of knowledge and best practices across projects and countries.
  • Perform other related duties as required by supervisors.
  • Ensure quality and adherence of all FFS project activities according to FAOs standards and guidelines.
  • Organize, supervise and contribute to the FFS training activities (Training of Trainers, Training of facilitators, Refresher courses) fostering the participation of women and youth;
  • Contribute to the production of training materials and ensure their timely availability;
  • Ensure adequate integration of nutrition (and/or nutrition-sensitive) and gender in the training programs and in the regular meetings of FFS groups;
  • Conduct monitoring, evaluation and learning on the quality of the training courses and the work of the trained facilitators at all levels to ensure that FFS follow the basic principles and are graduated;
  • Participate in the development of specialized thematic areas to be integrated into Farmer Field School curriculum.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
  • University degree in Agricultural/Social Sciences or its equivalent;
  • Minimum 10 years of experience;
  • National of Rwanda
  • Working knowledge of Kinyarwanda and English is required. Knowledge of French would be an asset.
FAO Core Competencies
  • Results Focus
  • Teamwork
  • Communication
  • Building Effective Relationships
  • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills
  • Strong knowledge and proven field experience of the Farmer Field School approach;

  • Experience on organizing/conducting Training of Trainers and training of Facilitators as well as backstopping Facilitators ;

  • Analytical skills and ability to write clear and concise reports in English;

  • Ability to work under pressure and with limited supervision;

  • Strong facilitation and leadership skills
  • Teamwork and Results oriented;
  • Willingness to spend significant proportion of working time in the field. ;

  • Experience of projects involving multiple and diverse stakeholders including; Governments, private sector, civil society and end users;

  • Sound understanding of the functioning of UN agencies especially with FAO the working area is an asset.

  • Digital communication skills are considered an asset

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

  • Demonstrate integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;

  • Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with colleagues in multi-cultural environment;

  • Fulfils obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  • FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact\: Careers@fao.org
  • Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
  • Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications
  • For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
This vacancy is now closed.