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Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Production And Protection)

Rome

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Rome
  • Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Agriculture and Forestry
    • RNE
  • Closing Date: Closed

1H011H01

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


The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• 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 member countries and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply for this position
FAO does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization.

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Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for RNE is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RNE also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RNE develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).
The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.
Reporting Lines

The Senior Agricultural Officer reports to .Regional Programme Leader.

Technical Focus

Plant protection; pest and disease control policies and legislation; pesticides and their regulations; implementation of the standards for phytosanitary measures and crop related international Conventions/Agreements; biological and agro-ecological control methods; responses to pest and disease outbreaks and plant health emergencies.

Key Results

Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of Regional Programmes of work, projects, products, services in accordance with Region objectives FAO Strategic Objectives and in alignment with the Organization's Gender Policy.

Key Functions

• Plans, manages, or leads highly specialized or multi-disciplinary teams, leads, coordinates, and/or participates in Regional committees, project teams, and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies;
• Analyzes global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Objectives, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies;
• Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence based strategies, and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks;
• Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services;
• Provides technical and policy advice to Member countries and technical support to decentralized offices in the development and implementation of their programmes;
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality / effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning, on-line tools;
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders;
• Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate strategy.

Specific Functions

• Contributes to the development of regional strategies and approaches with FAO's global policies, strategies and initiatives, and support countries in the region to promote sustainable agricultural production systems and integrated approaches to agricultural development from the perspective of crop protection;
• Advises FAO member countries in the region in identification, design, operation and evaluation of activities on sustainable plant pest management, phytosanitary issues, pesticide life cycle management and integrated pest management programmes;
• Promotes and leads the implementation of the international agreements and instruments related to plant protection including, the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the Rotterdam Convention, in the countries of the region; and engages and contributes to the normative and standard setting work and governing bodies meetings of the Conventions as appropriate;
• Leads the development of phytosanitary and pest management capacities of member countries, including the national and regional systems/programmes for pest risk assessment, pest surveillance, early warning and rapid response to transboundary plant pests and diseases;
• Maintains close collaboration and coordination with the FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP) and the IPPC Secretariat at the FAO Headquarters in the development and implementation of activities related to pest and pesticide management and phytosanitary issues;
• Maintains regular collaboration and coordination with officers/experts at regional, sub-regional and country levels for technical support and sharing information on early warning, and knowledge on control of transboundary plant pests and diseases;
• Liaises with the National and Regional Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs, RPPOs) and other relevant stakeholders for addressing the plant health and transboundary emerging pests issues;
• Establishes and maintains partnership with relevant national, regional and international academic and research institutions for knowledge and expertise sharing, and developing and introducing of innovative pest detection, diagnosis, surveillance, early waring and management tools and methods to member countries;
• Provides technical advice and project backstopping services to member countries and for field projects in the region as Lead Technical Officer or part of the Project Task Force;
• Leads the development of viable responses to plant health emergencies and pest and disease outbreaks in the region; and long term solutions including natural sources of resistance and biodiversity;
• Oversees the collection of data and evidence to promote the development of agroecological plant protection alternatives and other modern technologies and to support climate smart actions in agriculture
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Agronomy, Plant Science with specialization in entomology, plant pathology, plant protection, pest and disease control or related fields.
• Ten years of relevant experience In plant protection, and pest and disease control with public or private sector institutions, international organizations, including related policies in developing countries.
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential
• Extent and relevance of experience in sustainable crop production and ecosystem management, including on plant protection;
• Demonstrated analytical, managerial, negotiating and advisory skills with good publication record
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes related to plant protection in development organizations and in the provision of technical and policy advice to countries
• Extent and relevance of experience in cooperating with officials in national governments, intergovernmental organizations and other institutions and in collaborative networks and joint programmes;
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses
• Extent and relevance of knowledge in the implementation of international instruments related to plant protection
• Demonstrated ability to make effective oral presentations, write, and edit clear and concise technical reports.
• Working knowledge of English, Arabic or French will be considered a strong asset

This vacancy is now closed.
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