International long-term agricultural extension and innovation system development specialist

Organizational Setting:

Strengthening of Agricultural Advisory Services – GCP/AZE/018/EC project is contributing to the efforts of the Government of Azerbaijan to develop a strategy and an effective collaborative implementing framework for a sustainable agricultural advisory service system thereby enabling it to better respond to current and future challenges in the agriculture sector in a sustainable and collaborative manner. The overall goal of the project is to support Government efforts to develop a strategy and an effective collaborative implementing framework for a sustainable agricultural extension support service that is better able to respond to current and future challenges in the agriculture sector and ultimately improve rural livelihoods.

Reports to:

Mr. Bariz Mehdiyev, Assistant to the FAO Representative

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Azerbaijan, direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR in Azerbaijan and the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer, the consultant will be responsible for the day-to-day relation with the office of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan, the main project beneficiaries for organising and managing the project activities.

Tasks and responsibilities:

(S)he will perform the following roles and responsibilities:

• Overall project coordination, management, and administration including;
• Internal coordination and guidance of the personnel and all the experts of the project;
• Ensure coordination with project beneficiaries and other national counterparts through regular project Steering Committee meetings; project working group meetings, roundtables, and other fora;
• Manage the planning and coordination of all project related procurement and delivery activities in close cooperation with the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and FAO - Azerbaijan;
• Lead the project team for achieving the work plan results in a timely and quality manner;
• Support and supervise the organization of national and regional workshops and webinars as well as training workshops and community workshops/meetings;
• Ensure that project activities are adequately integrated into EU and FAO programmes as well as GoA agenda;
• Perform monitoring and evaluation in close collaboration with the monitoring and evaluation expert to document change throughout the action, documenting results, impact, and lessons learned;
• In close coordination with FAO-Azerbaijan and the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO), ensure the availability of suitable experts in accordance with the Project Work Plan and the requirements of the EUD and the main beneficiary;
• Facilitate meetings, visits, interviews, and working sessions, including online;
• Organise and provide support to consultants and counterparts in carrying out the planned project activities, including online and during field visits;
• Supervise, coordinate and guide the overall internal and external communication, dissemination, and visibility activities related to the project;
• Support and supervise design and implementation of awareness campaigns about the project activities within the target communities, pilot and focus regions, as well as targeted to the wider public;
• Organise and coordinate information-sharing with other EU-funded as well as non-EU donor funded actions;
• Make sure that all reporting obligations are fulfilled on time and that they meet the highest standards of quality.

The consultant will perform also the following technical tasks:

• Guide the piloting of the AAS model for delivery of services in Azerbaijan;
• Lead the participatory and inclusive formulation of the AAS strategy and implementation plan;
• Coordinate the preparation of the AAS skills framework and delivery of the training programmes;

• Lead the regional inventory, planning, and innovation processes;
• Coordinate the project support to the preparation of a legal framework for AAS, and ensure the adequate reflection of the proposed AAS model and strategy by the project;
• Coordinate a comprehensive audit of AAS system services against the new service model;
• Support the facilitation of interactive innovation teams (collaborative networks) in the target regions;
• Support the Performance Evaluation and Management System (PEMS) design of the public sector AAS providers;
• Coordinate, in collaboration with the LTO, the project technical team (international and national consultants and service providers);
• Advise on governance, coordination (including research-extension linkages), funding and quality assurance mechanisms to be recommended and applied at AAS system level by the project pilots;
• Perform any other technical tasks upon request of the LTO & AFAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements:

• University degree in a relevant discipline such as agriculture, agricultural economics, or other relevant field related to this contract;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other UN official languages, preferably Russian;
• Professional experience of at least 10 years working in the area of agriculture and/or rural development.