International Extension and Farmer Field Schools Specialist

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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 nations, and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will 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

Organizational Setting

The FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). It assists the FAO Representations (FAORs) in the subregion with addressing subregional food security, agriculture and rural development issues at country level. The Office is also responsible for the liaison with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for Africa (RAF).

FAO has been over the years working on contributing towards improved livelihood for rural farming households by spearheading a number of programs that seek to improve the capacity to improve food production particularly for the populations at greatest risk of food insecurity in the subregion. Under the Food Security Cluster Response, FAO seeks to directly assist households to ensure immediate access to nutritious food, while protecting and restoring rural people’s own food production and income within the shortest lapse of time.

FAO-SFE has spearheaded the application of a monitoring and learning framework for FFS and the institutionalisation of FFS in institutions of higher learning within the subregion. These form the basis for a strategic vision to enhance capacity development of Government and other partner institutions in the subregion to enhance the outreach of extension services and the uptake of quality assured FFS initiatives.

To improve the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers, FAO will further enhance production and promote climate smart practices through field school approaches, targeting farming, pastoral that will pass on the knowledge to their wider communities.

Reporting Lines

The Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the Sub-Regional Coordinator–SFE and direct supervision of the SFE Crop Production Officer.

Technical Focus

The specialist will support and contribute to the development and implementation of (i) projects and programmes, (ii) strategies and policies and (iii) provision of technical assistance to all agricultural extension and advisory services initiatives in the subregion.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Analyse information and formulate interventions in the form of technical assistance.
• Develop and execute capacity-building initiatives.
• Oversee the management of procurement activities.
• Support the Crops Team on technical inputs related to extension and agronomy.
• Support SFE countries in the provision of agricultural extension and advisory services.
• Formulate and Coordinate targeted projects and programmes that address capacity gaps in extension and FFS.
• Provide technical supervision of initiatives that support FFS components in International Financing Institutions investment projects and programmes.
• Develop, organize and lead capacity-building efforts on the FFS Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework.
• Provide technical backstopping to the FAO-SFE inputs to formulate the RAF Crop Production and Protection programme priority area strategy and work plan.
• Prepare communications materials and provide targeted/specialist training on extension and advisory services issues.
• Liaise with the Farmer Field Schools Unit in FAO-HQ in support of FFS activities in Eastern Africa.
• Work with multi-disciplinary teams, Lead and/or participate in internal committees, project teams and working groups, and provide specialized expertise to technical networks.
• Contribute to the preparation of technical publications, progress reports and terminal reports of projects.
• Promote knowledge sharing and develop knowledge products and advocacy material.
• Prepare a final report detailing activities conducted and provide recommendations for issues identified.
• Other duties as assigned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, extension, agronomy, rural sociology or related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in extension methodologies and/or agronomy.
• Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of one of the other official FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) for COF.REG. For PSA.SBS, the requirement is a working knowledge of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Relevant practical experience in developing countries in other regions of the world is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in strengthening the enabling environment and institutional framework for effective extension and FFS support programmes an asset.
• Extent and relevance of experience in facilitating policy dialogue and multi-stakeholder consultations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing or managing capacity development programmes.
• Familiarity with crop production and cropping systems.

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