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National Agricultural Extension Specialist

Monrovia

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Monrovia
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Agriculture and Forestry
  • Closing Date: Closed

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

  • 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 Members 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 FAO's values
  • FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination  
  • All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
  • All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
  • FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

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

The project “Linking Extension and Research to Farmers for Sustainable Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition”, funded under EU National Indicative Program (2014-2020), aims to build and strengthen the professional relationship of extension services of the Ministry of Agriculture and the research center CARI for an effective promotion of the agriculture production in the country. Especially, the project is targeting a better access to information on farmers’ demand and to improved knowledge on sustainable agriculture practices. The project will reinforce the organizational and managerial capacity of both research and extension in Liberia for efficient services delivery focusing on accountability relationships between both entities and farmers, policymakers and others extension services providers. It will enforce and clarify division of responsibilities (central and decentralization), new roles and tasks, coordination mechanisms in building and ensuring adequate capacity of extension staff to assume the responsibilities devolved to them.

The project is seeking to hire services of national experienced expert in agriculture extension reform to make extension services work better for rural people. The national consultant in extension will support the project implementation in Liberia to: (i) provide mechanisms to improve the working relationship between extension and research to farmers and operational efficiency at organizational and managerial levels; and (ii) to support the legislation and implementation of the National Policy for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) as well as the establishment and implementation of National Agricultural Innovation System (NAIS) for Liberia.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Liberia, the direct technical supervision of the International Project coordinator with the functional guidance of the international consultant and in close collaboration with, the Department of Regional Development, Research and Extension (DRDRE) of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Liberian Forum on Agricultural Advisory Services (LIFAAS), Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), the national consultant for agricultural research and key stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The national Agricultural Extension Specialist will work closely with the appropriate stakeholders to support the establishment of the agriculture research-extension-farmers linkages.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The incumbent will undertake the following:

  • Review the AEAS policy, legal, institutional framework and (in cooperation with project agricultural research experts) develop an action plan for improving the linkages of Extension and Research in the country at organizational and managerial levels;
  • Organize an online stakeholders’ consultation-workshop to present, discuss and adopt the action plan for improving the linkages of Extension and Research in the country at organizational and managerial levels;
  • Develop priorities operational plan that includes concrete actions, means and timeline for implementation of the AEAS and the CARI strategic plan;
  • Provide technical support to agricultural extension Technical Committee for the preparation of the extension policy.
  • Assist in the organization of the personnel and Business center mangers training in Agriculture Extension programs conducted
  • Support coaching and mentorship activities for the established business Centers
  • Prepare case studies, guidelines, reports, publications and presentations in support of project timely delivery.
  • Prepare or contribute in the preparation of the project progress reports.
  • Organize an online consultation inviting relevant government authorities, AEAS and Agricultural Research stakeholders to present and discuss and validate (i) Priorities operational plan and (ii) financial framework for implementation of the AEAS policy and agree on the implementation steps;
  • Develop improved performance evaluation mechanisms at DRDRE central and regional levels;
  • provide DRDRE management with sound planning and M&E processes, with better data and communication flows and channels; and improving division of tasks and roles through systemic AEAS planning and delivery,
  • undertake missions to field, as required;
  • Perform other duties, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

  • Advanced degree in agriculture sciences, extension and agriculture research, sciences or other fields related to the FAO mandate;
  • 7-10 years’ experience the field of Extension or with experience in AEAS systems development in Liberia,
  • Strong Experience of work with AEAS system or with large capacity in term of programme development, organizational capacity for AEAS development to improve the working relationship with agricultural research;
  • Adequate capacity in resource mobilization framework for the implementation of the extension policy;
  • Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese.
  • National of Liberia or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

  • Extend of working experience in agricultural advisory services, in farmers’ fields school approach and practices, in planning and implementation of programmes related to agriculture development, agricultural extension and advisory services systems and institutional strengthening, and multi-stakeholder processes.
  • Familiar with reform in research and extension at system level and institutional capacity development
  • Demonstrated result based management capabilities with an ability to manage programme budgets and human resources.
  • Ability and willingness to travel extensively in support of project implementation.
  • Excellent communication, networking, written and presentation skills.
  • Familiar with United Nations System and/or FAO’s programming mechanisms.
  • Experience in developing and delivering training curricula to extension services and farmers is an asset.

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

This vacancy is now closed.
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