Farmer Field School Specialist

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Pakistan, the direct supervision of the GCF-funded project Technical Advisor, and in close coordination with International and National Officers in the Punjab and Sindh Offices, the International Farmer Field School Specialist.

The position will focus on providing technical and capacity development support for the implementation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) for both male and female farmers in the context of climate change in Pakistan, specifically within the Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management Project. The consultant will offer technical guidance to the project team, promoting agribusiness cropping systems and establishing linkages with value chain service providers and will contribute to identifying and piloting innovative initiatives in Climate Resilient Agriculture and Crop Production.

Responsibilities:

• Recommend and provide technical guidance on specific activities and initiatives that will strengthen the Component 2 delivery, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.
• Lead the development, implementation and evaluation on technical issues of the agriculture related components of the project; direct review of relevant documents and reports; identify priorities, liaise with relevant parties; identify and initiate follow-up actions
• Lead and supervise national technical and sectorial specialists for the 2 provincial project teams;
• Lead representation of the agriculture related aspects of the project at Provincial and District level;
• Analyse data from field and different organizations with focus on systems of agricultural production, marketing and support services.
• Provide advice to develop policies and strategies as well as national protocols and guidelines for project with specific domains related to FAO’s work
• In collaboration with the TA, consolidate the inputs of different national and international consultants to refine the project approach

Minimum Requirements:

• University degree in Agriculture with specialization in Agri- business, food security, sustainable agriculture, climate smart agriculture, agricultural water management, related field
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in designing and implementing FFS and farmers capacity development program; crop production, food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development
• Working knowledge (level C) of one FAO language (English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian) relevant to the assignment; knowledge of a second FAO language is an asset

Technical/Functional Skills :

• Proficient in planning and conducting ToTs
• Excellent writing and communications skills
• At least 10 years of hands-on experience in applying Climate Smart Agriculture practices and technologies in different contexts
• Strong ability and wide experience in designing and running agribusiness cropping systems and linkages with the value chain service providers
• Experience in designing farmers’ field studies on Climate Smart / sustainable Agriculture
• Skills in report writing, trainings and compilation of reports
• Experience working with or in international and donor organizations with implementation of participatory projects
• Experience in the preparation of technical and policy reports, guidelines and manuals curriculums and IEC materials for Farmers Field Schools approach

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2402885