International Expert on Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.) Production

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• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply;
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• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

FAO mandate in Georgia is to support national efforts to promote food security and sustainable development of agricultural sector. FAO priorities in Georgia reflect the objectives and priorities of the Government set in the strategy papers related to agricultural development. In essence, FAO assists the Government in creating and implementing an institutional, legal and regulatory environment. At the same time, FAO supports individuals working in agriculture – farmers, cooperatives, companies etc. by providing technical and financial assistance.

Reporting Lines

The International Expert on Hazelnut shall operate under the overall guidance and responsibility of the FAO Representative in Georgia; the direct supervision of the ENPARD IV Programme Manager and in close collaboration with other international and national consultants of the ENPARD IV programme in Georgia, and more concretely project GCP/GEO/022/EC.

Technical Focus

A series of trainings to groups of orchard managers is being designed to address concrete weaknesses identified by the Farm Owners/Managers of a number of fruit and nut species. To scale up the work done in the previous production seasons under FAO’s projects UNJP/GEO/013/EC and GCP/GEO/011/EC and to reinforce knowledge on the agricultural and management practices of various fruit and nut species, under the ENPARD IV programme, additional trainings sessions will be organized in Eastern and Western Georgia. These trainings will include theoretical sessions and practical masterclasses to equip hazelnut producers in the country with the adequate skills and knowledge needed to ensure safer production practices having a spill over effect from producers to both local and international consumers.

Target crop will be: Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.)

Tasks and responsibilities

The overall objectives of the assignment are the following:

• Train producers, agronomists and extension services’ staff on orchard establishment and overall orchard management including crop nutrition, crop protection and Integrated Pest Management and organic production;
• Provide technical advice to producers, agronomists and extension services’ staff on overall hazelnut production based on the issues and knowledge gap identified by during the field visit;
• Support the FAO ENPARD IV team in drafting any brochure and technical leaflets on hazelnut production and/or processing that maybe required;
• Liaise with the grants’ team of the FAO ENPARD IV project to identify any possible needs in terms of equipment that could eventually be required in order to support the sector in Georgia;
• Train food technicians and food safety specialists from hazelnut drying and stocking centres and hazelnut processing facilities, as well as hazelnut exporters on several identified topics related to the pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages of hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.), including cleaning, drying, storage, and processing of the product.
• Train farm owners, agronomists, managers, food technicians, and food safety specialists from hazelnut drying and stocking centres and hazelnut processing facilities, as well as hazelnut exporters on hazelnut production from a food safety perspective, particularly focusing on the prevention of the occurrence of aflatoxins and other fungal diseases in line with EU regulations.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agronomy/horticulture, agricultural science or related fields;;
• At least 7 years of experience in orchard production and processing of hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.), encompassing orchard establishment, crop nutrition, crop protection and IPM, organic production, pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest management. Knowledge in post-production processes including cleaning, drying, storage, and processing of hazelnuts with a strong emphasis on food safety to minimize the occurrence of aflatoxins and other fungal diseases.
• Working knowledge of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Excellent communication (both written and oral) and presentation skills;

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

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
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• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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