National Agronomist

Organizational Setting

• The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
• 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 help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner to ensure zero hunger in the country. FAO provides support in three priority areas: sustainable increase in production and productivity, agriculture-based economic growth, and increased resilience of livelihoods to threats and crisis.
• The current portfolio of projects in Liberia includes activities related to agriculture (crop), animal health, Fisheries, Natural Resource management and Climate resilience.

Reporting Lines

• The incumbent will contribute to the country’s programme and portfolio as foreseen in the project he/she will coordinate and be assigned.
• Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) for Liberia and the direct technical supervision of the Assistant FAOR for Programme and the Plant Production and Protection Office in the Sub regional Office for West Africa, in collaboration with the staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Communal Farming Division of the Ministry of International Affairs, and other relevant institutions, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

Technical Focus

• The National Agronomist will contribute to FAO Liberia programme implementation and resource mobilization efforts. This includes leading capacity building efforts for farmers, government and other extension agents, and relevant value chain actors. The role entails working with agronomists/plant production and protection specialists and other specialized officers (including seed, soil, water management experts) in the Sub-regional (SFW), regional (RAF) and headquartered technical units of FAO for effective knowledge transfer. S/he support the monitoring and implementation of interventions to which s/he serves as focal person.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute to the sensitization of communities and stakeholders (project sites and aspects associated with rice, vegetable, and other crops production and marketing,)
• Collect information required for the identification of Beneficiaries for projects supported by the agronomist
• Participate in various project trainings (including Leadership and Group Management Practices), using; Farmers’ Field School, Farmers’ Business Management, and other FAO-recommended approaches
• Participate in studies, joint missions, technical monitoring of production sites and beneficiaries
• Actively contribute to agricultural producers (field crops, horticulture) needs identification and capacity assessment, as well as to the definition of priorities and requirements for targeted beneficiaries.
• Support the establishment of procurement needs, plan and technical specifications of the inputs to be procured by projects supported by the incumbent
• Implement the agricultural/agronomic components of projects including emergency components
• Conduct training on sustainable farming techniques, good agricultural practices, technology use and maintenance and agro-ecological farming approaches for crops, fruits and vegetable production.
• Record data and analyze relevant technical, social, economic and technology related information to support the delivery of outputs and activities of various projects
• Provide technical inputs for project activities work plans and reports and edit/revise technical documents
• Collaborate with other stakeholders, including government agencies, private sector entities, and civil society groups, farmer organizations (including cooperatives) to promote sustainable and integrated food systems.
• Participate in the development of improved work methods, tools and systems
• Participate in multi-disciplinary work teams and missions on the projects ‘sites
• Collaborate in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops 
• Participate in the organization of workshops and meetings
• Provide back to office report after each mission; monthly and progress reports
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

• University degree in agronomy/agriculture, entomology, plant pathology, pest management or plant protection, crop science, agroecosystem, crop production, or a closely related field;
• At least seven years relevant experience in plant protection, agriculture, agronomy and agroecology crop production, especially seed systems development, agricultural services delivery and capacity development;
• Working knowledge of English;
• National of Liberia.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2402745