Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization is the specialized Agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to high-quality food.

The Digital FAO and Agro-Informatics Division (CSI) is responsible for all IT activities within the Organization and provides solutions and services that help make FAO more productive. The Digital Agriculture Empowerment Team is part of Digital for Impact Stream in CSI. This team is engaging in promoting digital solution adoption in FAO member countries worldwide for the positive and augmented social and environmental impacts in agrifoods systems with various instruments including digital public goods, digital agriculture blueprint, capacity development.

Reporting Lines

The specialist reports to the IT Officer in the Digital Agriculture Empowerment Team.

Technical Focus 

As specialist, the incumbent will contribute to Digital Public Goods and Digital Agriculture blueprint work in Digital Agriculture Empowerment Team. The broad focus of the work is to develop a strategy and related outputs that accelerate the uptake of open, safe, inclusive, and sustainable tools and practices in FAO’s Field Programme and across the digital agriculture ecosystem. Candidates will have a passion for the sustainable and equitable use of digital technologies in agriculture or a related sector.

Tasks and responsibilities

The specialist will perform for the following activities:

•    Mainstreaming digital agriculture and the DPG-First framework in FAO projects through knowledge sharing.
•    Building understanding and capacities for an Agricultural Digital Blueprint including work to advance knowledge and investments in digital public infrastructure (DPI).
•    Compiling knowledge, information and trends regarding digital agriculture tools, practices, and partners as well as presenting evidence of their positive impact and more.
•    Advocating and evangelizing the benefits of digital transformation across agrifood systems through high-level speeches and presentations.
•    Contribute to the delivery of knowledge products and services including an interactive catalogue of digital agriculture solutions – FAO Digital Impact Exchange, the FAO DPG certification process, and the promotion and advancement of an open advisory platform on digital agriculture.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    For Consultant: University degree in in Information Technology management, agronomy, environmental science, computer science and relevant majors.
•    For PSA: Relevant technical degree/certificate in Information technology, computer science and relevant majors, or relevant equivalent working experience.
•    1 year of relevant experience in digital agriculture empowerment, project coordination, technical development, and extension.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese or Russian for PSA it can be required only working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in Digital Transformation in agriculture or related sectors.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in IT Management
•    Extent and relevance of experience in Knowledge Management

Selection Criteria

•    For PSA: University degree in Information Technology management, agronomy, environmental science, computer science and relevant majors would be an advantage
•    Good skill in technical writing and public communications in English is preferable.