Organizational Setting

FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia provides technical supports to its member countries to develop and implement programmes and projects to address food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development priorities. It promotes sustainable agriculture production intensification of smallholder farmers; monitoring and response to climate change, routine agriculture and food security situation monitoring and reporting. Applications are invited for the position of an International Horticulture Specialist (IHS) to provide technical support on matters related to the field of sustainable crop production and protection to the REU  technical team.

Reporting Lines

The Horticulture Specialist will work under overall supervision of the FAO Assistant Director General in Europe & Central Asia, and the direct supervision of the REU Agriculture Officer.

Technical Focus

Sustainable crop production and protection, Climate smart adaptive agricultural practices, Integrated pest management, and capacity building.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide technical support to FAO member countries in the identification, formulation and implementation of plant production projects and priorities under the current Country Programming Framework (CPF);
•    Provide technical backstopping to projects dealing with the strengthening of sustainable crop production in the region.
•    Support Climate Smart agriculture (CSA) interventions including Conservation Agriculture and other relevant agro-ecological approaches that promote Good Agricultural practices in the sub-region
•    Assist with the development of a regional proposal for the scaling-up of sustainable climate resilience innovative technologies & practices in agriculture, using pilot demonstrations and case studies in some of the ECA countries.
•    Conceptualize and prepare training and information materials and implement capacity development programs related to crop production and protection in the framework of FAO Program Priority Areas.
•    Enhance plant production and productivity through the adoption of improved farming techniques, technologies, and practices and promote climate-smart agriculture.
Provide technical support and guidance to farmers, extension workers and promoting Farmer Field Schools approach.
•    Strengthen REU crop production, protection information, database and related tools to provide related climate services to Members and FAO Country Offices.
•    Perform other related duties as required. .
 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in agronomy or horticulture science, environmental and natural resource management or closely related fields
•    Seven years of relevant experience in crop production and protection, Climate Smart agriculture, seed systems and climate resilient agriculture  related fields
•    Working level of English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in climate resilient and sustainable agricultural production management practices and improve technologies.
•    Work experience in Europe and Central Asia would be an asset
•    Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines
•    Ability to write clear and concise technical documents
•    Excellent communication skills in English and strong computer, report writing, and presentation skills.
•    Technical and practical knowledge on establishments of pilot demonstrations of CSA technologies, and conducting farmers training.
•    Knowledge and experience of work in the project area will be an advantage
•    Working level of Russian will be considered as an asset