Young Professional Officer (Plant Production and Protection)

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for Central Africa (SFC), Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE), Subregional Office for West Africa (SFW), and Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SFS). It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Offices and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization's strategies through programmes and projects in the region.

The position is located in the Regional Office for Africa in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Young Professional Officer (Plant Production and Protection) reports to the Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Production and Protection).

Technical Focus

Programmes and activities at regional, subregional, national and local levels on sustainable plant production and protection, encompassing the seed systems, agronomics and plant health thematic areas and their enabling innovations, including biotechnologies, sustainable agricultural mechanization, drones, sensors and digitalization.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of assigned projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Analyses relevant technical social, economic, environmental, and technology information, data and/or statistics for input in various documents.

• Maintains records and updates databases and web pages.

• Provides technical support to various projects.

• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars, etc.

• Participates in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions

• Provides technical support and sundry backstopping interventions for projects, programmes and initiatives across FAO's RAF region to strengthen institutional and human capacities for the diverse cropping systems with interventions in one or more of the following areas: quality seeds, planting materials and seedlings; soil health; soil moisture management, including efficient irrigation systems; plant health, through integrated pest and disease management; innovations in agronomics, including protected cultivation systems, soilless systems; sustainable agricultural mechanization; digital agriculture; and pollinators.

• Supports the assessments of cropping systems and provide recommendations on validated innovative practices, and technologies along value chains to improve farm productivity; nutritional quality and safety of produce; and smallholders' incomes and livelihoods.

• Supports the development and review of technical documents related to different areas of crop production and protection and deliver relevant training programmes, especially for agronomists and extension staff of Member Countries.

• Assists in project implementation from conceptualization, through implementation and reporting to monitoring and evaluation in close collaboration with members of project teams, as required.

• Develops and reviews technical specifications for inputs and equipment for crops production systems, including in support of the implementation of projects.

• Collaborates with FAO technical teams, divisions, and decentralized offices and other partners on topics related to sustainable crop production systems.

• Provides support for convening meetings with relevant stakeholders and responsible representatives from government, civil society, regional and international bodies, private sector, and academia.

• Performs any other duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, agronomy, soil science, plant breeding and genetics, plant pathology, entomology or other related disciplines

• One year of relevant experience in development projects for sustainable crop production systems, sustainable agriculture, as well as plant genetic resources management, soil management, water/irrigation management, integrated pest and disease management, plant nutrition, protected cultivation, soilless systems, digital agriculture, sustainable agricultural mechanization.

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in related fields such as crop improvement, agro-biodiversity, conservation of plant genetic resources as well as digital agriculture.

• Extent and relevance of experience in collecting, analysing and summarizing technical information and data.

• Extent and relevance of experience in project implementation is an asset.

• Extent and relevance of experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs as well as donors and government institutions and agencies.

• Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of French is considered an asset.

NB Please note that candidates should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.

The Young Professionals Programme (YPP) is a recruitment initiative targeted for talented, qualified professionals who are mainly nationals of non- and under- represented countries. Priority consideration will be given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and developing countries in general, to start a career as an international civil servant with FAO.