Agricultural Extension Consultant
Job Posting : 10/Sep/2019
Closure Date : 24/Sep/2019, 9:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit : FRZIM
Job Type : Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition : PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Grade Level : N/A
Primary Location : Zimbabwe-Harare
Duration : 35 days (WAE)
Post Number : N/A
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply. People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
Organizational Setting
The Government of the United Kingdom through their Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting the Zimbabwe Livelihoods and Food Security Programme (LFSP), which aims to contribute to poverty reduction through increased incomes and improved food security. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the Management Organisation for the Agriculture Production and Nutrition (APN) component of the LFSP.
The programme is being implemented in four provinces covering 12 districts as follows: Mutasa, Mutare, and Makoni in Manicaland province; Guruve, Bindura, Mazowe and Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central province; Kwekwe, Gokwe North, Gokwe South and Shurugwi in Midlands province and Zvimba in Mashonaland West province. Programme implementation is by consortia of NGO implementing partners and the programme components are structured around the following: Extension and Advisory Services (EAS); Nutrition and Biofortification; Rural Finance; Policy Support; Market Development and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning. Gender mainstreaming cuts across all programme components. LFSP is implementing pluralistic extension approaches since inception in 2014. The EAS sub component applies innovative strategies for extension and advisory services that particularly emphasize the principles of participation, pluralism, client orientation, environment friendly and gender mainstreaming. The EAS span beyond the confines of agronomic and animal husbandry advice to include nutrition, business development and market linkages, strengthening of farmer groups/organizations, and access to community-based microfinance. These extension approaches ensure greater participation of women in extension.
Reporting Lines
The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representation of Zimbabwe, the technical supervision of the LFSP Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), and guidance from the LFSP EAS Thematic Team Lead.
Technical Focus
The technical areas/profiles covered will be agriculture, agriculture extension, or related rural development work. The incumbent will be required to make an assessment of extension approaches under LFSP.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Assess the effectiveness of LFSP extension approaches
- Document lessons and best practices from the application of different EAS approaches
- Develop options for up scaling promising EAS approaches and implications for programming and policy
- Propose how self-financing of the extension system can be maximized
- Propose how identified weaknesses of the extension approaches can be improved and made sustainable
- Identify and recommend extension approaches that can be institutionalized and rolled out at national level.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- University degree in agriculture, agricultural extension, rural development or related field
- At least 12 years of relevant field experience
- Knowledge of the different extension approaches used in agricultural and rural development work
- National of Zimbabwe or resident in the country.
FAO Core Competencies
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
- Analytical and report writing skills buttressed by relevant computer/IT skills
- Creativity and ability to work under tight deadlines
- Excellent English, communication, facilitation and computer skills
- In-depth knowledge of agricultural extension delivery systems, particularly for Zimbabwe
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
- Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: [email protected]
- Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
- Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
- For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
HOW TO APPLYTo apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered. Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: [email protected]
FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT
More Information
- Job City Harare
