FAO Vacancy Announcement for Crop Technician

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture

• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply

• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values

• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　

• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks

• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations established in 1945 whose mission is to contribute to eradicating hunger and achieving food security for all. FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO’s Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. 

FAO mobilizes high level national and international technical expertise to build capacity of institutions and human resources. It also helps to bring in modern and innovative technologies and formulate conducive policies in countries through piloting, adapting and scaling up of successful global practices to achieve sustainable agri-food systems transformation.

Currently in Nepal, FAO projects focus on technical capacity building, policy development, enhancing agri-production, strengthening food systems, improving food & nutrition security, enhancing resilience to Disasters and impacts of Climate Change as well as threats posed by zoonotic diseases to human health through the One Health approach. FAO also contributes to the coordination of humanitarian assistance/relief and transition to livelihoods recovery within the agriculture sector, under the framework of the food security cluster.

In this context, FAO Nepal seeks to hire a Crop Technician (32 positions) who will perform an essential role in supporting crop production and management activities to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability and technical support in contributing to the smooth and efficient running of the projects.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Nepal, the direct supervision of the Project Team Leader with technical guidance of Cluster Crop Value Chain Specialist and in coordination with Crop Production Specialist, the Agriculture Technician will perform the following tasks.

Technical Focus

As a Crop Technician, the candidate has to assist in the planning and execution of field operations including planting, cultivating, and harvesting by implementing crop management practices to optimize growth conditions, such as fertilization, irrigation, and pest control through regular field inspections and data collections. 

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Formation/ identification of producer groups for implementation of crop related interventions of the project,
•    Conduct group level orientation/meeting to sensitize on project activities as per the guidance from PCU,
•    Mobilize crop FFS groups for crop FFS and other training in line with work plan of the FANSEP/FAO-TA Project,
•    Identify lead farmers from the FFS, and facilitate their participation in additional refresher training,
•    Facilitate groups formation and registration process in concerned rural municipalities and provide group strengthening support,
•    Facilitate producer groups in developing proposals/business plan for accessing matching grant support from the project,
•    Mobilize crop producer groups for demonstration, seed production and other crop productivity improvement related training and other activities as per approved annual work plan of PCU and FAO-TA,
•    Prepare and submit trimester and monthly work plan and monthly progress report as per the format developed by the project,
•    Identify demonstrations sites, coordinate with PCUs for the timely distribution of quality inputs to producer groups,
•    Assist PCU in implementation of the seed multiplication, crop cutting data collection, and small scale irrigation related activities (including deep boring installation),
•    Assist PCU in collection of baseline data from field level, conduction of assessment and surveys
•    Provide technical services to members of producer groups on crop production related activities,
•    Monitor the crop related interventions implemented by the producer groups and prepare monthly progress reports on the project related activities,
•    Collect and report field level data required for PMIS to Cluster-based Crop Value Chain Specialist on monthly basis,
•    Prepare and submit Trimester and monthly plan to PCU and cluster-based Crop Value Chain Specialist as per the format developed by the project,
•    Assist in conducting on-farm demonstration and collect data on crop productivity related parameters as per the given template,
•    Report on progress in the use of funds disbursed to the producer groups by the PCU under matching grants,
•    Support PCUs to mobilize multi-stakeholder dialogue platform and productive alliances for market linkages,
•    Monitor ESMF compliance of crop related activities and prepare periodic report,
•    Implement awareness raising activities on environment and social issues and safeguard aspects and collect information as per project requirement,
•    Undertake other project related tasks as assigned by PCU chief, PCU staffs and FAO TA-Team

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Minimum High School Diploma/Technical Diploma (equivalent to SLC/TSLC) in Agriculture relevant with JTA
•    At least two years of working experience in assisting the implementation of field operations and crop management, pest and disease management, irrigation and water management, post-harvest handling and of experience in agriculture development projects activities 
•    Working knowledge of English and Nepali   
•    National of Nepal

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work 
•    Work experience in farmer groups formation and mobilization  
•    Strong knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices to enhance environmental health and long-term productivity.
•    Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards.
•    Good knowledge of the organizational structure. 

Selection Criteria 

•    Knowledge of local language will be an advantage.
•    Demonstrated practical and technical experience in crop productions with major experience of biological control research, extension, and development on the day-to-day operational activities of the project or programmes.
•    Good knowledge of computer operation of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment. 
•    Extent of technical and practical experience on the day-to-day operational activities of the project or programmes. 
•    Communication, writing and presentation skills in English and Nepali.
•    Ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team. 
•    Prior work experience with UN agencies, development partners, banks, and government of Nepal.
•    High degree of team ethics, well-organized, result focused and dynamic personality.
•    Preference will be given to local applicants and applicants should mention their preferred Rural Municipality (RM) in the motivation letter (Gorkha: Aarughat and Sahid Lakan RM / Dhading: Siddhalek and Galchhi RM / Sindhupalchowk: Sunkoshi and Tripurasundari RM / Dolakha: Baiteshwor and Meling RM / Dhanusha: Janaka Nandini and Bateshwor RM / Mahottari: Sonama and Samsi RM / Siraha: Laxmipur Patari and Nawarajpur RM / Saptari: Chhinnamata and Mahadeva RM)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)

• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted

• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/  

• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ 

•  Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT

To apply visit: jobs.fao.org