Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. FAO Ukraine is seeking to increase the resilience of livelihoods to threats and crises that affect agriculture, food and nutrition, focusing on four major areas: - rural economic development - transition to sustainable agriculture and food production practices - adaptation to climate change - humanitarian assistance.
FAO Ukraine is the country office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a specialized agency dedicated to achieving food security, reducing rural poverty, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources. FAO Ukraine works in close partnership with the government, civil society organizations, private sector, and other UN agencies to address the diverse challenges and opportunities in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and environmental sectors. By providing technical assistance, policy advice, and capacity development support, FAO Ukraine plays a vital role in fostering sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening the resilience of rural communities, and enhancing food security and nutrition across the country.
The ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine has caused significant disruptions to agriculture. The degradation of soil quality and loss of productivity are some of the major challenges faced by farmers in the region. Conservation Agriculture (CA), with its principles of crop rotation, minimal soil disturbance, and permanent soil cover, offers a viable solution to restore soil health and improve agricultural resilience. FAO is committed to supporting these farmers by providing technical assistance to implement CA practices and enhancing productivity in these war-affected regions.
This role is home-based but may require field missions to and throughout Ukraine. The selected candidate should be prepared to obtain relevant medical clearance requirements to fulfil official travel requests.
Reporting Lines
Under the overall supervision of DRO/Ukraine Head of Office and the Head of Programme, the direct supervision of International Programme Coordinator, and in close coordination with the rest of the Mine Action and Land Rehabilitation Programme Team. The Extension Specialist in Conservation Agriculture will be responsible for providing technical assistance to grain farmers affected by the land warfare in east Ukraine.
Technical Focus
Conservation agriculture (CA) in grain and sunflower production is critical for restoring soil health and resilience in war-affected areas. The Specialist will focus on promoting CA principlesโcrop rotation, minimal soil disturbance, and permanent soil coverโby providing tailored training on three hands-on demonstration plots and showcasing successful productivity stories. This approach aims to support farmers by providing tailored training on three hands-on demonstration plots and showcasing successful productivity stories. The incumbent will support activities in the design and implementation of demonstration plots; training farmers in-situ; delivering online technical assistance; and monitoring and evaluation. ย
Tasks and responsibilities
Specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following tasks:ย
1. ย ย Design and implementation of demonstration plots
โข ย ย Advise farmers on implementing Conservation Agriculture (CA) practices in grain and sunflower production, by providing guidance on sowing sunflower under CA conditions, ensuring minimal soil disturbance, proper crop rotation, and permanent soil cover, while also supporting soil recovery and improvement techniques.ย
โข ย ย Set up three demonstration plots in collaboration with local farmers to showcase practical applications of CA principles.
โข ย ย Monitor the performance of the plots, document progress, and compare results to conventional farming practices.
โข ย ย Engage local farmers in the management and observation of demonstration plots to increase awareness of CA practices.
2. ย ย Farmers in situ trainingย
โข ย ย Provide on-site training sessions on each demonstration plot quarterly for farmers on conservation agriculture techniques, with a specific focus on grain and sunflower production systems.
โข ย ย Develop and deliver context-specific training materials, including detailed manuals, visual aids, and other resources tailored to local needs and practices.
3. ย ย Online technical assistanceย
โข ย ย Offer remote technical assistance and backup to the project field agronomist and farmers through a weekly collection of technical questions, addressing practical challenges in implementing conservation agriculture practices.
โข ย ย Respond to queries and provide expert guidance through online platforms, such as email, video conferences, and messaging systems.
4. ย ย Monitoring and Evaluation
โข ย ย Collaborate with the Ukraine-based team to monitor and evaluate the performance of demonstration plots and training programs, ensuring continuous learning and improvement.
โข ย ย Analyze results from demonstration plots to refine curricula and provide feedback for future implementation strategies.
โข ย ย Perform any other tasks as necessary.ย
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements ย
ย ย
โข ย ย University degree in Agricultural Engineering, Sustainable Agriculture, Agronomy, or a related fieldย
โข ย ย At least 5 years of relevant experience in agricultural extension services, with a focus on conservation agriculture and soil managementย
โข ย ย Working knowledge (Level C) English
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skillsย
โข ย ย Ability to work and plan at strategic, as well as operational, levels
โข ย ย Ability to work productively under pressure and to maintain high morale in difficult circumstances
โข ย ย Strong knowledge to effectively use standard office software, such as MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point, Exchange)
Selection Criteria
โข ย ย Proven expertise in grain and sunflower production systemsย
โข ย ย Experience designing and implementing farmer training programs and demonstration plots
โข ย ย Advanced university degree is desirable
โข ย ย Knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is an asset
โข ย ย Previous experience with the UN system or relation work for a donor organization, consulting company or NGO is a strong advantage
โข ย ย Experience in humanitarian response including in the food security or nutrition sector is an assetย
โข ย ย Experience in capacity building, data management, and/or drafting guidelines or standards is an asset ย