Farmer Field School (FFS) Facilitator (08 positions)

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural , fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. 

FAO Pakistan under the Green Climate Fund is implementing a project called Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management in Punjab and Sindh Provinces. The project aims to develop the country’s capacity to get and use the information it needs to cope with the impacts of climate change on agriculture and water management. The overall goal of the projects is to enhance the capacity of agricultural and pastoral sectors to cope with climate change, by up scaling farmers’ adoption of climate change adaptation technologies and practices through a network of already established Farmers Field Schools, and by mainstreaming climate change adaptation concerns and strategies into on-going agricultural development initiatives, policies and programming. 

The positions are based at Lodhran, Khanewal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Muzaffargarh, Umerkot, Badin and Sanghar. 

The following position is SB3-SC5

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of FAO Representative in Pakistan and in close coordination with GCF Technical Adviser,  International Technical Officers and Provincial Coordinator, the incumbent will report to head of office and Provincial Project Coordinator under direct supervision of District Training Team Lead and in close collaboration with sectoral specialists and project team in performance of the following tasks and duties: 

Technical Focus

Facilitate field level interventions for establishment of Farmer Field Schools for Women, Women Open Schools, and Farmer Business Schools with a focus on horticulture, livestock management, small ruminants, poultry, climate resilient practices.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Facilitate the project target villages’ selection process under guidance of national, provincial and district team lead. 
•    Facilitate field level interventions for establishment of Farmer Field Schools for Women (FFS-W)(women Open Schools, WOS); 
•    Facilitate district team lead/supervisor preparation and completion of field work plan, agriculture inputs procurement plan, logistic and admin support etc. 
•    Facilitate and participate capacity building events/ trainings on WOS, selected CRA practices demonstration plot sites, facilitation skills, farmer training curricula, On Farm Water Management (OFWM), use of ICT, monitoring methods, and others
•    Facilitate and undertake local level training of trainers (ToT) for extension officers, staff and/or employees from partner organisations (entities) on women open schools activities under Letter of Agreements with Rural Support Program Networks (RSPN), CRA and OFWM. 
•    Facilitate and undertake the Training of Farmer Facilitators (ToFF) and provide continuous backstopping to the Farmer Facilitators
•    Provide continuous backstopping to the Farmer Facilitators, Government Extension Workers and Partner Projects/NGO/Private Sector Company Facilitators and RSPNs facilitators for women open schools
•    Closely work with the partnership facilitators in interacting with the testing and validation of the ongoing WOS practices on the adaptive research demo plots
•    Closely work with district team lead/ supervisor and sectoral specialist for collection and compilation of all the information related with FFS-W / WOS, economic analysis, Cost Benefit Analysis related data from respective district;  
•    Facilitate field level activities related to mobilization, formation and facilitation of W FFS-W / WOS in the target villages in close coordination with agriculture department or partners organizations (if any); 
•    Conduct regular field visits of the project area and provide guidance and recommendation for appropriate crops, vegetables and livestock area specific interventions for establishment of FFS-W / WOS.
•    Support district team lead for maintaining meaningful working relation with local government agriculture department for implementation of FFS-W / WOS;
•    Facilitate district office in better liaison and coordination with district administration, I/NGOs, private sector companies, academia, research institutions and women and men farmer organizations; 
•    Assist district team lead, partnership facilitator and sectoral specialist in the day-to-day monitoring of FFS-W / WOS interventions and compile monthly monitoring sheets (online/offline);
•    Ensure timely submission of FFS-W / WOS work plan and progress reports (monthly, quarterly, and final) to supervisor;
•    Document, report and develop database, based on the progress of trained beneficiaries’ information
•    Identify and develop case studies and success stories for periodic reports
•    Any other task assigned by Supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    University degree in Agriculture (any specialization/discipline), Agribusiness, Horticulture, Food Sciences, Agricultural Engineering, Agro Forestry and/or Livestock.
•    Minimum 3 years experience of Farmer Field School (FFS) /FFS for Women (FFS-W) with small ruminants or poultry, and Agriculture Extension. 
•    Working knowledge of English and of Urdu, Sindhi, Saraiki and other local languages used in relevant province.
•    National of Pakistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Practical knowledge of Homestead Gardening, small ruminants, poultry, Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) & Community organization skills.
•    Practical knowledge of Agribusiness and Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) private sector, value chain will be an asset.
•    Proficient in basic computer skills including MS Office.
•    Good interpersonal & communication skills.
•    Good drafting and report writing skills.
•    Analytical, communication and presentation skills.
•    Good networking and advocacy skills.
•    Ability of working in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment and rural communities.
•    Familiarity with UN systems and procedures regarding code of conduct and resource use.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION