Livestock Farmer Field School Specialist (01 position)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure 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.

With support of the European Union, FAO Pakistan is implementing a project “Post-floods resilient recovery and strengthening of the livestock sector in Balochistan”. The project aims to enhance food security and resilience status of the livestock farmers/households in line with the post-flood Resilient, Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction (4R) Framework and climate smart approaches. In accordance with priorities of the Government of Balochistan set forth in its Balochistan Livestock Policy and Strategy 2020-2030, the project will focus mainly on small ruminants, and reproductive efficiency improvement in dairy. To achieve this goal, the project will build capacity of livestock farming households through a comprehensive and tailored hands-on community outreach following the Farmer Field School and Gender Transformative approach, in a bid to improve sustainable production and productivity of husbandry in line with climate resilient approaches while creating/sustaining working opportunities with a focus on youth and women in the target districts of Balochistan. 

FAO wishes to recruit one experienced Livestock Farmer Field School Specialist to support integrated community outreach activities of the project geared at building capacity and empowering agro-pastoralists in their livestock husbandry practices; genetic breed improvement; disease management; improving feed resources for the small ruminants; rangeland management; preparation of safe and nutritious family food; value addition; and enhancing their opportunities for income generating activities to support their families.

The position will be level SBIV SC8 and based in Quetta, Balochistan.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of FAO Representative in Pakistan, Assistant FAO Representative – Programme and Head of Province, the incumbent will report to the Senior Programme Officer. Within the framework of a programmatic approach, the incumbent will be part of a technical team, and the role will involve close collaboration with various sectoral specialists, and project team both at the province and districts. The incumbent is expected to closely collaborate with relevant technical departments of Government of Balochistan both at province and district level to ensure proper alignment of interventions.

Technical Focus

The position will focus on providing technical and capacity development support for the implementation of Farmer Field Schools (FFS). The incumbent will directly support implementing partners for the FFS community outreach and quality assurance of the non-negotiable processes of the approach. In collaboration with the rest of the project team, this will entail planning and facilitating integrated capacity building interventions tailored for empowering livestock farmers through Farmer Field Schools on climate smart livestock production technologies and practices; improving feed resources for the small ruminants; rangeland management; preparation of safe and nutritious family food; value addition; entrepreneurial skills and enhancing their opportunities for income generating activities to support their families.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Lead the Farmer Field School activities of the project in terms of planning, implementation and providing specialised technical support to the implementing partners and project team to undertake an integrated and holistic community outreach
•    Develop a comprehensive and gender transformative FFS capacity development and community outreach plan for empowering livestock farmers to be jointly implemented with technical departments and local organisations
•    Develop holistic and clear guidelines for implementing good quality FFS on livestock factoring in location-specific dynamics
•    Provide technical inputs in the design and implementation of training need assessments, developing simple and well-illustrated appropriate information, extension and communication (IEC) materials and facilitating training programmes for Master Trainers (MTs), Facilitator (ToFs), and Community Based Facilitators (CBFs)
•    In liaison with the MEAL unit, operationalise a digitalised FFS MEL information management system and put in place functional data collection and analysis of all learning activities in the FFS
•    Provide routine technical backstopping to the Service Providers and project team and ensure adherence to the non-negotiable principles and processes of the FFS approach to enhance knowledge and skills
•    Contribute to/edit reports, manuals, guidelines, other specialized publications as they relate to FFS animal production, protection, good farming/livestock practices, producer’s organizations
•    In collaboration with the Provincial project team, support the district teams in the oversight and quality assurance in the implementation of Letter of Agreements with different Service Providers
•    Keep close track and completeness of all targets, identifying strategic linkages for sustainability completeness 
•    Develop and operationalise a realistic sustainability plan for the FFS groups with clear post FFS activities
•    Facilitate production and collating of work plans and progress reports (monthly, quarterly, and final) on the community outreach, case studies, and success stories
•    Ensure emerging innovations, lessons and good practices from the FFS are shared and reflected at the Global FFS Platform
•    Perform other related duties, as assigned by the supervisor.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

Liaison with the OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.

All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en  
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia  
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology: http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names Of Countries: https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).  

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced degree in (DVM/MS/M.Sc/M.Phil/Ph.D) in Livestock/Veterinary Medicine or Animal Science or related fields.
•    Minimum of 7 Years of experience in livestock management especially small ruminants
•    Working knowledge of English and fluency in Urdu and local languages (Pashto, Balochi, Brahvi) spoken in the province.
•    National of Pakistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Participatory approaches for rural community development
•    Proficient in basic computer skills including MS Office.
•    Good interpersonal & communication skills.
•    Strong analysis, report writing, facilitation and presentation skills.
•    Ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment and rural communities.
•    Familiarity with UN systems and procedures regarding code of conduct and resource use.
•    Display initiative and take responsibility towards achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and closely follow-up until successful outputs are achieved.
•    Understanding of the purpose and functions of technical programmes, operational guidelines and programme/project management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO would be considered an added asset
•    Continue to seek new, innovative and improved methods and systems for accomplishing the work assigned.
•    Experience in developing training materials, curricula, and conducting training programs for farmers and extension workers.
•    Ability and willingness to travel and work in remote areas of project target provinces
•    Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and teams.

Selection Criteria

•    Proven training and practical experience in implementing Farmer Field School methodology for livestock 
•    Climate Resilient Agriculture/Livestock (CRA), private sector, livestock value chain experience will be an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION