National Digital Agriculture Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Armenia assists the Government to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, develop the agricultural and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. It contributes to the development of FAO’s field programme projects in the country and implements them in the sectors of food security, agriculture, natural resources management and rural development.

In response to the growing demand for seizing the opportunities brought by digital technologies, the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (FAO REU) established its specialized team for Digital Agriculture in 2020. With a mission to act as a catalyzer for the digital transformation of agriculture across Europe and Central Asia, the team provides critical capabilities to country offices, technical units, and Members. It also spearheads the implementation of flagship initiatives such as the Digital Villages Initiative (DVI), the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HiH), and the AgriTech Observatory. In recognition of its impactful work, the team received the prestigious \"One FAO Team Award\" in 2023.

The incumbent will work closely with FAO Armenia, maintaining technical collaboration with the Digital Agriculture team at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (FAO REU).

Applicants must hold Armenian citizenship or possess a valid residence permit in Armenia. Additionally, selected candidates are required to reside in Armenia for the duration of their assignment.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the regional Head of Digital Agriculture and direct supervision of the FAO Programme Coordinator in Armenia. 

Technical Focus

The incumbent will contribute to the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework linked to Digital Agriculture (BP5): provision of analytical and technical support for conducting research and assessments, studies, formulating strategies, programmes, and supporting projects for the digitalization of food and agriculture and rural areas.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Conduct assessments of the current state of digital agriculture environment and capacity in Armenia (incl. key stakeholders mapping, capacity assessment, existing solutions, providers and initiatives, the policy, institutional and legislative frameworks)
•    Identify and analyse practical and cost-effective digital tools that address the specific needs of Armenian farmers and Ministry of Economy as well as policies and frameworks that can support the digital agriculture.
•    Support with reviewing/revising the Draft Digital Agriculture Strategy by providing written feedback and comments, and ensuring that it aligns with the national vision reflected in Government Digitalization Strategy 2021-2025, promoting a sustainable and inclusive approach to the growth in Agriculture and ICT.
•    Establish local partners contact database, nurture and support partnerships, coordinate and work closely with national and local stakeholders (Ministry of Economy, Ministry of High-tech Industry, NGOs, farming associations, private sector, Ag Tech start-ups, etc.), supporting the establishment and coordination the national Digital Agriculture working group. 
•    Support AgriTech Startup to take place in July-August 2025, by moderating the sessions, preparing content, identifying experts to join the panel discussions, and other preparatory works.
•    Regularly visit farms, rural communities, and agricultural cooperatives to assess their needs, challenges, and capacity for adopting digital agriculture tools.
•    Coordinate with stakeholders to adapt global best practices in digital agriculture to the local context, as well as support the piloting and scaling up of digital technologies in rural areas.
•    Provide hands-on technical support to farmers during the implementation and use of digital solutions.
•    Plan, organize and conduct on-the-ground demonstrations of digital tools, organize and facilitate training workshops for farmers, and government stakeholders on the use of digital tools and technologies and raise awareness about the benefits of digital agriculture solutions through field days, local events, and community gatherings. Act as workshop facilitator and trainer; draft workshop reports and materials.
•    Monitor and document the performance and impact of digital tools in real-time, analyze the adoption rates, challenges, and return of investment of digital tools on farm productivity and resilience.
•    Build strong relationships with Ministry of Economy and other local and national partners to ensure sustained support for farmers.
•    Prepare field reports, document lessons learned and success stories to inform future programs and strategies.
•    Collaborate with FAO teams to align digital agriculture initiatives with Armenia’s national priorities and community needs and mainstream digitalization in all projects
•    Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in agriculture, agricultural engineering, information and communication technology, computer science or a related field
•    Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in digital agriculture and/or Information Technology, including hands-on experience working directly with farmers or rural communities
•    Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Armenian 
•    National of Armenia

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong understanding of digital tools and technologies applicable to agriculture, including mobile apps, data analytics, GIS, IoT, and precision farming.
•    Strong understanding of the practical challenges faced by farmers in Armenia.
•    Experience organizing and facilitating farmer trainings and capacity-building activities.
•    Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with farmers and rural stakeholders.
•    Demonstrated ability to work in rural environments and build trust with local communities.
•    Adaptability and willingness to travel frequently to rural and remote areas.

Selection criteria

•    Proficiency in using MS Office suite, namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
•    Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. 
•    Strong problem-solving skills. 
•    Strong time-management skills. 
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
•    Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and external stakeholders.
•    Strong attention to detail.
•    Ability to work independently.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION