Organizational Setting
The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAOโs response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAOโs priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RAP also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organizationโs Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies.ย
The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture, and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.
Reporting Lines
The Plant Breeding & Seed Systems Specialist will work under the overall direct supervision and guidance of the Agriculture Officer and the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the projects being implemented under the Plant Protection and Production Module at FAOโs Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
Technical Focusย
The Plant Breeding & Seed Systems Specialist will provide support in developing project-related services to support the delivery of programmes, projects, products, and services implemented in the Plant Production and Protection Module framework. The technical focus of the projects to be backstopped will be in line with crop production and crop protection, including but not limited to food security, agriculture-based livelihood, climate resilient agriculture, capacity building of the government counterpart, and farming communitiesโ projects.
Tasks and responsibilities
Under the overall supervision of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) Agriculture Officer (Plant Production), the incumbent will undertake the following duties:
โข ย ย Facilitate identifying high-yielding and climate-smart quinoa, millets, and rapeseed varieties for the participating country to demonstrate field adaptation.
โข ย ย Develop a standard protocol for on-farm Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS) of high-yielding and climate-smart quinoa, millets, and rapeseed varieties by the participating country.
โข ย ย Coordinate the transfer of the identified high-yielding and climate-smart varieties of quinoa, millet, and rape seed by the participating country through SMTA (Standard Material Transfer Agreement) with international research centers outside the country.
โข ย ย Support in the seed preservation of climate-resilient and high-yielding quinoa, millet, and rapeseed germplasm for the short and long term.
โข ย ย Support consultation meetings with stakeholders and provide input on quinoa, millet, and rapeseed seed supply chains. ย
โข ย ย Prepare a draft of good agricultural practice (GAP) standards and technical guidelines for quinoa, millet, and rapeseed seed, including agricultural mechanization in the country context, to be used as a reference and guidance for the participating countries.
โข ย ย Finalize the GAP standard, technical guidelines, and training manual by incorporating inputs from national consultants.
โข ย ย Prepare a draft training manual of quinoa, millet, and rapeseed seed production and seed systems, including agricultural mechanization, in the country's context.
โข ย ย Oversee the preparation and implementation of training and workshops, including training modules and frameworks, pre-training and pre-workshop activities, program development, and post-training in collaboration with the training team and implementing partners (if any).
โข ย ย Support the conduct of training workshops for farmers, researchers, and extension officers on climate-smart, innovative, and good agricultural production practices, seed supply chains, and post-harvest processing.ย
โข ย ย Prepare and submit training reports and modules on climate-smart, innovative, and good agricultural production practices, processing, and storage.
โข ย ย Lead the development of knowledge products and articles in refereed journals.
โข ย ย Other relevant tasks.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย University degree in Agronomy, Plant Breeding, or Plant Genetics.
โข ย ย At least five years of work experience in sustainable dryland agriculture and seed systems development programs is preferred.
โข ย ย Working knowledge (level C) of English, French, or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, or Russian. For PSA, working knowledge of English.ย
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 Work experience in climate-smart and nutrient-dense crops and seed systems in favorable and dryland agriculture research and development programs.
โข ย ย Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly as field positions are desirable.
โข ย ย Experience working with a wide range of partners, including international and national organizations, government counterparts, research institutions, UN organizations, and the private sector.
โข ย ย Extended experience and knowledge in development work and institutional policy in the plant production and post-production sectors.
โข ย ย Extent and relevance of knowledge associated with the development, implementation, and monitoring of international instruments and good practices and with the work of international organizations and national governments.
โข ย ย Demonstrated experience in designing, collecting, and analyzing technical information and data.
โข ย ย Experience preparing, editing, and revising technical/scientific documents and organizing meetings and workshops.