Rural Development and agriculture Consultant

Result of ServiceIn close coordination with the contractors, the consultant will ensure that all training content, field demonstrations, and reported results are technically sound and aligned with modern irrigation and climate-smart agriculture standards. The final result need to be validated technical overview that strengthens project quality and supports informed decision-making. Work LocationCairo, Egypt Expected duration8 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesORGANIZATIONAL SETTING UN-Habitat, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. BACKGROUND UN-Habitat and the New Urban Agenda (NUA) The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. Mandated by the UN General Assembly in 1978 to address the issues of urban growth, it is a knowledgeable institution on urban development processes and understands the aspirations of cities and their residents. For forty years, UN-Habitat has been working in human settlements throughout the world, focusing on building a brighter future for villages, towns, and cities of all sizes. Because of these four decades of extensive experience, from the highest levels of policy to a range of specific technical issues, UN-Habitat has gained a unique and a universally acknowledged expertise in all things urban. This has placed UN-Habitat in the best position to provide answers and achievable solutions to the current challenges faced by our cities. UN-Habitat is capitalizing on its experience and position to work with partners to formulate the urban vision of tomorrow. It works to ensure that cities become inclusive and affordable drivers of economic growth and social development. In October 2016, at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III – member states signed the New Urban Agenda. This is an action-oriented document which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live-in cities. Through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors, including at all levels of government as well as the private sector, UN-Habitat is applying its technical expertise, normative work and capacity development to implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Urbanization is a key driver of development. Hence, sustainable planning and governance of urbanization is crucial to accommodate the rapid population growth, empower cities to optimize the value of urbanization and ensure even development, inclusion and equality. Rapid urbanization presents a unique opportunity to lift millions out of poverty when managed sustainably. However, inadequate urbanization management, doubled with rapid population growth has adversely affected quality of life leading to lack of adequate housing, and increasing inequality. These conditions contribute to diseconomies (e.g., congestion, pollution, displacement) that overtime negatively affects the overall city prosperity, efficiency, productivity and competitiveness. UN Habitat in Egypt Established in 2005, UN-Habitat Egypt Programme has been providing technical support to national counterparts on a wide range of urban and territorial development issues. Adopting an integrated approach, UN-Habitat Egypt has supported reforming and improving urban planning and management through three main sub-programmes: urban planning and design; urban policies, legislation and governance; and urban basic services and mobility. Building on this foundation, UN-Habitat Egypt has increasingly focused on urban-rural linkages and territorial development, recognizing that sustainable urbanization requires addressing rural infrastructure, agricultural modernization, and functional connections between rural production areas and urban markets. Project Framework and Alignment This project is anchored in UN-Habitat's Urban-Rural Linkages framework, recognizing that rural land management, modern irrigation systems, and climate-smart agricultural practices are essential for integrated, climate-resilient human settlements. The project aligns with the 10 Guiding Principles of Urban-Rural Linkages, the New Urban Agenda, and SDG 11, ensuring that rural communities in Qena, Assiut and Sohag governorates are better connected to urban markets, services, and economic opportunities. The intervention draws on UN-Habitat's global experience in water-scarce contexts, including resilient irrigation design in Jordan and agricultural infrastructure development in Afghanistan, where similar interventions enhanced climate adaptation and agricultural productivity for rural communities. This consultancy contributes directly to UN-Habitat's 10 Guiding Principles of Urban-Rural Linkages by promoting integrated territorial development through Farmer Field Schools and public-private-community partnerships. The work supports balanced territorial development (Principle 1), inclusive governance and participation (Principle 2), local economic development (Principle 3), infrastructure integration (Principle 4), sustainable natural resource management (Principle 6), and territorial planning approaches (Principle 7), reflecting UN-Habitat's commitment to leaving no one behind in rural Upper Egypt. Project Title - Modernization of Irrigation Techniques to Improve the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers in Upper Egypt The Modernization of Irrigation Techniques to Improve the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers in Upper Egypt project, implemented under the FAO-UN-Habitat GCP/EGY/038/NET Agreement, aims to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder communities in Upper Egypt by introducing efficient water management and modern irrigation systems across 820 feddans. The project integrates topographical surveys, land use consolidation, and the establishment of 166 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to train farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices. Additionally, it promotes sustainable agriculture, public-private-community partnerships (PPCPs), and improved market linkages for farmers and Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs). This Term of Reference (TOR) contributes directly to UN-Habitat's 10 Guiding Principles of Urban-Rural Linkages by promoting integrated planning and resilient infrastructure in rural areas closely connected to urban markets. The TOR aims to strengthen the technical capacity of rural farming communities through the design and implementation of participatory Farmer Field Schools and the establishment of sustainable public-private-community partnership frameworks that ensure long-term access to modern irrigation technologies, agricultural extension services, and market opportunities for smallholder farmers in Qena, Assiut and Sohag governorates. Under the direct supervision of the Country Programme Manager based in Cairo, with support from UN-Habitat Egypt Country Office, the Agricultural Engineer Consultant will fulfill the following duties and responsibilities on a part-time basis. The Agricultural Engineer Consultant will work in close coordination with the UN-HABITAT governance team, field coordinators, FAO technical staff, and government counterparts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources throughout the implementation of the project's agricultural modernization and rural development components. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The consultant will provide technical oversight, monitoring, quality assurance and specialized engineering support to UN-Habitat and partners for the modernization of irrigation systems and the Rural Communities Field Schools (RCFS) in Qena, Assiut and Sohag. The consutlant will work closely with the contractors in Qena, Assiut and Sohag governrates. The consultant will supervise, guide and technically verify that the practices promoted through RCFS are sound, efficient, and aligned with UN-Habitat project objectives. RURAL COMMUNITY FIELD SCHOOLS (RCFS) TECHNICAL SUPPORT & MONITORING FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION • Conduct a comprehensive technical review of the curricula developed by the service provider for the 166 Rural Community Field Schools (RCFS), ensuring that all modules on modern irrigation techniques, climate-smart agriculture, and sustainable farming practices are technically accurate, feasible for smallholder farmers, and aligned with UN-Habitat and FAO guidelines. Provide structured technical feedback for both the summer and winter season curricula, highlighting required improvements and validation notes. • Provide expert technical recommendations for the Training of Facilitators (ToF), ensuring that the training content equips facilitators with the correct agronomic, irrigation, and climate-smart practices needed to deliver RCFS sessions effectively. This includes advising on the technical depth, sequence of topics, field demonstration requirements, and practical exercises. • Coordinate closely with the service provider and local RCFS facilitators to maintain high technical quality in the delivery of the RCFS training programs across both agricultural seasons. This coordination role focuses on technical consistency and corrective guidance, without involvement in logistical implementation. • Monitor and evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the RCFS by assessing farmer engagement, the accuracy of field demonstrations, the extent of knowledge transfer, and the real-world adoption of modern irrigation and agricultural practices. Conduct this assessment separately for the summer and winter cohorts, providing UN-Habitat with evidence-based observations on strengths, gaps, and technical risks. • Prepare detailed technical assessments for inclusion in the project’s implementation reports, documenting the quality of RCFS delivery, the technical relevance of the content, field-level observations, and practical recommendations for scaling or refining successful approaches in both seasons. • Review and technically validate the contractor’s comparative analysis between control and treatment farms, ensuring accuracy in the reported results for water savings, yield performance, and productivity indicators. Conduct an independent analysis of the data and provide a technical interpretation of the outcomes for each RCFS during the summer and winter seasons, identifying areas where results may require further verification or methodological adjustments. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in Agricultural Engineering or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. • A minimum of 2 years of professional experience in agricultural engineering or rural development is required • Experience in implementing Rural Communities Field Schools or similar participatory farmer training programs is required • Experience working with local government authorities is desirable. • Previous work experience with UN agencies or international development organizations in Upper Egypt is a desirable. LanguagesThis position requires both languages English and Arabic as per the below table: Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking English UN Level II (Intermediate) UN Level II (Intermediate) UN Level II (Intermediate) UN Level II (Intermediate) Arabic UN Level III (Advanced) UN Level III (Advanced) UN Level III (Advanced) UN Level III (Advanced) Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.