District Field Technician

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through 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.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is implementing the AquaVita+ Mozambique Project (GCP/MOZ/150/AUS) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries (MAAP), with financial support from the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
The project aims to promote a transformative shift in the agricultural sector by strengthening resilient food systems and inclusive value chains, with particular emphasis on empowering smallholder farmers, especially women and youth, in targeted districts.
Key areas of intervention include the establishment and strengthening of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), promotion of climate-resilient production systems (including conservation agriculture, agroforestry and polycropping systems), facilitation of access to agricultural inputs through an e-voucher system, and provision of training on water-saving practices, nutrition and sustainable natural resource management.
To support project implementation, FAO is recruiting District Field Technicians based in Machanga and Chibabava Districts, Sofala Province.

Reporting Lines

The District Field Technician will report directly to the Project Coordinator and work in close collaboration with the Project Experts, under the overall supervision of the Technical Advisor.

Technical Focus

Rural extension and advisory services; Farmer organization and capacity development; Sustainable agricultural production systems; Agricultural input distribution and e-voucher systems; Market-based approaches and Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA); Sustainable land management and agroforestry; Water-saving practices and climate resilience; Nutrition-sensitive agriculture and community nutrition.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Organize and strengthen smallholder farmers into Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to facilitate access to extension services, training and capacity-building activities.
• Support the implementation of agricultural input distribution mechanisms, including e-voucher systems for seeds, fertilizers and agricultural tools, through beneficiary registration, awareness raising, monitoring and reporting. Support participating agrodealers with documentation, training, troubleshooting and mobile sales activities.
• Promote Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices, including: Agroforestry systems (e.g. fruit trees and native timber species); Conservation agriculture practices such as minimum tillage, soil cover and crop rotation; Polycropping and diversified farming systems.
• Support the implementation of Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) initiatives through farmer mobilization, farm mapping, data collection and farmer registration processes.
• Promote the adoption of water-saving technologies and practices to improve agricultural productivity and resilience to climate variability.
• Facilitate nutrition-sensitive agriculture interventions and community-based nutrition activities, including: Mother care groups; Cooking demonstrations; Home gardens; Hygiene and sanitation awareness; Family nutrition and health promotion.
• Actively support the collection, verification and timely submission of field data using approved tools and digital platforms, while coordinating with farmers, local authorities, agrodealers, and implementing partners.
• Support coordination with local authorities, community leaders, service providers and other project stakeholders.
• Support the identification, onboarding and capacity development of agrodealers and other service providers participating in project interventions, ensuring compliance with project procedures and facilitating their engagement in rural service delivery.
• Support farmer mobilization, beneficiary registration, farms mapping, and monitoring of the adoption of promoted Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), agroforestry systems, and other field-based project interventions at community level.
• Support the documentation of lessons learned, farmer success stories, field innovations, and good practices to contribute to the project Learning Agenda, adaptive management, organizational learning, and project visibility.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agronomy, Rural Extension, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Nutrition, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of relevant experience in rural extension, farmer training, agroforestry, sustainable agriculture, nutrition, or related areas.
• Working knowledge of English and Portuguese
• National of Mozambique

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated experience working with smallholder farmers and community-based development approaches.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas is considered an asset: Farmer Field Schools (FFS); Agroforestry and Sustainable Land Management; Agricultural value chains and market linkages; Seed systems and input distribution; Climate-smart agriculture; E-voucher or digital farmer registration systems.
• Good knowledge of the local language(s) spoken in Sofala Province.

Selection Criteria

• Valid 125cc motorbike driving license and experience in driving in difficult terrain

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application

• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/. These qualifications should be in alignment with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings.
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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