Junior Digital Agriculture Assistant

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• 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.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Representation in Bangladesh is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the country. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in Bangladesh and, in collaboration with Regional Office for Asia and Pacific and the departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to the country priorities. The representation also supports the regional office in the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the country, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. The office also develops and maintains relations with Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, the resource partners and other development institution at the country level.
The objectives of these initiatives include:
• Conducting policy, institutional, and investment gap analyses to inform an effective action plan for agriculture sector transformation.
• Identifying and establishing effective pathways for prioritizing and coordinating resources and partnerships.
• Enhancing collaboration with the private sector.
• Improving the scale and efficacy of investments in agrifood system research and innovation.
• Increasing initiatives to safeguard environmental health, particularly in light of climate vulnerability.
The Junior Digital Agriculture Assistant will provide overall support to all project and programme teams encompassing digital agricultural systems and innovations. With a focus on identifying and introducing potential digital agriculture and IoT (internet of things) solutions across and beyond FAO Bangladesh’s portfolio, this position is crucial to ensure that modern agricultural breakthroughs and technical innovations translate into improved productivity, reduced gaps and losses, enhanced market competitiveness, and export readiness, ensuring the safe and sustainable transition of Bangladesh throughout its upcoming LDC graduation. By bridging technical innovations with farmer capacity building and value chain infrastructure, the Junior Digital Agriculture Assistant will drive FAO Bangladesh’s interventions through practical, field-tested solutions and informed technical guidance.

Reporting Lines

The Junior Digital Agriculture Assistant is a SC 1 position. Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, the Deputy FAO Representative, and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), and in close consultation with project and programme staff, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with the National Programme Specialist, the CO’s relevant project teams, relevant government institutions, and other stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The Junior Digital Agriculture Assistant will support the application of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in agriculture, with emphasis on IoT-enabled systems, smart farming solutions, digital advisory tools, and data-informed decision-making across FAO Bangladesh programmes.

The role focuses on applied digital agriculture innovations that enhance productivity, climate resilience, value-chain efficiency, and farmer capacity,

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support associated project and programme teams in piloting innovations, technologies, and digital integration.
• Support the implementation of digital agriculture projects, ensuring the timely delivery of outputs and achievement of objectives.
• Support to analyze the methodological frameworks, algorithms, and tools for evaluating digital agriculture readiness, digitalization initiatives, and for providing technical recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to the preparation of project proposals, concept notes, and funding requests to mobilize resources for digitalization efforts.
• Identify potential and relevant start-ups in and beyond the country, digital tools and systems for potential integration, facilitation of knowledge exchange, and scaling across projects and programmes.
• Facilitate knowledge exchange by documenting best practices, success stories, digital solutions, and lessons learned from digital agriculture interventions and initiatives.
• Support in designing and delivering capacity-development workshops, training sessions, and technical guidance materials.
• Maintain liaison and assist in fostering partnerships with the private sector, research institutions, and international organizations to promote and leverage resources for the digital transformation of agriculture.
• Support project teams in the evaluation and procurement of digital agricultural solutions as envisaged in the respective project documents.
• Support capacity-building activities, including farmer field schools, field days, and dialogues with exporters.
• Support to prepare technical reports, progress updates, and knowledge products for the FAO Representation.
• Undertake any additional tasks assigned by the FAO Representative and/or the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE), or a closely related field.
• At least 1 (one) year of relevant experience in IoT and digital agriculture.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English.
• National of Bangladesh.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong knowledge of digital technologies, tools, and platforms relevant to agriculture, rural development, and food systems.
• Ability to work with farmers and rural communities to identify their needs and challenges and design solutions and training programmes to meet those needs.
• Ability to coordinate technical digital agriculture projects.
• Ability to design and supervise small-scale agro-infrastructure projects with environmental and social safeguards.
• Excellent coordination, facilitation, and communication skills across diverse stakeholders.
• Proven ability to prepare high-quality technical documents, training materials, and reports.
• Ability to translate policy requirements into practical engineering solutions at the field level.

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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