Field Support Agronomist NGO Job FAO

Agricultural Jobs, Food and Agriculture Organization Jobs.

The Field Support Agronomist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Kenya and the Assistant FAO Representative Programmes, the general supervision of the Sustainable Agrifood Systems Programme manager and direct supervision of the National Project Lead of the Building Opportunities for Refugees and Host Communities Self-Reliance Project (UNJP/KEN/120/EC).

Technical Focus

The Field Support Agronomist will provide day-to-day technical support to Partners, County Government, and Farmers (Both Refugee and Host) on Crop Production, climate smart agriculture, and Irrigation Water Management in Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement and Turkana West Sub-County.

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Tasks And Responsibilities

• Provide technical support to farmers and partners on the management of shade-net and open-field crop production to ensure optimal costs and levels of production are maintained in Kalobeyei and its environments
• Train, mentor, and coach Community-Based Extension Service Providers (CBESPs), farm management committees, Water User Associations, and farmers in Turkana West on Agroecological Approaches and techniques, and farming methods, including Diversification, Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Agroforestry, conservation agriculture with trees, Integrated Pest Management, postharvest management, and irrigation agronomy and the management of water infrastructure.
• Facilitate producer-agro-dealers & other agro-input/service providers and producer–buyer linkages.
• Support the development of commercially viable business models for agro-dealers to provide inputs and services to farmers and encourage local entrepreneurs to invest in the business opportunity.
• Support the regreening and rehabilitation of degraded land initiatives by FAO in Kakuma and Kalobeyei and their environs
• Set and establish demonstration sites in various production areas in Kakuma, Kalobeyei, and their environments.
• Support farm management committees and partners on technical issues related to the management of their water infrastructure, including water pans, pumping systems, distribution systems, drip irrigation systems, and in-situ water harvesting structures.
• Support upscaling agricultural mechanization to enhance agricultural productivity and efficiency by equipping farmers with adequate mechanization training for effective, safe, and sustainable use.
• Support implementation of the monitoring and evaluation of field activities, data collection and surveys, and subsequent regular report writing.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the FAO representative or their duly appointed representative

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Crop science, Horticulture or a related field.
• 5 years of relevant experience working in irrigation agronomy, dryland agriculture, climate-smart agriculture, and crop production with proven skills in shade-net and open-field farming, agroecology, and integrated pest management.
• Working knowledge of English and Kiswahili
• National of Kenya

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Skills and Capacity to implement crop demonstrations and Farmer Field Schools.
• Experience in collaborating with and /or coordinating government, NGOs and development partners to implement impactful and resilient agriculture projects.
• Working experience in harsh environments among diverse cultures.
• Experience in rural development and participatory methodologies.

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.

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How to Apply

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