Organizational Setting
For more than four decades, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.
Reporting Lines
The International Climate Resilient Agriculture Planning and Training Specialist reports to the National Technical Assistance Coordinator (Climate Change Adaptation Specialist) and will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative of the Philippines.
Technical Focus
FAO in partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) will be implementing a seven-year Green Climate Fund (GCF) project entitled “Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change” (APA project). APA aims to increase the resilience of rural men and women who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods in areas vulnerable to climate change while transforming the country agriculture toward climate resilience. This will be achieved through improved capacity of farmers to develop Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) enterprises and adopt financially and economically viable CRA practices, and of the government & private sectors to build supporting systems for scaling up. The project aims to directly benefit 1.25 million farmers and indirectly reach another 5.0 million people across 9 provinces in 5 regions in the Philippines.
The project will be executed by DA and PAGASA through FAO Operational Partners Implementation Modality (OPIM) and FAO Philippines providing technical assistance to achieve its objective and expected outcomes.
Tasks and responsibilities
The incumbent will undertake the following tasks and duties:
• Assess the current state of climate resilient agriculture (CRA) planning and capacity building in the Philippines;
• Develop a strategy and plan for mainstreaming CRA into policies, regulations and programmes at national and LGU levels
• Develop guidelines, tools and process for comprehensive participatory CRA planning at provincial level
• Provide technical assistance and guidance to project staff and country partners on CRA planning and implementation.
• Develop a training strategy to improve the resilience of agriculture to climate change in the Philippines and a CRA training programme that includes, but not limited to, Training of Trainers and Facilitators and the use of climate information/agrometeorological services;
• Guide and provide quality assurance of the development of training materials.
• Conduct training sessions and workshops to build capacity of target beneficiaries and local stakeholders on CRA.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the CRA planning, mainstreaming and trainings and make recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with relevant international organizations and institutions to share knowledge and best practices on CRA planning and capacity building.
• Prepare reports and presentations on the progress and impact of the CRA planning and training strategy.
• Carry out any other relevant duties within his/her technical competence as may be requested by FAO.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in agriculture, climate change, environmental management business administration, development studies, or other relevant degrees
• At least twelve (12) years for COF/ fifteen (15) years (for PSA) of work experience on planning and providing capacity building activities on initiatives related to climate change.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO language (Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, and Russian). For PSA, working knowledge of English.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• General knowledge and skills in the use of standard office software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).
• Familiarity with FAO operational procedures is an advantage
• In line with FAO policy, commitment to placing accountability to people affected by disaster framework at the core of FAO’s emergency policy and practice, from preparedness up to the onset of an emergency in all phases of the programme cycle
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
