Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO Country Offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and nutrition and reduce hunger and malnutrition, promote sustainable agricultural development, reduce rural poverty, develop inclusive agri-food systems and strengthen livelihood resilience – in line with the Organization’s Strategic Objectives and United Nations’ global and Government of Egypt’s national Sustainable Development Goals.

FAO is implementing a project entitled "EU for Hayah Karima - EU support to Rural Development, Climate Change Resilience and Nutrition" in Upper Egypt. The Action is in line with a major Egyptian initiative, “Hayah Karima” (Decent Life), launched in 2019 initially for five years, which seeks to improve the life and livelihoods of 57 million Egyptians in rural areas by renovating local infrastructures, upgrading basic services, and creating jobs.

The project will support rural development, food and nutrition security, and climate change resilience in 120 villages in Assiut, Sohag, and Qena governorates. It is focused on supporting the farmers in improving agriculture and irrigation techniques and rural communities' income generation through employment and skills development opportunities. FAO action will help in managing food losses through value chain analysis and value addition of income-generating crops, transformation of agricultural waste into economic secondary products, and strengthening the capacity of value chain actors in food safety and waste management.

The Agri-waste Management Specialists will be based in one of FAO’s intervention governorates (Assiut, Sohag, or Qena). She/he will work closely with the governorate coordinator and project personnel.

Reporting Lines

The Agri-waste Management Specialist will work under the direct supervision of FAO Representative in Egypt, the day-to-day guidance of the Project Manager, and in close collaboration with the governorate coordinator, project personnel, and FAO country office as well as Government counterparts and all stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The Agri-Waste Management Specialist will provide technical support on the sustainable management, transformation, and valorization of agricultural waste and residues within the project’s target governorates. The focus will be on developing waste-to-value solutions that reduce food losses, generate rural employment, and contribute to climate resilience and circular economy practices.

Tasks and responsibilities

The incumbent will perform technical tasks in the field of agrifood wate management and transformation in the project targeted areas, as follows:

•     Promote innovative, low-cost solutions for post-harvest management, food preservation, food processing and waste utilization and transformation.
•     Introduce good practices in sorting, reusing, recycling, composting, and safe disposal of agri-food waste in the training sessions, FBSs curriculum to be established in the targeted villages at Assiut, Sohag, and Qena governorates.
•     Provide guidance on value addition opportunities (e.g., use of by-products for feed, compost, bioenergy).
•     Demonstrate improved technologies (e.g., improved storage, packaging, small-scale processing) in the FBSs at the targeted villages at Assiut, Sohag and Qena governorates.
•     Support the preparation of technical reports, training manuals, awareness materials, and communication products.
•     Contribute to the development and implementation of the local strategy on reducing food losses and sustainable waste management in the targeted villages at Assiut, Sohag, and Qena governorates.
•     Conduct awareness-raising sessions targeting farmers, youth groups, food processors, women, entrepreneurs, extension staff, cooperatives, NGOs at household/community level on the causes of food losses, waste reduction practices and waste transformation technologies.
•     Support to design and develop user-friendly training modules and materials (presentations, manuals, posters, videos, infographics) on food loss reduction and waste management practices, tailor materials for different target groups: TOTs, vulnerable smallholder farm families, farmers, youth, food processors, household women, and agrifood value chain actors in the targeted villages, with Integration of FAO global guidance and best practices.
•     Participate in the development of procurement plans, technical evaluation reports and distribution scheme for equipment, tools, containers, packaging, raw materials, etc required for the implementation of FBSs particularly for waste management and waste transformation plans.
•     Document success stories, lessons learned, and good practices from the field.
•     Following up on the implementation of the on the ground activities related to agrifood waste management and transformation, technical components of the FBSs and agribusiness start-ups.    
•     Provide periodic progress reports to FAO, including outcomes and recommendations for scaling up.
•     Maintain communication with the project staff for any advice could be raised and perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•     Advanced university degree in agriculture, environmental sciences, agrifood waste management or other related fields.
•     At least 5 years of experience in similar functions.
•     Working knowledge of English.
•     National of Egypt.

FAO Core Competencies

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION