Organizational Setting

The FAO Sierra Leone Country Office is responsible for leading FAO's response to country level priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region, and, in collaboration with Divisions, Sub-regional Offices and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to country priorities and the implementation of the Organization's strategies through programmes and projects across the region.

The Country Office supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects, including Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at the country level and work with Subregional office for West Africa on corporate priorities such as the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget. The Country Office leads, formulates, implements, monitors and reports on the Organization's programmes and budget in the region and draws management attention to problems, deficiencies and risks.

FAO Sierra Leone has developed a project on Palm Oil value chain development for three years that is contributing to the developed action document aligned to the Feed Salone strategy titled Sustainable Food and Agricultural Value Chains Development in Sierra Leone (SFAVCDSL) to be financed under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI Global Europe). This action document is linked to relevant Multiannual Indicative Programme for the Republic of Sierra Leone 2021-2027 (MIP). The total funding for the plan is estimated to be Euro 34.7 million out of which Euro 11.2 million will be administered by the FAO for technical assistance to support oil palm value chains and nutrition in the country. This initiative is a joint effort of EU and FAO building on complementarities and synergies of the interventions by the two organizations.

It is suggested that at least 43000 farm families will benefit directly within the selected 4 districts of Port Loko, Bonthe, Pujehun and Kenema. The specific activities to be implemented by FAO will include: (i) dissemination of good agricultural practices; (ii)  adoption of improved farm practices for increased farm productivity; (iii)training in post-harvest management and palm oil processing; (iv) household nutrition improvement; (iii) promotion of on and off-farm employment; (iv) formation of oil palm based cooperatives and (v) capacity development for monitoring and evaluation.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Sierra Leone, Freetown,

Reporting Lines

The Agricultural Officer (Palm Oil Value Chains Improvement) reports to the FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, and works closely with the Head of Programme and other technical units in Headquarters, Regional Office and Sub-regional office.

Key Results

Research, technical analysis, and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products, and services.

Key Functions

• Researches and analyses technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional, and technology related information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services;

• Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages;

• Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and provides technical backstopping to field projects;

• Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases;

• Participates on multi-disciplinary teams, and/or leads working groups/teams collaborates with other departments and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices;

• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality / effectiveness of capacity development activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools;

• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations;

• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Specific Functions

• Supports the day-to-day technical implementation of the EU-funded Oil Palm Value Chains Improvement Project by contributing to field activities and monitoring progress against approved workplans and budgets.

• Contributes to technical coordination with the National Project Coordinator, programme colleagues, and relevant LTOs by providing technical inputs that support coherence between field implementation, procurement planning, and donor reporting requirements.

• Assists in the preparation and consolidation of annual workplans, procurement plans, and technical inputs for internal review and submission to FAOR and onward clearance with the donor.

• Provides technical inputs and backstopping to field activities related to oil palm production, climate-smart agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM), mechanization, and farmer organization development in the target districts.

• Acts as a technical resource person by contributing to exchanges with EU partners, government counterparts, Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), and other implementing agencies, as required and under the guidance of senior management.

• Contributes to the preparation of donor progress reports, steering committee documentation, and technical inputs to the EU/FAO information portal, ensuring accuracy and alignment with approved project documents.

• Supports the organization of internal project task force and technical review meetings by preparing technical documentation, participating in discussions, and following up on agreed technical actions;

• Performs other related duties as required by the FAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture - crop protection, plant sciences or related field.

• Five years of relevant experience in crop protection or pesticide management in the field including experience on main crops of the region. 

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and  intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). 

Competencies

• Results Focus

• Team Work

• Communication

• Building effective relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

• Ability to cooperate with officials in national governments, intergovernmental organizations and other institutions and in collaborative networks and joint programmes.

• Extent and relevance of experience in the development and management of technical projects in relation to Palm Oil value chain development, particularly in the West Africa region.

• Depth of familiarity with relevant Palm Oil value chain development, particularly in the West Africa region.

• Extent and relevance of knowledge in sustainable crop production and ecosystem management with particular emphasis on Palm Oil value chain development.