Organizational Setting
The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. For the period 2022-2026, the FAO Office in Zimbabwe is supporting Government efforts through the Country Programme Framework (CPF) which is based on three pillars: (I) Promotion of inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems to address food security and nutrition
(ii) Building resilience to climate change, agricultural threats and crisis; (iii) Sustainable management of natural resources and environmental protection.
The FAO Zimbabwe Office is in charge of leading technical support in resilient agric-food systems. This includes developing innovative solutions and preparing for and effectively responding to food and agricultural threats and crises.
FAO provides extensive technical assistance to strengthen national food security monitoring systems through several complementary approaches. This includes capacity building in data collection and analysis, such as supporting governments with the Food Balance Sheet (FBS) methodology to generate accurate assessments of food availability and utilization, which directly informs evidence based agricultural and food security decision making. FAO also deploys specialized expertise through Food Security and Agriculture Livelihoods Assessment roles, where consultants coordinate and analyze data on shocks and hazards affecting agriculture and livelihoods. These roles support surveillance systems, early warning, IPC processes, response analysis, and documentation of lessons learned, ensuring governments and partners have timely, reliable indicators to guide interventions and policy actions
The Fostering Digital Villages Initiative (FDiVi) is a regional FAO programme designed to accelerate rural digital transformation by equipping communities in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Rwanda with innovative, technology-driven agricultural services. The initiative strengthens productivity, market access and financial inclusion for small-scale farmers—especially women and youth—through digital hubs, AI enabled advisory platforms, digital literacy training, and partnerships with mobile network operators and content creators. By bridging the rural–urban digital divide and promoting inclusive, data driven approaches, FDiVi supports climate smart agriculture, empowers rural enterprises, and helps build resilient, technology-enabled livelihoods across targeted districts such as Mhondoro Ngezi and Bikita.
Reporting Lines
The Food Security Monitoring and Digital Agriculture Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Zimbabwe, and direct supervision of the Deputy FAO Representative, in close collaboration with A/FAOR-Programmes, with further reporting and guidance from the relevant FAO Lead Technical Officer of the project, Regional Office for Africa and technical divisions at FAO Headquarters (HQs).
Technical Focus
The Food Security Monitoring and Digital Agriculture Specialist will be responsible for the successful implementation of food security monitoring and digital agriculture activities.
The Food Security Monitoring & Digital Agriculture Specialist will be responsible for coordinating the successful implementation of project activities in line with the proposed budget to reach defined objectives. S/he will also provide overall guidance, technical support and coordination of the project.
Tasks and responsibilities
Lead Digital Agriculture Design and Implementation including:
• Developing, piloting and scaling agricultural digitalization efforts in the country office
• Develop and naturing partnerships for scale including with the private sector, the government and other development agencies
• Provide technical support and facilitate the implementation of the digital village initiative (DVI) across the agriculture sector in Zimbabwe.
• Collaborate and support the development and dissemination of digital agriculture advisory services provided via big data and AI-enabled digital platforms and other FAO digital service portfolio (DSP).
• Identify, facilitate, and support adoption of digital tools and solutions for e-extension and e-commerce for extension workers, and rural farmers.
• Support and participate in coordination activities such as donor and stakeholder’s engagement, meetings, workshops, events, seminars and bilateral discussions with relevant government ministries and department.
• Collaborate and support development of knowledge products for digital agriculture and innovation.
• Document and publish success stories, share content and information related to Digital Agriculture and Innovation and related projects and initiatives on digital agriculture transformation within FAO.
Lead Food Security and Livelihoods Monitoring Early Warning including:
• Support the coordination of national stakeholders (government, UN Agencies, NGOs, food security cluster) involved in food security and livelihoods analysis;
• Actively participate in strengthening partnerships for data collection as required
• Participate in global and regional training workshops and contribute to the worldwide Community of Practice.
• Provide technical inputs to country decision-makers in the aftermath of hazards by proposing a combination of adequate and phased assessment methodologies (remote-sensing, rapid field assessment, Damage & Loss assessment, Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, other thematic assessments);
• Coordinate the implementation of impact assessments with relevant expert units, including the global Geospatial unit and other country units. Field assessments involve the coordination of all steps of the data collection and analysis cycle while remote-sensing analyses imply the definition of areas of interest and objectives, the provision of relevant secondary data, the interpretation of remote-sensing results in light of socio-economic data, and reporting;
• Contribute to risks profiling exercises, as needed.
• Perform any other related tasks requested by the FAO Representative.
FAO Standards and guidelines:
• Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
• All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
• Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in Forestry, Environmental Sciences, Agriculture, Social Sciences or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in project management/operations and support
• Working knowledge (level C) of English
• National of Zimbabwe
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical Skills
• Experience in food security monitoring and early warning
• Experience in digital agriculture
• Experience in food security monitoring and digital agriculture is an added advantage
• Knowledge of FAO and experience with FAO tools and procedures for project implementation, monitoring and reporting is an asset
• Knowledge of local specifics (socio-economic situation and livelihood options) in rural areas around Zimbabwe.
• Good analytical and writing skills
• Good communication and advocacy skills
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
