Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In particular, FAO provides a combination of humanitarian and basic needs/non-humanitarian assistance to female and male farmers and herders across Afghanistan in the agriculture, livestock, irrigation and natural resources sub-sectors through its projects and programs, as described in the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) and the United Nations Strategic Framework for Afghanistan (UNSFA) 2023-2027, specifically under UNSFA Priority 2 Economic Opportunities and Resilient Livelihoods.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) or Deputy FAO Representative (DFAOR) in Afghanistan. S/he will work under the guidance of the Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer (Head of Programme Unit) and the direct supervision of the National Professional Officer (Programme), Plant Protection and Production Team Lead or as may be assigned, who will provide day-to-day technical/functional guidance, assign and monitor the daily tasks and be responsible for the performance evaluation at the end of the contract.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be providing support on beekeeping, locust and Sunn pest management, plant production and protection, with producing documents for FFS. 
 

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Provides support on the identification of issues and implementation of Locust and Sunn Pest control projects in Afghanistan.
•     Supports with the preparation of technical specifications for the procurement of equipment as per project plan and budget.
•     Provides support on the development of presentations for ToT on Desert Locust Control, brochures and other visual materials for community awareness and dissemination of the material on Desert Locust control.
•     Coordinates and supports Desert Locust assessment in locust infested provinces.
•     Provides input on development of LTO and reporting templates for the collection of information and data on the movement of locust in project area.
•     Supports in developing a work plan to cover the project requirements for implementation of the green houses relevant issues.
•     Provides implementation of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme through Farmer Field School (FFS) and monitoring of related activities.
•     Undertakes regular field visits, oversees the progress of FFSs, identifies the strength and weaknesses of FFS and supports the facilitators and Provincial Heads of Agriculture and Project Manager on ways to improve the quality of FFS.
•     Supports with the identification of quality agricultural input such as seed, locust, sunn pest control and laboratory equipment etc.  
•     Supports with the identification of the proper spaces for beekeeping, including guidance on required equipment for management of bees, honey harvesting etc.
•     Assists in monitoring the effectiveness of beekeeping, creating linkages between honey producers and potential markets.
•     Supports with the identification of the proper spaces for mushroom/spawn production, including guidance on required equipment for management of spawn etc.
•     Assists in monitoring the effectiveness of spawn mushrooms, creating linkages between the producers and potential markets.
•     Delivers training and monitors the growth in the nursery, greenhouse operations, space allocation, water management, fertilization, seedling preparation, transplanting seeds and controlling insects.Any other functions that may be required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture or related field with 4 years and above, field experience in control of locust, sunn pest, other pest and implementing Agricultural or related programs. 
•     At least 2 years of UN or INGO experience is desirable in Horticulture or Agriculture.
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English and local languages (Pashto and/or Dari).
•     National of Afghanistan

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Experience of working with the United Nations or other international organizations (especially those working in the field of agriculture) will be preferred.
•     Ability to work independently is preferred.
•     Excellent organization and coordination skills are required.
•     Excellent experience on locust and sunnpest control. 
•     Ability to write clearly and conduct trainings in required languages are highly preferred.
•     Experience of working in emergency conditions is preferred.
•     Experience organizing stakeholder meetings or workshops with various partners.
•     Strong professional command of Microsoft Office, in particular Word and Excel.
•     Experience in agriculture, includes beekeeping, locust management, Sunn pest management Mushroom production etc.
•     Experience in producing documents for FFS.
•     Experience in providing trainings to farmers and ToTs.
•     Experience in documentation of processes for enhancing agricultural processes in the field.
•     Experience in advising on establishing market linkages for agricultural products.
•     Experience in managing green houses in line with Climate Change.
•     Experience in locust and sunn pest control.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION