Agronomist

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the FAO Representative, 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.

Reporting Lines

The Agronomist will work in various locations across western Georgia under the overall guidance and responsibility of the FAO Regional Programme Leader and the direct supervision of the FAO Senior Programme Coordinator.

Technical Focus

Provide technical guidance to FAO agronomic work across the conflict affected communities on both sides of the ABL, with a focus on supporting the implementation of Farmer Field School (FFS) activities.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the field support in agronomy related to the management of Farmer Field Schools in Vegetable and Fruit production
• Provide technical support to the management of grape vines, blueberries and citrus plots, and support the training of farmers with hands on demonstration of management of blueberries and citrus.
• Provide technical support to the management of greenhouses and train farmers on counter-season production of vegetables under greenhouse conditions.
• Support the data collection and analysis of new citrus, grapes, blueberry and vegetable varieties introduced by FAO, and support the process of delivering these varieties to farmers associated to the FFS.
• Lead the implementation of vegetable production Farmer Field Schools (FFS), in main and counter season production.
• Lead the implementation of master classes on different agronomic topics to be chosen based on farmers’ interests.
• Lead the technical guidance to farmers beneficiaries of the project the implementation of demonstration plots for extension purposes under the FFS methodology.
• Introducing experimental diversification of high potential crops in target regions.
• Organize and participate in the activities of monitoring and data collection, adding the data of the FAO activities on FAO’s records.
• Lead the data collection of the agricultural season and provide analytical opinions on the different crops.
• Support data collection on the performance of new grape varieties, as well as rootstock/scion compatibility of the plants.
• Provide technical inputs for the different partial or final narrative reports of different projects.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

• Advanced university degree in Agronomy
• 3 years of relevant experience in agriculture
• Working knowledge of English
• National of Georgia or resident of the country with a valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated understanding of agronomy with a focus on production of fruits and vegetables.
• Excellent communication skills, proven ability to convey complex ideas through clear and effective oral presentations.
• Good skills in community mobilization as well as inter-personal relations.
• Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member;
• Ability to solve problems and adapt to changing situations in field
• Computer literacy with spreadsheets, databases and electronic programs is an asset.
• Quality of both oral and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Russian will be a strong asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION