Agronomy and Extension Specialist

The position is located at the FAO Representation in Georgia. 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.

The Agronomy and Extension Specialist shall operate under the overall guidance and responsibility of the FAO Representative in Georgia, the direct supervision of the ENPARD IV Programme Manager, in close coordination with the Agricultural Officer in the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) and the ENPARD IV Lead Technical Officer, in collaboration with members of the ENPARD IV Extension Team as well as other international and national consultants

The incumbent will be in charge of the day to day technical support to the ENPARD IV programme in terms of agronomy and food safety related activities, with a special focus on the extension component, including the technical support in the preparation of extension materials, the implementation of demonstration plots and Farmer Field Schools both with a focus on safe and efficient use of pesticides, Safe Composting and Nitrates. The consultant will oversee the scaling up of Conservation Agriculture implementation to reduce the impact of climate change on cereal production in the country as ell as the mating disruption programme against Lobesia botrana. In collaboration with other project colleagues, the incumbent will also support other technical interventions and initiatives related to other value chains.

Responsibilities:

• Support in planning and delivery of activities related to the ENPARD IV agricultural extension programme under Output 2.1 of the project.
• Update the ENPARD IV Programme Manager on the needs and status of implementation of activities related to crop production and production and their linkage to food safety.
• Support the ENPARD IV Programme Manager in organizing and monitoring the work of the different groups (veterinarians, agronomists, aquaculture experts, food technologists) under the ENAPRD IV extension team.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of activities related to the dissemination of information to FBOs, and primary producers (vegetable and fruit farmers) and using resources for interacting with them through, mass campaigns, individual activities, technical support and field days etc.
• Take part in planning trainings for FBOs on food safety topics (including development of training material), specifically to Floor Staff, HACCP Team, Maintenance staff, mid-level and high-level administrative staff, distribution and marketing staff
• Provide technical assistance on food safety to beneficiary FBOs on specific issues which represent a risk in this sector.
• Take part in the Food Safety- Food Processing Efficiency assessment visit to FBOs facilities processing wine and meat products (slaughterhouses included) mainly but also in some other industries
• Support in the elaboration and review of the Annual Extension Workplan and Procurement Plan for ENPARD IV.
• Work on a regular basis, including joint field visits, with the local Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) ICC agronomy personnel and relevant field NFA staff. The International Agronomy and Extension Specialist should visit the municipal ICC offices and local authorities once every quarter to keep a straight collaboration with them. 
• Implement best practices to ensure a high participation of women in every agriculture and food safety related activities.
• Guarantee the use and recommendation of cleared agriculture inputs only, by agronomists and that they observe all security measures while handling them, using Personal Protective Equipment recommended.
• Support in mentoring Interns and organizing briefings and trainings for them on a quarterly basis.
• Support in mentoring national agronomists and Interns in technical matters and to build their professional demeanor.
• Gather cost related information by assigned Agronomists, Lead Farmers, and Interns.
• Collaborate closely with ENPARD IV Monitoring and Evaluation team to plan and organize monitoring activities. Support M&E with information requested. Ensure the Jr. Agronomy and Food Safety Extension Specialists and Interns under her/his supervision report all activities under the M&E system. Revise the accuracy of the M&E weekly report on Extension Activities.
• Contribute to the preparation of six-month and yearly narrative report for the ENPARD IV programme.
• Support the procurement process of inputs, equipment, tools, and other items, from Purchase Requisitions, to Notes to the Files, ToRs and TERs, including developing Pesticide and Fertilizers clearance requests to be sent to HQ’s specialists
• Collaborate with the ENPARD IV Matching Grants’ team as well as the Policy and Food Safety teams.
• Ensure proper communication with other team members, responding promptly to others’ requests.
• Support in scaling up of the mating disruption programme for the control of the European Grapevine Moth (Lobesia botrana).
• Support in implementing the ENPARD IV’s programme on conservation agriculture, overseeing the 2025 spring and autumn planting seasons.
• Perform any other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• University degree in Agricultural Science, Agronomy or Crop Production.
• 2 years of relevant working experience in crop production, agronomy, plant production and protection, integrated pest management.
• Working knowledge (Level C) of English

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500171