FAO - Associate Extension and Training Officer

The FAO Representation Office in South Sudan (FRSSD) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to country priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the country. FRSSD has provided support to emergency agriculture programmes to ensure food secuirty and improve agriculture production. Throught its emergency and rehabilitation programmes, FAOSS has supported vulnerable crop, fish and livestock dependent households with technical support while also promoting sustainable land management practices, improved production technologies and marketing opportunities.

The Extension and Training Officer works under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and overall supervision of the FAO Representative in South Sudan and Deputy FAOR, in close collaboration with the Programme Unit in Juba and consultation with the relevant FAO headquarters Lead Technical Unit and FAO headquarters and FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) and Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) Technical Officers. The Extension and Training Officer will support the Project Manager and National Coordinator in the execution of the project "Improved food security and income for rural small holders in South Sudan (ZEAT-BEAD)” funded by the European Commission by ensuring consistency with the objectives set out in the Financial Convention with the Donor for the project implementation and rules and procedures of FAO. Specifically, the incumbent will:

• Assist the extension and training expert in analyzing the current extension capacities and practices for public and non-public extension providers in Greater Bahr el Ghazal in line with the National Agriculture and Livestock Extension Policy (NALEP);

• Assist the extension and training expert in the harmonization of curricula for non-public extension workers and animal health service providers, provision of appropriate training and accreditation and licensing system in collaboration with the relevant government line ministries and European Union (EU) Technical Assistance (TA.);

• Ensure timely establishment and /or strengthen execution of quality Farmer/Pastoral Field Schools (F/PFS within the respective states including selection of F/PFS facilitators training needs assessment, formation of groups and facilitate the acquisition of the required inputs for F/PFS management;

• Backstop and supervise training and licensing of Community Based Health Workers (CBAHW) and Community Based Extension Workers (CBEW ) according to harmonized curricula and procedures;

• Provide technical backstop and follow up Implementing Partners (IPs) and F/PFS and ensure F/PFS are implemented as per set guidelines and approaches and standards;

• Coordinate all state level extension and training activities for non-public extension workers;

• Ensure dissemination of NALEP, development of state level extension plans and their execution;

• Contribute to the preparation of detailed project annual work plans in line with the budget and in collaboration with stakeholders and make necessary arrangements for their successful implementation in a timely manner;

• Ensure the preparation of required reports (progress, quarterly or annual) in accordance to the Guide to the Project Cycle to reflect the outputs and results of the project against agreed work plans;

• Monitor and document progress of all activities related to extension and training in the respective state;

• Make regular presentations on technical issues to stakeholders;

• Perform other duties as requested  

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Candidates should meet the following:

• University degree in Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural Economics or related field;

• Five years of relevant experience including strengthening institutions, and particularly in the establishment and strengthening of pluralistic extension service;

• Working knowledge of English essential;

• National of South Sudan

SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates will be assessed against the following:

• Extent and relevance of experience in rural extension and training in the crop, livestock and fishery sectors;

• Extent and relevance of experience in community-based field work and participative farmer/pastoralist-driven approaches;

• Extent and relevance of experience in design and competency based training to wide range of rural institutions.

• Extent and relevance of experience in Natural Resource Management and gender mainstreaming;

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing ;