National Beekeeping and Extension Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, promote sustainable agriculture, and manage natural resources sustainably.

Job Overview:
The National Beekeeping and Extension Specialist position is crucial for the FAO Representation in Georgia, specifically in Tbilisi. This role focuses on developing training materials and conducting training sessions for beekeepers in various regions of Georgia. The specialist will be responsible for creating educational content on topics such as safe honey production, food safety legislation, good beekeeping practices, and disease management. The goal is to enhance the skills of local beekeepers, improve honey production quality, and ensure food safety. The position requires close collaboration with the FAO Representative, the ENPARD Programme Manager, and other specialists to ensure that the training meets the needs of the beekeeping community and aligns with FAO's objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The National Beekeeping and Extension Specialist will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Drafting training materials focused on safe honey production, food safety legislation, labelling, record keeping, good beekeeping practices, and bee disease management.
• Supporting the delivery of both practical and theoretical training sessions on the aforementioned topics, ensuring that each session effectively engages 15 to 20 farmers.
• Engaging with FAO beekeeping beneficiaries to assess their needs and develop solutions to enhance production and food safety.
• Reviewing the sanitary status of beehives in target regions and providing guidance to beneficiaries on controlling pests such as Tropilaelaps and Varroa mites.
• Drafting technical specifications for the procurement of beekeeping equipment and submitting these for clearance to the FAO Technical Officer.
• Collaborating closely with the project team throughout the development of teaching materials and the training process.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree in veterinary science, livestock production, food safety, or related disciplines.
• At least 1 year of relevant experience in veterinary science, beekeeping, food safety, and/or disease management.
• A working knowledge of Georgian is essential, while knowledge of English will be considered an advantage.
• Candidates must be nationals of Georgia or residents of the country with a valid work permit.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree, which indicates a high level of education in fields related to veterinary science, livestock production, food safety, or other relevant disciplines. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of beekeeping and food safety regulations.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should possess at least 1 year of relevant experience in areas such as veterinary science, beekeeping, food safety, or disease management. This experience is crucial for effectively carrying out the responsibilities of the position and for providing valuable training to local beekeepers.

Languages:
A working knowledge of Georgian is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for communication with local beekeepers and stakeholders. Knowledge of English is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication with international colleagues and access to broader resources.

Additional Notes:
This position is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and is likely to be a full-time role. The FAO is committed to building a diverse workforce and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of nationality. The organization offers competitive compensation and benefits, although specific details regarding salary and contract duration are not provided in the job description.