Agricultural Development Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that aims to defeat hunger and improve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and nutrition globally. Established in 1945, FAO has 195 members, including 194 countries and the European Union, and operates in over 130 countries worldwide. The organization focuses on achieving food security for all, ensuring that people have regular access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to lead active and healthy lives. FAO Country Offices provide policy advice and technical support aligned with national priorities and the FAO Strategic Framework, which emphasizes efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems. In Papua New Guinea, FAO implements various Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) projects that support national priorities in agriculture, food security, nutrition, and sustainable agrifood systems, working closely with local stakeholders and communities.

Job Overview:
The Agricultural Development Specialist will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of agri-food systems and crop production activities in Papua New Guinea. This position involves developing cropping plans, establishing demonstration farms and nurseries, and providing training to farmers on horticulture and post-harvest practices. The specialist will promote climate-resilient agriculture to enhance food security and livelihoods. The role requires collaboration with the Department of Agriculture & Livestock and various government stakeholders, cooperatives, and farmer groups to ensure effective project management and alignment with national strategies. The incumbent will report to the Head of Office for FAO PNG and work closely with the National Project Specialist and other team members to deliver on the objectives of the TCP/PNG/4006 project.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Agricultural Development Specialist will be responsible for a range of tasks, including:

• Developing an individual workplan that outlines expected deliverables, key activities, and timelines for the assignment.
• Preparing practical cropping plans that facilitate consistent local food production to promote food security for households and communities.
• Providing guidance on high-yielding, pathogen-tested clean planting materials for local food production.
• Coordinating the distribution of planting materials, ensuring proper documentation of quantities and a disaggregated list of beneficiary recipients.
• Conducting soil quality assessments and recommending suitable sites for food crop production.
• Leading the establishment of demonstration farms showcasing best practices in sweet potato and vegetable production with community support.
• Enhancing dietary diversity and nutritional intake through increased vegetable production in affected communities.
• Establishing a demo vegetable nursery for seedling production and distribution.
• Preparing and conducting training for lead farmers on vegetable garden production, including site selection, soil management, pest and disease management, harvesting, post-harvesting, and food preparation. 1
• Supporting the integration of Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) for vulnerable communities during disasters and for project beneficiaries.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Agri-Food Systems, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or a closely related field. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree in the aforementioned fields combined with an additional two years of relevant experience may be considered. Additionally, candidates should have a minimum of five years of proven experience in agriculture, agri-food systems development, or agronomic advisory services. A working knowledge of English is also required, and candidates must be nationals of Papua New Guinea.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in relevant fields such as Agronomy, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Economics, Agri-Food Systems, Rural Development, Natural Resource Management, Environmental Science, or closely related disciplines. A Bachelor’s degree in these fields, along with two additional years of relevant experience, may also be acceptable.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of proven experience in agriculture, agri-food systems development, or agronomic advisory services. Experience in designing and implementing agricultural development programs or projects, as well as supporting policy development and strategy formulation in the agriculture sector, is highly valued. Familiarity with conducting field assessments and stakeholder consultations is also important.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, although not explicitly stated in the job description.

Additional Notes:
FAO does not charge any fees during the recruitment process, and applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must have higher educational qualifications recognized by the World Higher Education Database (WHED). The appointment will be subject to certification of medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. This position is likely to be full-time, and further details regarding contract duration and compensation may be provided during the recruitment process.