Agricultural Officer (Oil Palm Value Chains)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (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. Its mission is to support the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. In Sierra Leone, FAO is implementing the EU-funded Oil Palm Value Chain Improvement Project, which is part of the broader Sustainable Food and Agricultural Value Chains Development Programme, aligned with the Government’s Feed Salone Strategy and the EU NDICI framework.

Job Overview:
The Agricultural Officer (Oil Palm Value Chains) will play a crucial role in the implementation of the Oil Palm Value Chain Improvement Project in Sierra Leone. This position involves supporting field-level implementation, community mobilization, and extension services. The incumbent will ensure effective rollout of Farmer Field Schools (FFS), strong community engagement, and compliance with project standard operating procedures (SOPs). The role requires close coordination with various stakeholders, including District Agriculture Officers, implementing partners, and community members, to achieve the project’s objectives of improving agricultural practices, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting sustainable farming methods.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Agricultural Officer include:

• Community Mobilization and Engagement: Identify and mobilize target communities and beneficiaries; facilitate inclusive community consultations; conduct sensitization campaigns on project objectives; support participatory rural assessments for needs identification.
• Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and Capacity Building: Identify and support the establishment of FFS sites; supervise and guide FFS facilitators; ensure timely implementation of FFS activities; support the formation and strengthening of farmer groups and cooperatives.
• Coordination of Implementing Partners: Facilitate coordination between implementing partners, District Agriculture Officers, and communities; monitor partner activities; provide regular feedback to the Project Lead; ensure timely implementation of partner-led activities.
• Nursery Establishment and Input Distribution: Support identification of suitable nursery sites; coordinate establishment of nurseries and seedling distribution; oversee distribution of inputs; maintain accurate records of input distribution.
• Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation: Prepare bi-weekly field reports; maintain updated records of beneficiaries and FFS activities; ensure proper documentation; support data collection and validation with the M&E team.
• Compliance, Safeguards and SOPs: Ensure adherence to FAO project SOPs; promote transparency and accountability; support grievance redress mechanisms; ensure all field activities are properly documented.
• Dispute Resolution and Stakeholder Engagement: Work with local authorities to ensure land use is dispute-free; support resolution of community-level disputes; maintain records of disputes and resolutions; facilitate stakeholder engagement.
• Visibility and Communication: Support awareness and visibility campaigns; ensure project visibility in line with FAO and EU requirements; document success stories and field achievements.

Required Qualifications:
The minimum requirements for this position include:

• A university degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• A minimum of 4 years of relevant experience in agricultural extension, community mobilization, or tree crop projects.
• Proficiency in English (level C).
• Nationality of Sierra Leone.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in a relevant field such as Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, or Social Sciences. The degree must be obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 4 years of relevant experience in agricultural extension, community mobilization, or tree crop projects. Experience working at the district or community level in Sierra Leone is preferred, as well as experience with donor-funded or development projects.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory (level C). Knowledge of local languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The position is subject to certification of medical fitness for appointment, accreditation, and any residency or visa requirements. FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. For additional employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website. The appointment will also be subject to security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security clearances.