Young Professional Officer (Plant Production and Protection)

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. The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture, and rural development, overseeing a network of Country Offices and Subregional Offices across Africa.

Job Overview:
The Young Professional Officer (Plant Production and Protection) position is located in the Regional Office for Africa in Accra, Ghana. This role involves supporting the delivery of projects and services related to sustainable plant production and protection at various levels, including regional, subregional, national, and local. The officer will engage in analysis" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">technical analysis and research, contributing to the development of training materials and workshops, and providing technical support to various projects. The position requires collaboration with different stakeholders to enhance institutional and human capacities in diverse cropping systems, focusing on areas such as quality seeds, soil health, integrated pest management, and sustainable agricultural practices. The officer will also be involved in project implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, ensuring that innovative practices and technologies are effectively integrated into agricultural systems to improve productivity and livelihoods.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Young Professional Officer will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:

• Analyzing technical, social, economic, environmental, and technological information to support project documentation.
• Maintaining records and updating databases and web pages relevant to projects.
• Providing technical support to various projects and collaborating in the development of training tools and materials.
• Organizing workshops, seminars, and meetings, and producing necessary materials for these events.
• Supporting assessments of cropping systems and offering recommendations on innovative practices and technologies to enhance farm productivity and smallholder incomes.
• Assisting in the development and review of technical documents related to crop production and protection.
• Collaborating with FAO technical teams and partners on sustainable crop production topics.
• Convening meetings with stakeholders from government, civil society, and academia.
• Performing any other duties as required by the organization.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, agronomy, soil science, plant breeding and genetics, plant pathology, entomology, or related disciplines. Additionally, candidates should have at least one year of relevant experience in development projects focused on sustainable crop production systems and related areas such as plant genetic resources management and integrated pest management. Proficiency in English (level C) and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in fields related to agriculture, such as agronomy, soil science, plant breeding, or entomology. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of plant production and protection, as well as the sustainable practices necessary for effective agricultural development.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least one year of relevant experience in development projects that focus on sustainable agriculture and crop production systems. Experience in project implementation, particularly in field positions, is desirable. Candidates should also have a demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and summarize technical information and data, as well as experience in establishing partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs, and government institutions.

Languages:
Candidates must have a working knowledge of English (proficiency - level C) and intermediate knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is required. Additionally, intermediate knowledge of French is considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to communicate in a multilingual environment.

Additional Notes:
Candidates must be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application. This position is part of the Young Professionals Programme (YPP), which aims to recruit talented professionals from non- and under-represented countries, with priority given to candidates from Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). This initiative is designed to help young professionals start their careers as international civil servants with FAO.