Integrated Pest Management Specialist

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations, and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

Organizational Setting The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) enables the transition to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable crop production and protection through optimization and minimization”. This requires the integration and harmonization of all appropriate sustainable crop production and protection policies and practices, in order to increase production in a sustainable manner to address security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security and nutrition challenges while protecting the environment for current and future generations. The Global Action (GA) for Fall Armyworm (FAW) Control, initiated in December 2019, aims to provide a global coordinating platform to address the challenges posed by the fall armyworm invasion in Africa, Asia and the Near East. The day-to-day activities of the Global Action are supported by a Secretariat hosted in the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP). The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist will support the implementation of the GA in coordination of the respective Regional Offices of FAO. Reporting Lines The IPM specialist reports to the Coordinator of the Global Action for FAW Control Secretariat, under the overall supervision of the Director and Deputy Director of the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP). S/he will be working in consultation and coordination with the Regional Plant Protection Officers. Technical Focus In collaboration with the government partners in target countries and relevant FAO officers in decentralized offices, the IPM specialist will be a part of a team to support the implementation of IPM projects in Asia. Specifically, the IPM specialist will contribute to the development and implementation of regional IPM strategies, development of Farmer Field School (FFS) and other training materials derived from the strategies, implementation of national work plans and facilitation of regional information exchange. Tasks and responsibilities

• assess and analyze technical literature, country assessments/ reports, map technical and institutional gaps in IPM capacities in the region, secondary data and information to support the delivery of IPM products and services, specifically in the form of Regional IPM strategies. This will include giving recommendations on IPM as well as monitoring and early warning approaches.
• provides technical and/or administrative support to the development and implementation of the national IPM work plans for in target countries; the national work plans may include elements of monitoring, early warning, IPM research and technology evaluation in collaboration with national and regional partners, field demonstration, FFS and mass information campaign leveraging conventional and innovative technologies.
• facilitate regional information sharing in the form of workshops, webinars and routine meetings to support lessons sharing and cross pollination of ideas among countries in collaboration with the Regional Plant Protection Officers.
• produce various reports, presentations, programme/project documents, position papers, policy briefs, scientific publications and other knowledge products, including FFS and other training materials, as pertain to IPM, pesticide management, plant health, including the use of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), climate-adaptive agricultural practices and sustainable agriculture issues in target countries;
• liaise with FAO technical Divisions/Offices as well as other UN Organizations to obtain and/or exchange information regarding pest and pesticide management, plant health, climate-adaptive agricultural practices and sustainable agriculture issues;
• provide support to resource mobilization activities including corporate appeals, donor grants in support of the GA; maintains information and prepares related reports;
• maintain and update information systems, databases and web pages;
• perform other duties.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree (Masters or equivalent) in entomology, plant protection, or sustainable agriculture
• At least 4 years of relevant experience in IPM or biological control
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in transboundary pest and disease management, especially nature-based solutions for pest management, in Asia is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with national research and extension partners in Asia is preferable.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency