National Digital Agriculture Specialist (Innovation Hubs)

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, which was established in 194

• FAO's mission is to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition; make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable; reduce rural poverty; and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The organization operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of approximately 12,000 employees. FAO's Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) leads the organization's response to regional priorities for security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, agriculture, and rural development, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to programs and collaboration with various departments and divisions at Headquarters.

Job Overview:
The National Digital Agriculture Specialist (Innovation Hubs) will play a crucial role in the FAO project titled 'Enhanced digital technology adoption among smallholder farmers' (TCP/BYE/4003). This position focuses on assessing the digital technology needs of smallholder farmers in Belarus and evaluating the capacity of TechnoParks to support technology adoption. The incumbent will work closely with the Project Implementation Team and report directly to the Head of Digital Agriculture at REU. The specialist will be responsible for developing data collection templates, conducting field visits, and compiling insights into reports. They will also support the onboarding of service providers for surveys, assist in developing methodologies, and draft strategic recommendations to enhance the role of TechnoParks in advancing digitalization and innovation among smallholder farmers. The position emphasizes collaboration, research, and the piloting of interventions to transform TechnoParks into vital hubs for digital agriculture transformation in Belarus.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Digital Agriculture Specialist include:

• Supporting the development of data collection templates, interview guides, and methodologies to assess the current capacities of TechnoParks.
• Conducting field visits to TechnoParks to gather comprehensive insights and compiling results into a report.
• Assisting in the onboarding and coordination of service providers to conduct surveys with farmers.
• Supporting the service provider in developing a survey methodology aimed at assessing the digital technology needs, capacities, and barriers for adopting digital technologies among smallholder farmers in Belarus.
• Collaborating with the international consultant to assess and identify the most appropriate Digital Innovation Hub model for Gorki Technopark, considering its specific context and strengths.
• Drafting strategic recommendations based on research findings for enhancing TechnoParks' role in advancing digitalization and innovation among smallholder farmers.
• Taking stock of existing digital agriculture solutions and services in Belarus.
• Supporting international consultants in conducting research, interviews, and analyses.
• Assisting in drafting recommendations for strengthening the capacities of TechnoParks and piloting one of them in Gorki TechnoPark. 1
• Organizing workshops dedicated to presenting research results and validating recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
The minimum requirements for this position include:

• A university degree in Agricultural Science, Social Science, Computer Science, Rural Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in digital agriculture, innovation systems, integration of technology, and related fields.
• A working knowledge of English and Russian.
• Candidates must be nationals of Belarus or residents with a valid work permit. Additionally, candidates should possess FAO core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Educational Background:
Candidates are required to have a university degree in fields such as Agricultural Science, Social Science, Computer Science, Rural Development, Business Administration, or a related field. This educational background is essential to understand the complexities of digital agriculture and the integration of technology within rural development contexts.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in areas such as digital agriculture, innovation systems, and the integration of technology. This experience should include working with rural populations and smallholder farmers, as well as familiarity with digital solutions for agriculture and farm advisory services.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are English and Russian, as both are essential for effective communication and collaboration within the context of the project. Proficiency in these languages will enable the specialist to engage with various stakeholders, including farmers, service providers, and international consultants.

Additional Notes:
This position offers a National Personal Service Agreement (PSA.NAT) contract for an initial duration of 40 days within an 11-month period. A mandatory break from duty of at least 30 consecutive days is required within any twelve-month period, after which the contract may be renewed based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds. The role is focused on national candidates, specifically those who are nationals of Belarus or residents with valid work permits.