FAO recruits 01 National Seed Technical Specialist
Job Description: 1900998
National Seed Technical Specialist
Closure Date: 22/May/2019, 9:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit: FAO Mozambique
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)
Grade Level: N/A
Primary Location: Mozambique
Duration: 12 months renewable
Post Number: N/A
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply.
People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
Organizational Setting
The project “Strengthening capacities of agricultural producers to cope with climate change for increased food security through the Farmers Field School (FFS) approach in Mozambique” has as main goal to enhance the capacity of Mozambique’s agricultural and pastoral sectors to cope with climate change, by upscaling farmers adoption of climate change adaptation (CCA) technologies and practices through a network of already established FFS; by mainstreaming CCA concerns and strategies into on-going agricultural development initiatives, and mainstreaming CCA issues into agricultural policies and programming.
To Ensure the implementation of these activities and the full accomplishment of the output foreseen in the project annual workplan (AWP) a National seed specialist will be responsible for the tasks bellow described.
Reporting Lines
National seed specialist will report do the Project Chief Technical Advisor in FAO Mozambique.
Technical Focus
Provide technical support to implementation of the project´s Output 1.5 Seeds of a more diverse set of crops/pastures varieties identified from existing climate stress tolerant cultivars/varieties made available in local seed systems and piloted in different ecosystems and production systems in the targeted districts. The project foreseen 4 main activities under this output: Activity 1.5.1: completion of a survey on species domestication to inform the potential resilience of agro-forestry systems to climate change in the future; Activity 1.5.2: release and maintenance of short cycle and drought tolerant improved varieties; Activity 1.5.3: Preservation of local/landrace varieties through farmers’ participation and local best practices; Activity 1.5.4: widening the use of improved and local climate resilient seed varieties.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Supervise letters of agreement with key project partners
• Contribute to a report on species domestication based on SHARP and field observations (Output 1.5.1)
• Contribute to a mapping of climate stress tolerant varieties in Mozambique (Output 1.5.1)
• Identification of Short Cycle varieties and Climate Stress tolerant for the 4 projects provinces (Output 1.5.2)
• Identification of local seed producers in projects provinces (Output 1.5.2)
• Preparation of Technical information on Maize, Beans Seed production (Output 1.5.2)
• Support on publication and dissemination of Training material on seeds production (Output 1.5.2)
• Support on the multiplication of seeds through local seed producer (Output 1.5.2)
• Support the National Department of Seeds (DS) in the identification, collection and basic description of local varieties (Output 1.5.3)
• Support DS in conducting seed screening, morphological description and maintenance of local varieties (Output 1.5.3)
• Study farmers best practices to select local varieties, store seeds and share local innovations and best practices within and outside the project (Output 1.5.3)
• Establishment of an in-situ farmers’ based local landrace conservation systems (Output 1.5.3)
• Support the multiplication of clean material by farmers/ communities (Output 1.5.3)
• Produce training material on farmers seeds system and best practices for select and maintain local varieties and landraces (Output 1.5.3)
• Support the National Seed Dialogue Platform (APROSE) (Output 1.5.4)
• Training of extensions in seed production practices and basic seed handling (processing and storage) (Output 1.5.4)
• Support development of local seed enterprises including the constitution, production and marketing (Output 1.5.4)
• Support development of a seed market study (with priority for Gaza province) (Output 1.5.4)
• Conduct demonstration plots of improved climate resilient varieties mainly at FFS level (Output 1.5.4)
• Liaise and ensure smooth coordination with IIAM and MDG1c and other FAO projects
• Liaise and ensure smooth coordination with CGIAR
• Assess the capacity Building needs and training of project Staff
• All activities need to be developed in collaboration with the IIAM, MASA, DPASA and SDAES, under coordination of FAO.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree/ University degree/technical diploma/high school diploma agriculture, rural development or seeds
• Five years of relevant experience in seeds systems development, seed production storage, adapted seed varieties.
• Experience within the seed production system in Mozambique, particularly in promoting seed production by small farmers, local communities seed markets.
• Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of Spanish.
• Working knowledge of Portuguese language skills an advantage
• National of Mozambique
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.
Vacancies will be removed from the recruitment portal at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date. We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
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