National Agriculture Specialist

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports sustainable agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment, and life. The Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) drives food, agriculture, and rural development across the Pacific, fostering relationships with governments and institutions. FAO SAP is implementing a project in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) to strengthen climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive school gardens, aiming to improve food security, nutrition, and agricultural skills among children.

Job Purpose

The National Agriculture Specialist will ensure the timely and high-quality delivery of project outputs focused on establishing and enhancing climate-resilient, nutrition-sensitive school gardens. The role encompasses school garden establishment and management, the implementation of climate-resilient and nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices, capacity development for students, teachers, and parents, effective stakeholder coordination, and the meticulous monitoring, reporting, and documentation of project outcomes. This position is crucial for the successful execution of the project's objectives in improving agricultural education and food security.

Responsibilities

Ensure timely project activity implementation according to the workplan and FAO standards. Facilitate inception meetings and establish stakeholder coordination mechanisms. Lead baseline survey development, administration, and analysis. Oversee pilot school identification, site preparation, garden design, nursery establishment, and compost production. Manage procurement of project inputs following FAO procedures. Supervise crop establishment, field management, and harvesting. Coordinate produce provision and logistical support for cooking demonstrations and nutrition education. Develop training materials and deliver capacity-building sessions on nursery management, compost production, agronomy, crop management, and post-harvest handling. Coordinate three cropping cycles for five selected crops. Contribute to impact surveys and behavior change monitoring, particularly regarding school gardening and local food production adoption. Document success stories, lessons learned, and best practices. Ensure timely submission of monthly progress reports, a final project report, and the FAO terminal report. Respond to ad-hoc queries and perform other assigned duties.

Work Experience

A minimum of three years of relevant professional experience is required in areas such as agriculture, agricultural extension, crop production, school gardens, community-based agriculture, or agricultural project implementation. Experience in developing and implementing agricultural projects, particularly those involving school or community-based initiatives, is essential for this role.

Skills

Demonstrated experience in agriculture production, climate-resilient agriculture, agricultural extension, and nutrition-sensitive agriculture. Proven experience with school garden systems, community-based agriculture, youth agriculture programs, or similar initiatives. Experience in delivering training and capacity development. Strong project coordination and stakeholder engagement skills. Demonstrated monitoring and reporting capabilities. Familiarity with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contexts, especially in the Pacific region. Excellent writing and reporting skills. Ability to work independently and manage multiple stakeholders effectively. Experience working within the Federated States of Micronesia is an asset.

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