Accessible Greenhouse Design Expert

Organizational Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Uzbekistan supports inclusive rural development and disability-inclusive employment. Despite significant government incentives for the growing greenhouse sector, current designs lack accessibility, excluding persons with disabilities (PWDs) from employment opportunities. A Technical Cooperation Programme project aims to bridge this gap by piloting an accessible greenhouse model. This initiative will convert existing or new greenhouse units into fully accessible facilities, train PWDs, and develop a validated national accessible greenhouse design standard and replication toolkit.

Job Purpose

The Accessible Greenhouse Design Expert will provide specialized technical leadership for a project focused on creating accessible greenhouse facilities and promoting disability-inclusive employment in Uzbekistan. The role involves developing a national accessible greenhouse design standard based on universal design principles, validated for local conditions and adapted to institutional contexts. The expert will also oversee technical quality assurance during the construction and commissioning of six pilot accessible greenhouse units. Additionally, the position requires consolidating a replication toolkit for the National Agency for Social Protection (NASP) and contributing technical inputs to a disability-adapted training curriculum, ensuring design specifications are integrated into training materials.

Responsibilities

Conduct technical assessments at six pilot institutions to identify infrastructure constraints and user needs for various disability types. Coordinate with agricultural specialists to ensure accessibility design solutions are agronomically compatible with greenhouse operations. Develop detailed technical specifications for accessible greenhouse design, incorporating international standards and best practices for features like cultivation beds, passageways, flooring, and workstations. Lead multi-stakeholder reviews of draft specifications with government agencies and Disabled Persons' Organizations to achieve technical validation and finalize the national standard. Provide technical quality assurance for the commissioning of pilot units, primarily through remote review and limited on-site visits. Guide the development of a disability-adapted training curriculum and training-of-trainers workshops, ensuring accurate reflection of design specifications. Develop the SmartGreen Inclusion (SGI) replication toolkit, integrating the design standard, training methodology, and pilot evidence. Present the design standard and toolkit at dissemination workshops and provide technical inputs for future scaling proposals. Prepare technical reports and contribute to project progress updates.

Work Experience

Requires a minimum of 8 years of relevant international professional experience in greenhouse design or controlled-environment agriculture. Must have demonstrated experience in accessible or universal design for persons with disabilities. An advanced university degree is preferred, but a bachelor's degree with two additional years of experience is also considered.

Skills

Demonstrated experience in developing technical design standards or specifications, preferably in agriculture or the built environment. Proven experience in disability inclusion, accessibility standards, or universal design, including familiarity with the CRPD. Experience developing training materials, toolkits, or guidance documents for replication. Ability to apply universal design principles to accommodate diverse disability types. Experience with FAO or other international development partners is an asset. Familiarity with Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, is beneficial. Strong communication, report writing, and teamwork skills are essential. Working knowledge of Russian is an asset.

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