Climate Smart Agriculture and Value Chain Specialist

Organizational Setting

The FAO Representation in Lao PDR was established in Vientiane in 1980, and the Organization has maintained its main office at the current location since then. FAO continues to work with a wide range of governmental agencies, including especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, with civil society, and with the private sector. Its work in Lao PDR has been supported by and delivered in collaboration with a wide variety of regional and international development partners.

Support to Policy and Strategy. Given the priority need to address the high rate of malnutrition, FAO supported development of the National Nutrition Policy and supported the revision of National Nutrition Strategy and Plan of Action for 2016-2025. FAO contributed to the Agricultural Development Strategy 2025, and to development of the country’s Strategic Action Plan on Rice and a Strategic Implementation Plan for Fisheries and Aquaculture. As Lao PDR changes from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture, FAO is supporting policy processes to develop a resilient agriculture sector adapted for market integration and climate change. FAO is guiding development of national Sanitary and Phytosanitary legislation. FAO supported development of the first National Agricultural Biodiversity Programme (NABP) in 2003, and its successor the NABP-2 in 2014, aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Data and Information. FAO has also provided assistance to Lao PDR to develop its capacity to produce and use reliable data and information in support of policy/decision-making and of effective management of the agriculture and rural development. FAO is supporting the strengthening of the agricultural statistics system, and has helped the government to complete sector assessments, surveys and studies on food security, rice, forest management, fisheries, and research institutions/systems. FAO supported the Government in the Lao Agricultural Census in 2010/11, and has co-produced several publications based on the Census data.

Farmers’ Livelihoods and Better Nutrition. FAO has provided training and technology to rural communities and service providers to improve the reliability and quality of production, to protect crops and animals from pests and diseases, to diversify production into more nutritious foods, and to connect producers to national and foreign markets. In particular, FAO has provided more than 20 years of support on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches through Farmer Field Schools (FFS), from which over a hundred thousand of Lao rice, vegetable and fruit farming families have benefitted. FAO has also supporting Lao farmers to become exporters of horticultural commodities to the Greater Mekong Subregion and beyond.

Resilience to Disasters and Emergencies. FAO has supported the government respond to natural disasters with assistance in the aftermath of various floods and droughts, including typhoon Ketsana in 2009. A major programme of support on climate change adaptation is in progress involving collaboration between the agriculture and the natural resources sectors, including development of early warning capability. FAO has continued to support the Government in its efforts for the prevention and control of animal diseases such as avian influenza for more than 10 years. FAO has also supported the development of capability to respond to the major outbreak of the Yellow-Spined Bamboo Locust that began in 2014.

Reporting Lines

The Climate Smart Agriculture and Value Chain Specialist reports to Assistant FAO Representative – Programme, FAOLA

Technical Focus

Provide analytical and technical support on Climate Smart Agriculture and Value Chain through enhanced coordination with the Department of Agricultural Land Management, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and World Vision International.

Tasks and responsibilities

This position under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative and direct guidance of Assistant FAO Representative – Programme, in close coordination with Lead Technical Officer, and partners such as DALaM and WVI, the incumbent will undertake the following tasks\:

1. Stakeholder Coordination\:
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including government entities, NGOs, and community organizations, to facilitate Climate Smart Agriculture and Value Chain initiatives.
• Organize and coordinate consultation workshops and meetings with stakeholders to gather insights and feedback on project implementation.
• Support the establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
2. Project Support\:
• Provide technical assistance in the preparation and implementation of Climate Smart Agriculture projects.
• Support data collection and analysis for monitoring stakeholder engagement and project outcomes.
3. Collaboration with WVI Laos\:
• Support WVI Laos in reviewing the draft and finalizing the Letter of Agreement (LOA) with all relevant stakeholders.
• Work closely with WVI to drive progress on project objectives and activities.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation\:
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for CSA adoption and stakeholder engagement.
• Conduct field visits to assess the progress and impact of CSA interventions.
• Prepare detailed monitoring and evaluation reports aligned with project outcomes.
• Provide support for the Mid-Term Review (MTR) and final evaluation.
5. Knowledge Management and Reporting
• Document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories from project activities.
• Develop and disseminate knowledge products, including case studies.
• Contribute to the preparation of project communication materials and reports.
• Provide input into project progress report (PPR) and project implementation reports (PIR) to ensure alignment with goals.
6. Budget Planning and Allocation\:
• Prepare and manage the budget for project activities and ensure efficient resource allocation.
• Ensure that budgetary resources are allocated effectively based on project priorities.
7. Perform any other tasks related to climate change, climate smart agriculture, value chain, etc.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Environmental Science, Natural Resource Management, Rural Development, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in Climate Smart Agriculture, agricultural value chains, or rural development.
• Working knowledge of English (both written and spoken).
• National of the country.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in rural development, Climate Smart Agriculture, or agricultural value chain projects.
• Extent and relevance of experience in stakeholder engagement, including government entities, NGOs, and community organizations, to support project implementation and coordination.
• Extent and relevance of experience in monitoring and evaluation, data collection, and analysis for agricultural or environmental projects.
• Familiarity with Climate Smart Agriculture principles, practices, and value chain development in the context of sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.
• Proven ability to organize and facilitate workshops, meetings, and multi-stakeholder platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Knowledge of project budgeting, resource allocation, and financial management.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills with the ability to document lessons learned, best practices, and success stories.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION