National Digital Agriculture Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

FAO Armenia assists the Government to formulate policies, programmes and projects to address the root causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, develop the agricultural and forestry sectors, and utilize environmental and natural resources in a sustainable way. It contributes to the development of FAO’s field programme projects in the country and implements them in the sectors of food security, agriculture, natural resources management and rural development.

In response to the growing demand for seizing the opportunities brought by digital technologies, the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (FAO REU) established its specialized team for Digital Agriculture in 2020. With a mission to act as a catalyzer for the digital transformation of agriculture across Europe and Central Asia, the team provides critical capabilities to country offices, technical units, and Members. It also spearheads the implementation of flagship initiatives such as the Digital Villages Initiative (DVI), the Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HiH), and the AgriTech Observatory. In recognition of its impactful work, the team received the prestigious "One FAO Team Award" in 2023.

The incumbent will work closely with FAO Armenia, maintaining technical collaboration with the Digital Agriculture team at the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (FAO REU).

This vacancy announcement seeks to establish a roster of qualified national experts in digital agriculture. Successful candidates will be engaged through Personal Service Agreement (PSA) contracts for assignments ranging from two weeks to up to eleven months, depending on the requirements of the specific project or programme.

Applicants must hold Armenian citizenship or possess a valid residence permit in Armenia. Additionally, selected candidates are required to reside in Armenia for the duration of their assignment.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall supervision of the regional Head of Digital Agriculture and direct supervision of the FAO Programme Coordinator in Armenia.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will contribute to the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework linked to Digital Agriculture (BP5)\: provision of analytical and technical support for conducting research and assessments, studies, formulating strategies, programmes, and supporting projects for the digitalization of food and agriculture and rural areas.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conduct assessments of the current state of digital agriculture environment and capacity in Armenia (incl. key stakeholders mapping, capacity assessment, existing solutions, providers and initiatives, the policy, institutional and legislative frameworks)
• Identify and analyse practical and cost-effective digital tools that address the specific needs of Armenian farmers and Ministry of Economy as well as policies and frameworks that can support the digital agriculture.
• Support with reviewing/revising the Draft Digital Agriculture Strategy by providing written feedback and comments, and ensuring that it aligns with the national vision reflected in Government Digitalization Strategy 2021-2025, promoting a sustainable and inclusive approach to the growth in Agriculture and ICT.
• Establish local partners contact database, nurture and support partnerships, coordinate and work closely with national and local stakeholders (Ministry of Economy, Ministry of High-tech Industry, NGOs, farming associations, private sector, Ag Tech start-ups, etc.), supporting the establishment and coordination the national Digital Agriculture working group.
• Regularly visit farms, rural communities, and agricultural cooperatives to assess their needs, challenges, and capacity for adopting digital agriculture tools.
• Support coordination with stakeholders to adapt global best practices in digital agriculture to the local context, as well as support the piloting and scaling up of digital technologies in rural areas.
• Provide hands-on technical support to farmers during the implementation and use of digital solutions.
• Plan, organize and conduct on-the-ground demonstrations of digital tools, facilitate training workshops for farmers, and government stakeholders on the use of digital tools and technologies and raise awareness about the benefits of digital agriculture solutions through field days, local events, and community gatherings. Support workshops and trainings; draft workshop reports and materials.
• Monitor and document the performance and impact of digital tools in real-time, analyze the adoption rates, challenges, and return of investment of digital tools on farm productivity and resilience.
• Support in strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and other local and national partners to ensure sustained support for farmers. Prepare field reports, document lessons learned and success stories to inform future programs and strategies.
• Collaborate with FAO teams to align digital agriculture initiatives with Armenia’s national priorities and community needs and mainstream digitalization in all projects
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, agricultural engineering, information and communication technology, computer science or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in digital agriculture and/or Information Technology, including hands-on experience working directly with farmers or rural communities
• Full Proficiency (Level C) of English and Armenian.
• Applicants must hold Armenian citizenship or possess a valid residence permit in Armenia. Additionally, selected candidates are required to reside in Armenia for the duration of their assignment.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong understanding of digital tools and technologies applicable to agriculture, including mobile apps, data analytics, GIS, IoT, and precision farming.
• Strong understanding of the practical challenges faced by farmers in Armenia.
• Experience organizing and facilitating farmer trainings and capacity-building activities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with farmers and rural stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work in rural environments and build trust with local communities.
• Adaptability and willingness to travel frequently to rural and remote areas.

Selection Criteria

• Working knowledge (Proficient, Level C) of English and Armenian.
• Proficiency in using MS Office suite, namely Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong problem-solving skills. Strong time-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with team members and external stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact\: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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