National Digital Agriculture Specialist (Innovation Hubs)

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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

The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. FAO in Belarus (FAOBY) supports the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in sustainable agricultural development, food security, natural resource management, and rural development through technical assistance, policy support, and capacity building initiatives.

The Government of Belarus has prioritized the digitalization of the agri-food sector through key national initiatives, including the State Programme “Agrarian Enterprise” (2021–2025) and the State Programme “Digital Development of the Republic of Belarus” (2021–2025). As part of these efforts, several Technology Parks have been established to support the agricultural sector by promoting the adoption of digital technologies through activities such as educational seminars, fairs, and technology demonstrations.

The FAO project titled “Enhanced digital technology adoption among smallholder farmers” (TCP/BYE/4003) project aims to assess and analyse the current capacities of TechnoParks, understand the specific needs of smallholder farmers, and develop strategic recommendations with the objective to enhance the capacity of TechnoParks to facilitate adoption of digital technologies among smallholder farmers and act as hubs for digital agriculture transformation. In this context, the project will closely collaborate with Gorki Technopark, especially in piloting one of the key recommendations.

This position offers a National Personal Service Agreement (PSA.NAT) contract for an initial 40 days (during 11-month period). A break from duty of at least 30 consecutive days is mandatory within any twelve-month period after which the contract is renewable upon satisfactory performance and funds availability.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the Head of Digital Agriculture at REU, the incumbent will work in close collaboration with Project Implementation Team.

Technical Focus

The National Digital Agriculture Specialist (Innovation Hubs) will contribute to Output 1 of the project “TechnoParks's capacities are strengthened to stimulate digitalization, innovation and technology adoption by smallholder farmers”. The consultant will focus on assessing the digital technology needs of smallholder farmers, assess the capacity of TechnoParks to support technology adoption, and providing strategic recommendations and piloting interventions to help transform one TechnoPark into a vital hub for digital agriculture transformation in Belarus.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the development of data collection templates, interview guides, and methodologies to assess the current capacities of TechnoParks.
• Conduct field visits to TechnoParks and gather comprehensive insights. Compile results into a report.
• Support onboarding and coordination of the service provider to conduct a survey with farmers.
• Support the service provider in developing a survey methodology aimed at assessing the digital technology needs, capacities, and barriers for adopting digital technologies among smallholder farmers of Belarus.
• Support the international consultant in assessing and identifying the most appropriate Digital Innovation Hub model for Gorki Technopark, considering its specific context, strengths, and role in the Belarusian agricultural innovation ecosystem.
• Based on research findings, support the drafting of strategic recommendations for enhancing TechnoParks' role in advancing digitalization and innovation among smallholder farmers in Belarus.
• Take stock of existing digital agriculture solutions and services in Belarus.
• Support the international consultants in carrying out research, interviews and various analyses.
• Support drafting of the recommendations for strengthening capacities of TechnoParks and piloting one of them in Gorki TechnoPark.
• Support the organization of workshop dedicated to presentation of research results and validation of recommendations.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agricultural Science, Social Science, Computer Science, Rural Development, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in digital agriculture, innovation systems, integration of technology, and related fields.
• Working knowledge of English and Russian.
• Must be a national of Belarus or a resident with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience with innovation hubs or similar structures, and their role in fostering technology adoption and supporting rural stakeholders.
• Experience in conducting needs assessments and capacity-building initiatives.
• Experience in agriculture and working with rural population and smallholder farmers.
• Familiarity and experience working with digital solutions for agriculture, with farm advisory services, and/or training for farmers.

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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