Urban Agriculture Specialist

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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

Eswatini still faces several Readiness gaps and barriers which limit the potential for climate change adaptation and mitigation particularly in urban and peri urban communities, which limits the potential to mainstreaming green cities indicators which intend to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The gaps include limited availability and applications of baselines and indicators, limited role/capacity of Eswatini Local Government Association (ELGA), limited knowledge on actions/interventions for/on urban agriculture and food systems, infrastructure and technologies, weak capacity, absence of knowledge and guidelines on advisory and extension services, absence of an updated policy environment and incentive framework, lack of awareness on how to make urban and peri urban spaces more resilient and adapted to climate change. Therefore, the is a need to prepare Eswatini’s urban and peri-urban communities for public and private investment towards attaining a sustainable green cities status. This is through developing a set of green cities national indicators, strengthening observatory, monitoring and evaluation systems and capacity of the Eswatini Local Government Association (ELGA) and promote advisory and extension services in relevant departments for sustainable agriculture and agribusiness in urban and per-urban spaces.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Eswatini, (FAOR), guidance of the Assistant FAOR Program and the technical supervision of the National Programme Coordinator. The incumbent will work in close collaboration with FAO officers that will form a project management team task force consisting of the Lead Technical Officer (FAO Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa)

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be responsible for defining key parameters, assumptions, definitions, methodologies, data sources and models in use and needed for strengthening management of Urban Open Space System towards climate action for adaptation and mitigation in cities Infrastructure which is a priority sector in the revised ND

Tasks and responsibilities

• Conduct a situational analysis on urban agriculture (food systems) to profile existing urban agriculture production practices, infrastructure (marketing and handling), and policy frameworks
• Profile existing urban agriculture gaps (policy frameworks, technology & infrastructure) in line with smart/green cities for the different urban and peri-urban context
• Access agriculture knowledge, awareness of urban farming systems and ability to communicate to technical and non-technical audiences in urban areas
• Captures the potential benefits of urban farming, and potential limitation associated with it for an informed policy and program reforms for urban agriculture
• Profile food losses and detail their reduction actions
• Generate report on how best urban agriculture can be integrated into urban planning (land use, waste, wastewater), therefore, mainstreaming urban agriculture in spatial planning and legal structures
• Situational analysis on the institutional arrangement for access to resources and services of farm input, markets, extension and technical support, for connecting communities, public organisations and business owners
• Develop action plan on how to improve and support access to credit, access to land, water, and agric waste management
• Conduct needs assessment for supporting local organizations, agencies, growers and markets as per their relevant role to Urban Agriculture, while also encouraging and attracting new agriculture value chain players
• Concepts, principles and applications; urban agriculture- definitions and functions, urban agriculture and planning
• Design and support the implementation of innovative and sustainable peri-urban agriculture project components and urban value chain components in designated urban areas
• Assess and map the current situation of urban agriculture in the cities in terms of historical development, existing obstacles and challenges
• Assess mainstreaming of urban agriculture on existing investment actions plans, frameworks and policies at national and local government
• Assess and characterize the urban food systems (production, postharvest handling. trade, processing, distribution retailing) for the municipalities
• Document the role of Urban Agriculture in addressing food and nutrition security and employment creation
• Assess Food consumption patterns linked to Urban/peri urban agriculture and linkages between Urban /peri urban agriculture and urbanization
• Supports the creation policy reforms, review and policy for integration of urban agriculture in development plans of municipalities
• Supports the consultation with relevant stakeholders on actions/interventions for public and private investment in sustainable in urban agriculture
• Document actions and interventions for ensuring mainstreaming of green cities urban agriculture technologies on established core indicators
• Support the urban agriculture site planning in the 14 municipalities of the country
• Support the development of action plans for mainstreaming of core indicators in spatial environmental planning of the municipalities
• Support the development of urban agriculture plans for integration of development planning of the municipalities
• Conduct technology needs and opportunities required for managing the urban agriculture resources
• Document environmental and social safeguards on proposed urban agriculture green cities technologies
• Support the development of guidelines and regulations for management of urban agriculture in rural and urban settings
• Recommend recreational amenities in urban agriculture spaces
• Provide support, technical knowledge and a road map for relevant stakeholders to set-up urban agriculture projects
• Provide support, including training workshops, to implementing NGOs/local authorities to build urban agriculture capacity
• Facilitate knowledge exchanges amongst key urban agriculture actors
• Facilitate development of urban agriculture city strategies for local authorities such as climate resilience agricultural practices
• Develop concept notes on urban agriculture in cities

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced Degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in Sustainable Agriculture, Agronomy, Horticulture, Animal Science or related field
• At least 7 (Seven) years of proven experience in a senior level implementing agriculture intensification across three or more value chains.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English, working knowledge of SiSwati will be an added advantage.
• National of Eswatini or a holder of a valid work permit of Eswatini

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in carrying out assessments, urban investment analysis and policy advocate and designs for urban systems
• Strong commitment to inclusiveness and gender equality with demonstrated experience in integrating gender and diversity issues
• Proven experience of working with UN agencies in urban development.
• Proven experience in urban agriculture projects and in urban agriculture policy development

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
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• 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.

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