Fodder Crops Specialist Vacancy-Job Ref: ACLBFAO/2510/202159

Fodder Crops Specialist Vacancy-Job Ref: ACLBFAO/2510/202159
Beirut,Lebanon

JOB DESCRIPTION
The multiple crisis the country is passing through since 2019, has resulted in plunging all socio-economic indicators and threatening food security and livelihoods of most of the Lebanese people.
This has led FAO and GAC to prepare this project with the objective of strengthening the resilience, the food security and the livelihoods of vulnerable men and women farmers and their families and communities in the different Lebanese regions.
The approval of this project took place while two other projects were under finalization for approval by other donors, FAO and the Government and which have similar interventions:
– OSRO/LEB/100/JPN: Increase resilience of vulnerable smallholder farming families affected by the economic crisis/Covid-19, funded by Japan for USD 439,863
– UTF/LEB/037/LEB: Support to Farmers Affected by the COVID-19 and Financial and Economic Crises, funded by the World Bank through the Government of Lebanon for USD 10 million.
The implementation of this Project will be made in coordination with those mentioned projects, on the voucher component and will build on completed projects particularly the recently completed SFERA project and the ones focused on dairy and poultry assistance completed in the past few years for the relevant components.
Moreover, linkages will be made between the Project and the farm registry that will be established at the Ministry of Agriculture by promoting the registration of Project beneficiaries in the farm registry for future assistance

Reporting Lines

The fodder crops expert reports to the Project Manager

Technical Focus

• Strong technical capacity in agriculture, fodder crops specifically.
• Ability to report, coordinate and follow up with beneficiaries and partners.
• Capacity building, reporting and drafting skills.
• Gender equality and women empowerment

Tasks and responsibilities

– Conduct a desk review of the current fodder cultivation situation in Lebanon that includes:
 An estimation of the areas and quantities of fodder crops produced (for on-farm use and for sale)
 The identifications of the different relevant recent, ongoing and planned projects implemented by stakeholders
 The fodder production gap if any;
 An overview of the fodder supply chain for domestically produced and imported fodder
 Highlight the impacts of climate change on the present agricultural patterns in Lebanon
 The identification of development and expanding opportunities for the fodder value chain
 The identification of different fodder crops in the region of similar climate conditions to Lebanon and potential of lessons learned on best practices
 Identify the potential impact of expanding forage cultivation on water resources.
 Highlight findings and recommendations
– Prepare an action plan for priority activities to be implemented by the Project or by other potential development partners
– Emphasize on identifying forage crops that are most adapted to climate change, including crops/varieties that are rain-fed or require minimal irrigation
– In collaboration with LARI, organize a national stakeholders’ workshop to disseminate the findings and recommendations of the aforementioned assessment and action plan for the sustainable production of fodder crops in Lebanon.
 Key outcomes of this workshop would be:
• to establish a national platform/working group among public and private sector agencies and CBOs working on the promotion of fodder production and utilization; and
• further development of the action plan outlining areas of responsibility for the platform/working group’s members.
• Identification of the most promising fodder crops and varieties suitable for planting under Lebanese agricultural patterns and climate conditions and adapted to climate.

– Draft the terms of reference for the action plan to be implemented by LARI for the multiplication of seeds of selected fodder crops/varieties to ensure the production of sufficient certified seeds for sale to interested farmers through LARI’s “seed sales programme”, particularly those supported by the Project’s Outputs 1 and 2.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University Degree in Agriculture/fodder crops and/or any other related field.
• Minimum Three years of experience in farmers’ development and fodder crops.

• Nationality of Lebanon or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

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.
• Extent and relevance of experience in agriculture/fodder crops.
• Extent and relevance of experience with farmers.
• Good knowledge with MS office applications including excel, word and power point.
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills.
• Highly accurate and organized.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Awareness on the importance of gender equality and women empowerment among farmers and beneficiaries.
• Good organizational and communication skills.
• Very good reporting capabilities in English and Arabic language.
• Knowledge or experience in gender equality and women empowerment
Please click on the button below to Apply.