Farmer Field School Specialist- SC8 at Food and Agriculture Organization

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Kenya, with general supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in charge of Programmes in Kenya and working under the direct supervision of the National Project lead, within the Sustainable Agri Food Systems program and in close collaboration with the Dadaab FAO Sub-office focal point.

Technical Focus

The Farmer Field School Specialist is expected to support the development of Farmer Field School (FFS) approaches and community-based learning in crop and livestock production.

Tasks And Responsibilities

• Support the mobilization and identification of village-level FFS facilitator candidates (from government extension workers, NGO social mobilisers, community leaders and lead agro pastoralists) for final selection by the Project Lead
• Guide the project implementation team in collaboration with the FFS facilitators, agro-pastoralists, and community leaders, in selecting climate-resilient crop and livestock production practices and technologies to be tested, adapted, and replicated by FFS participants.
• Coordinate and participate in the training of FFS facilitators in the FFS methodology and incorporate selected climate-smart crop and livestock production practices and technologies.
• Coordinate and oversee the FFS facilitators in the mobilization of agro-pastoral farmer groups to establish FFS groups.as well as identification of Host Agro pastoralist farmer.
• In collaboration with facilitators, guide the FFS groups in the selection of climate resilient crop and livestock practices and technologies.
• Guide the FFS group and facilitators in the design of the trial options based on the selected climate resilient practices as well as formulation of the season-long learning curriculum.
• Assist the facilitator and FFS groups formulate the FFS grant proposal (with trial options, budget & season-long learning curriculum).
• Guide the implementation and monitoring of FFS season-long learning for testing, adaptation and replication of innovative and improved climate-smart crop and livestock production practices and technologies.
• Ensure all the key activities within the FFS season-long learning undertaken (AESA, Field Days, Exchange visits, Graduation).
• Support Monitoring and Evaluation of the FFSs’ participants’ adoption of the climate-resilient crop and livestock production practices and technologies tested and adapted and report accordingly.
• Perform any other tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in any of the following: Agricultural sciences, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Social Sciences and/or Development Studies or related fields
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in integrating Farmer Field School (FFS) into agricultural and livestock programmes
• Working knowledge of English and Kiswahili
• National of Kenya

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge of the Somali language will be an added advantage
• Be a trained FFS Master trainer with the experience in Training of Facilitators.
• Demonstrated working experience in Northern Eastern Kenya.
• Experience in participatory methodologies.
• Knowledge of climate information and its influence in the selection of resilient crop and livestock agricultural practices.