Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the University of Rwanda, the College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (UR/ CAVM); Rwanda Agriculture and Animal resources Development Board (RAB), and Ecole Supérieure d’Agro-Développement International (ISTOM), France, is implementing the DeSIRA Project during four years (2021-2025) with funding from the European Union (EU). The main objective of the project is to strengthen agricultural innovation partnerships and disseminate best practices and processes for climate-relevant and sustainable transformation of agriculture systems in Rwanda. The project uses participatory and interdisciplinary approaches to improve capacities for climate-smart innovation in local innovation partnerships in six districts: Burera, Rutsiro, Ruhango, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, and Bugesera, with a focus on priority value chains including cassava, agroforestry, small livestock (piggery), Irish potato, diary, rice, beans and soya bean.
Thematically, the project focuses on three:
(1) Diversification of livestock and crop systems;
(2) Effective management of irrigated areas,
(3) Crop intensification and diversification in drought-prone areas.
To achieve the above high-level outcome, the project will deliver three outputs:
• Facilitate the process of engagement of multi-sector stakeholders and the functioning of innovation partnerships along each selected value chain as well as in each District,
• To address knowledge gaps and technical capacity needs through participatory action research, and
• Communicate and disseminate best practices for scaling up and informing the policy process.
The main vehicle for this is the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP)’s Common Framework, an approach and tool kit for developing capacities for agricultural innovation systems.
The DeSIRA project employs 12 innovation facilitators who support research and capacity-building activities at community level via innovation partnerships in the target districts. Capacity development activities led by the facilitators will trigger entrepreneurship and business aspirations of women and youth benefiting from the project. Facilitators are also expected to create their own future jobs as a result of experiences in understanding challenges facing communities, and creating entrepreneurial solutions including businesses and social enterprises.
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FAO is now hiring a Training Specialist/Coach – Agricultural Innovation to strengthen capacities of the project’s innovation facilitators, using the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP) framework.
Reporting Lines
The incumbent will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Rwanda, the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programmes), the technical guidance of the lead technical officer (LTO) based in FAO Headquarters in Rome, and in close collaboration with the National Project Manager (NPM).
Technical Focus
The specialist will train and coach the innovation facilitators on capacity development for agricultural innovation systems (TAP Framework) and assist them to develop and monitor coaching plans for the innovation partnerships established around targeted value chains.
Tasks and responsibilities
The specialist will perform the following duties:
• Train innovation facilitators on agricultural innovation systems (AIS) concepts, including agricultural innovation partnerships, using the Tropical Agriculture Framework (TAP) framework and other existing best practices.
• Lead a consultative process to assess and document capacity needs in six innovation partnerships, including needs for functional capacities (soft skills).
• Draw up a capacity development strategy for the six innovation partnerships and present it to the project partners for validation.
• Support in setting up coaching instruments for agriculture innovation partnership to strengthen entrepreneurial skills for women and youth.
• Organize a meeting in each innovation partnership to validate and refine the capacity development strategy and plan for implementation.
• Carry out regular coaching sessions for innovation facilitators during implementation
• Facilitate knowledge exchange among the innovation partnerships.
• Document the training and coaching process in a report.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced degree (at least MSc) in agriculture, agricultural education, agricultural extension, rural or related fields.
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in agricultural development and capacity development in Rwanda or at the international level;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English. Knowledge of Kinyarwanda is required.
• National or Resident of Rwanda
FAO Core Competencies
• Results focus
• Team work
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge sharing and continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Extent and relevance of experience of agricultural innovation processes in Rwanda.
• Extend and relevance of experience in capacity needs assessment and design and delivery of capacity development programmes.
• Having experience in training and coaching the agricultural Innovation partnerships.
• Extent and experience of participatory training of adult learners, including hands-on coaching.
• Extend and relevance of experience of facilitating multi-stakeholder processes in agriculture, forestry, and rural development sector.
• Familiarity with agricultural innovation systems (AIS) approaches and tools
• Prior experience with FAO or UN would be an advantage