Dragon Fruit Specialist (International)

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the country offices of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), that are headed by a FAO Representative, is to assist the Government to develop policies, programmes, and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. A long history of collaboration between Guyana and FAO has served to promote sustainable agrifood systems and contribute to hunger and poverty alleviation in the country. Cooperation has increased since the reopening of FAO's country office in 2009, with a growing emphasis on technical and policy assistance as well as capacity building, advocacy, and knowledge exchange. 
In 2016, the Government of Guyana requested FAO to implement jointly with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), the (GCP/GUY/003/GRI) Mainstreaming Sustainable Land Development and Management (SLDM) Project, investing in institutional capacity development, provision of technical assistance, and focusing on land administration, governance of tenure and sustainable land management as a basis for resilient land use/agrifood systems.

Reporting Lines

The Dragon Fruit Specialist will work under the overall managerial, administrative leadership and supervision of the FAO Representative in Guyana, direct technical supervision by the SLDM project Lead Technical Officer(s) (LTO) and the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA)/Project Manager, and work in close collaboration with SLM Specialist, GLSC Technical Team plus other FAO team members.

Technical Focus

The incumbent is expected to provide technical expertise and guidance for the development of a sustainable dragon fruit industry in Guyana, with an emphasis on identifying suitable cultivation areas, promoting scientific cultivation methods, building the technical capacity of stakeholders and developing a comprehensive manual on dragon fruit cultivation specific to Guyana.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Identification of Suitable Cultivation Areas
•     Review existing secondary data/information leading to a comprehensive agro-ecological assessment to identify optimal areas for large-scale dragon fruit cultivation, focusing on Regions 4 and 10.
•     Analyze soil types, climate conditions, water availability, and other relevant factors.
•     Conduct interviews with local farmers and agricultural experts to understand current land use and potential challenges.
•     Develop a detailed report with maps and recommendations for targeted cultivation zones.
Promotion of Scientific Cultivation Methods
•     Introduce and promote best practices for dragon fruit cultivation tailored to the Guyana context.
•     Advise on the selection of appropriate dragon fruit varieties, planting materials, and inputs.
•     Develop strategies for pest and disease management, irrigation, and nutrient management to enhance productivity and quality.
Capacity Building and Training
•     Design and develop training modules for farmers and agricultural extension officers.
•     Organize training programs for agricultural extension officers and farmers of region 4 and 10, focusing on:
•     Dragon fruit cultivation techniques.
•     Post-harvest handling and value addition.
•     Establish a cadre of \"Master Trainers\" by training selected technical staff and lead farmers.
•     Include practical, hands-on field experiments spanning 1-2 days in the training modules.
•     
Development of Knowledge Resources
•     Prepare a comprehensive manual on dragon fruit cultivation, customized for the agro-ecological conditions of Guyana.
•     Ensure the manual covers all aspects of the production cycle, including cuttings and site preparation, trellis design, planting, maintenance, artificial pollination, harvesting, post-harvest management including value addition and secondary product preparation.
Monitoring and Evaluation
•     Develop monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of cultivation methods and training programs, which is to be utilized by the project as well as line departments to capture challenged encountered and recommendations for improvement.
•     Develop a handing over plan of action with timeframe and responsibilities for implementation by the lead line department(s), keeping in view the production areas, possible marketing channels and the way forward.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in Horticulture, Agronomy, Agricultural Sciences, or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization; Consultants with bachelor`s degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience 
•     Proven expertise in dragon fruit cultivation, with at least 5 years of relevant experience preferably in Tropical climates. 
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Selection Criteria

•     Experience in conducting agro-ecological assessments and developing cultivation manuals.
•     Strong background in capacity building and training, particularly in the context of Dragon Fruit. 
•     Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
•     Availability to work in Georgetown, Guyana full time and to travel within the country to relevant meetings in the Region(s) for information exchange.
•     Proven ability to redact clear and concise technical reports. 
•     Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary team and including multiple partners.
•     Familiarity with FAO or other UN agency policies, administrative and financial procedures is considered a strong asset.