Young Professional Officer (Community-Driven Innovation)

The Young Professional Officer supports community-driven and grassroots innovation in agrifood systems, including co-creation processes and multi-actor learning to aid agrifood systems transformation. The role involves research, technical analysis, project support, and coordination of innovation activities such as Farmer Field Schools.

Responsibilities

• Analyses relevant technical social, economic, environmental, and technology information, data and/or statistics for input in various documents.
• Maintains records and updates databases and web pages.
• Provides technical support to various projects.
• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars, etc.
• Participates in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.
• Supports identification, documentation and analysis of grassroots innovations, farmer innovation and community-driven innovation processes in particular on agroecology, and development of related methodologies.
• Supports design and implementation of community-driven, grassroots and frugal innovation activities in agrifood-systems and development of related methodologies, including promoting innovation through Farmer Field Schools.
• Provides support to the Global Farmer Field School Platform, including coordination, knowledge management and communication to highlight innovations emerging in, from and through FFS.
• Contributes to co-development and facilitation of multi-actor learning and innovation processes (e.g. Global Farmer Field School Platform, Living Labs, Innovation Think Labs, communities of practice).
• Supports the generation of evidence, knowledge products, learning outputs and training material on innovation in agrifood systems, including on agroecology.
• Contributes to analysis of key challenges in grassroots and community-driven innovation, including scaling, governance, policy engagement and innovation ecosystems.
• Supports implementation of the OIN Learning Agenda on Community-driven innovation in coordination with partners and stakeholders.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in agricultural innovation, systems agronomy, agricultural economics, or related field.
• One year of relevant experience in international development, with a focus on agrifood systems, rural development and innovation.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in community-driven, user-driven or participatory approaches in agrifood systems for food security and agroecology.
• Knowledge of agrifood systems and rural development contexts.
• Understanding of innovation systems, grassroots and farmer-led innovation, community-driven innovation, user-driven innovation and multi-actor learning processes.
• Ability to support co-production of knowledge and participatory research processes; for defined outputs, outcomes and impacts.
• Experience with Farmer Field Schools or similar farmer participatory approaches is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience of: participatory methods (PRA, human-centred/co-design approaches) for working directly with farmer communities; Results-based M-E log frames, theory of change - KoboToolbox; Data analysis (Stata, R, Python), knowledge of food security metrics (IPC classification, FIES, HDDS); Value chain and market systems analysis; Gender and social inclusion analysis.
• Field experience in developing country contexts is desirable.
• Candidates should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.

Skills

• Agricultural Innovation
• Systems Agronomy
• Agricultural Economics
• International Development
• Agrifood Systems
• Rural Development Policy
• Community-Driven Innovation
• User-Driven Innovation
• Participatory Approaches
• Food Security
• Agroecology
• Innovation Systems
• Multi-Actor Learning
• Co-Production of Knowledge
• Participatory Research Methods
• Farmer Field Schools
• Participatory Methodologies
• Results-Based Monitoring & Evaluation
• Theory of Change
• KoboToolbox
• Data Analysis
• STATA
• Python
• Food Security Metrics
• IPC Classification
• FIES
• HDDS
• Value Chain Analysis
• Market Systems Development
• Gender Analysis
• Social Inclusion Analysis

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish