Antecedentes

Nepal’s agriculture shows weak growth rates with low productivity, coupled with a food trade deficit and high malnutrition. This is associated with low marketed volumes and farmers’ limited access to agriculture technology. Postharvest losses are high, with careless crop handling and a lack of storage facilities contributing to postharvest losses. 

Against this backdrop, the project on value chain development of fruit and vegetables focuses on increasing production, reducing postharvest losses and promotingmarket linkages. Led bythe Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MoAL), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the 5-year project aims to increase incomes for smallholder farmers growing fruit and vegetables. It will target two road corridors (the B.P. and Arniko highway and the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway)in provinces3 and 4. About 10,000 farmers and 20 cooperatives will be beneficiaries. 

Management arrangements:
The Technology Extension Specialistwill work under the guidance and supervision of the National Project Manager. S/he will work in close collaboration with UNDP Nepal office, government partners, the donor and other stakeholders. 

Deberes y responsabilidades

Under the guidance of the National Project Director and National Project Manager, the Technology Extension Specialist is responsible for activities under project outcome 1 (improve agricultural productivity through increased capacity of government agencies and better access to production technology by farmers). Specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following activities:

• Support identification of pocket areas, municipalities, cooperatives, farmers, extension officers and information extension providers
• Assist the completion of the baseline survey and necessary research (i.e. gross margin analysis)
• Advise on organizing planned activities in consultation with stakeholders (i.e. the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, state government, municipality, cooperatives, farmers, and agrovets)
• Support to prepare training materials and extension manuals and organise training programmes on production technology and improved production practices to extension officers, cooperatives and farmers
• Support the provision of extension to extension officer in local government bodies (Rural Municipalities and Municipalities) cooperatives and farmers 
• Assist development of manuals on technology and extension materials
• Support the operation of the revolving fund for input support to cooperatives
• Document best practices and lessons learnt from the project and support to replicate it
• Support to local implementing organization to collect data and information and prepare technical report 
• Provide information and data in time for the development of reports as required by the donor agency and the implementing partner
• Attend events and conferences on production technology and extension provision and provide feedback and information 
• Coordinate with NARC/and other research organization for and explore the potential production technologies for extension
• Identify opportunities for campaigns, services, and distribution channels that will lead to increased sales of fruit and vegetables 
• Perform other tasks as required

Impact of Function

Successful management of the value chain development of fruit and vegetables project in compliance with the Government of Nepal’s and UNDP’s rules and procedures

Competencias

Corporate Competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
• Serves and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Good inter-personal skills;
• Clear and upfront communication skills; 
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Collaborates effectively in a team environment;
• Organized and good with following-up on pending issues; meets deadlines;
• Promote learning and knowledge management/sharing;
• Focuses on delivering results by taking calculated-risks and problem-solving approach;
• Fair and transparent decision making; regularly shares information with team members.
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Functional Competencies: 

• Promotes sharing of knowledge and experience, and actively works towards continued learning and development on personal level as well as for supervisees; 
• Good practical knowledge of inter-disciplinary development issues; 
• Ability to go beyond established procedures and models, propose new approaches which expand the range of projects; 
• Demonstrates strong numerical and analytical skills;
• Has experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation tools;
• Experience in developing business plans for financial institutions including energy enterprises;
• Experience in coordination, technical assistance and advisory support top government and private institutions;
• Experienced in delivering training and other needed capacity/ institutional building support to a wide range of stakeholders including financial institutions;
• Demonstrates excellent organizational and administrative skills; 
• Identifies and communicates relevant information for a variety of audiences for advocating UNDP’s mandate;
• Analyses and selects materials for strengthening strategic alliances with partners and stakeholders;
• Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
• Possesses basic knowledge of organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks;
• Demonstrates good knowledge of information technology and applies it in work assignments;
• Effectively networks with partners seizing opportunities to build strategic alliances relevant to UNDP’s mandate and strategic agenda; 
• Assesses project performance to identify success factors and incorporates best practices into project work;
• Monitors specific stages of projects/programme implementation;
• Researches linkages across programme activities to identify critical points of integration;
• Oversees and documents the process of strategy formulation for programmes at Project level.

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

Master’s degree in Agriculture (Extension, agricultural economics or agribusiness management, or relevant field.) or equivalent. 

Experience:

• At least 5 years of experiences in the field of agriculture value chain, extension provision, and fruit and vegetable production technology.
• Sound understanding of agriculture policies and agriculture research and extension systems of Nepal
• Ability to manage and supervise a team of multidisciplinary professionals.
• Good understanding of UNDP rules and procedures (an experience of completing UN assignments would be an asset.

Language Requirement Fluency in spoken and written English and Nepali

Other Good knowledge of computer applications such as word, excel, power point and statistical applications.