National Irrigation Extension Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Programme Management Unit (PMU) of the FAO-Saudi Technical Cooperation Programme (2019-2025) facilitates, coordinates and manages all technical and advisory services to be provided by FAO to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MoEWA) and its sister agencies. Within the framework of the Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF) Technical Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the period 2019-2025 signed on 13 February 2019 between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represented by MoEWA and FAO, the UTF project 'UTF/SAU/053/SAU: Promoting efficient irrigation and water productivity amongst farmers' was approved by FAO and the Saudi Irrigation Organization (SIO). The Project, developed jointly by SIO and FAO, focuses directly on supporting implementation of the Saudi Irrigation Organization Corporate Strategy, which was developed within the context of the Saudi Vision 2030 and aims at strengthening the capacity of SIO to improve irrigation efficiency among small-scale farmers. The Project is expected to achieve the Outcome 'Increased adoption of innovative and efficient irrigation technologies and practices in target Saudi regions', and in turn contributing towards achieving the national development goal of improving irrigation efficiency and ensuring sustainable use of water resources in the Kingdom.

The project is located in the Saudi Irrigation Organization in Al-Hofuf, Eastern Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) however, the position is home based for Saudi professionals as well as residents in KSA.

Reporting Lines

The Specialist reports to the Technical Adviser (Irrigation Extension), Chief Technical Advisor of the project and the Program Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Technical Focus

The Specialist will support in conducting research activities related to irrigation extension services this shall include collect, analyse, and report on data related to rural areas, agricultural practices, and effective extension programs in KSA. In addition, the specialist will perform field coordination and supervision of implemented activities related to the irrigation extension field of work. Work together with local stakeholders and experts to identify best practices and innovative approaches in irrigation extension services, incorporating lessons learned from successful programs globally into the research and analysis.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Study current irrigation systems and practices and collect and document information about identified gap and challenges.

• Evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the specialized irrigation extension messages and materials through targeted feedback sessions and surveys with farmers to refine and enhance the dissemination approach.

• Study technologies and practices piloted and promoted by the Project and identify their requirements, merits, and advantages.

• Design in collaboration with the project team specialized irrigation extension key messages, challenges to be used, and materials covering the identified technologies and provided solutions to farmers in KSA.

• Organize field activities and events such as info-sessions, field days, study visits and exchange visits for target beneficiaries of the project.

• Conduct field assessments to ensure that the introduced technologies are complying with farmers needs and easy to be purchased and identify rejection factors to be addressed to the project and propose corrective actions for these factors.

• Implement the designed model to facilitate dissemination of innovation and technologies among farmers at the target regions in KSA.

• Measure the adoption rate after introducing the technology using a representative sample of farmers.

• Collect data and prepare appropriate presentation for the analysis in collaboration with the project team (when needed).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, rural development, agricultural engineering, and other related fields to irrigation technologies and rural development.

• 5 years of relevant experience in supporting/coordinating/managing sustainable development projects in Saudi Arabia with focus on rural development and/or irrigation modernization.

• Working knowledge (Level C) of Arabic and limited knowledge (Level B) of English.

• National of Saudi Arabia or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Selection Criteria

• 3 years of relevant experience in managing field days, coordinating field extension activities and trainings is a plus.

• Please submit copy of your resident permit with your application.