Agriculture Engineer

Agriculture Engineer - Climate-Smart Livelihoods Initiatives and Market Access Tailoring (CLIMAT)

CLIMAT is a one-year Food for Training (FFT) project implemented by Cooperation Without Borders (CWB) and the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) at the American University of Beirut and funded by the German Cooperation through the World Food Program (WFP). It aims to sustainably improve the skills, capacities and livelihood opportunities of vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugees in Northeast Baalbeck and West Bekaa. CLIMAT will build capacities for women and youth, provide agriculture training for individuals and cooperatives including skills building and material support, and create market linkages. Three value chains will be targeted including small ruminant production, alternative and climate-smart agricultural crop production, and agro-food processing. 

Under this project, CWB is seeking up to recruit an Agriculture Engineer having an extensive technical experience as well as strong communication skills. He/She will provide technical assistance and guidance to site manager, farmers, and other local beneficiaries across the three value chains in Northeast Baalbeck and West Bekaa. He/she directly coordinates with CWB Project Coordinator and reports to CWB Chairman.

Objectives

The objective of the Agriculture Engineer position is to supervise, under the three agriculture value chains, activities with various stakeholders and to provide technical assistance and guidance ensuring the achievement of successful deliverables.

Scope of Work

The Agriculture Engineer will be primarily responsible of the following activities:

• Provide technical assistance to and the supervision of the establishment of agricultural demonstration plots (i.e. pasture and grazing management demo-plots, floriculture demo-plot, hydroponic tomato/cucumber production demo-plot, raspberry/blueberry production demo-plot, aromatic plants production demo-plot, supplementary irrigated freekeh production demo-plot, nursery development)

• Follow up on trainings that will be provided by experts for local communities (i.e. capacity building on: seedling production; cultivation of aromatic plants; climate smart agriculture for tomato/cucumber; floriculture, flower treatment and post-harvest)

• Facilitate communication and coordination between site manager, farmers, and other local beneficiaries

• Perform extensive research on best agricultural practices falling under CLIMAT scope and develop and report strategies on climate smart practices

• Monitor, evaluate and report on the efficiency of the demo plots and the production units

• Control the efficiency of the implemented demo plots and production units

• Collect data on treatment and research applied in demonstration plots

• Provide technical specifications of demonstration plots and participate in procurement of agricultural equipment and tools

• Ensure high performance of the field staff and expert trainers

• Develop strategies to improve natural resource management

• Improve the processing and storage of agricultural products

• Specify functional requirements during project implementation period

• Estimate costs, reliability, and safety of activities and their implementation

• Monitor agricultural and agro-food products thoroughly for safety issues and defects

• Relocate or face a longer commute as and when required

Essential Minimum Qualifications

• A university degree in Agriculture Engineering

• Minimum 5 years of previous job experience relevant to the function or a related field

• Knowledge of climate smart agriculture principles

• Experience working with local communities

• Previous and proven experience in managing human resources under a conflict context

• Knowledge and exposure to the social and cultural values of the region

• Excellent communication skills

• Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English languages

Main Deliverables/Expected achievements

• A total of 14 demonstration plots are established and maintained across Northeast Baalbeck and West Bekaa.

• A total of six training topics falling under the three value chains are supervised.

• Weekly reporting to CWB Chairman is held.

• Research papers and strategies on climate smart agricultural practices and natural resource management are developed.

• Communication between field staff, trainers, local communities and different stakeholders is facilitated.

• Monthly reports on the efficiency of demo-plots and production units are submitted.

• Demo-plots and production units are functional and productive, and a strategy for improved processing and storage of agricultural products is followed.

• Agricultural and agro-food products resulting from demo-plots and production units comply with safety standards.

• Appropriate agricultural tools and equipment required are procured.

Period

• 12 months from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019

How to Apply

• Deadline to submit CV: December 15, 2018

• Interested candidates should send their CV to: [email protected]