Background
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The UNDP Country Office in Tajikistan, together with Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, launched a large-scale project “An integrated landscape approach to enhancing the climate resilience of small-scale farmers and pastoralists in Tajikistan” funded by Adaptation Fund.
The objective of the project is to enhance the livelihoods of the small-scale farmers and pastoralists living in the Kofirnighan River Basin (KRB) under future climate change conditions. Such conditions are expected to include increased frequencies and intensities of extreme climate events such as intense rainfall, rise in air temperatures, and accelerated glacial melting. As a result, hydrometeorological disasters such as droughts, floods, mudflows and landslides are more frequent and rates of soil erosion across the country are increasing. The socio-economic impacts of these changes are considerable: livelihoods, agricultural productivity, water availability and hydroelectricity production are all compromised.
The overarching approach of the project is to employ integrated catchment management approaches within KRB. To this end, a climate-resilient catchment management strategy will be designed for the basin which will enable national rural development planners, local government and local communities to manage a wide range of climate risks. Three interrelated outcomes within the project will contribute to achieving this objective, namely: i) catchment management strategy to manage climate risks operationalized at rayon and jamoat levels in the KRB; ii) an integrated approach to building the climate resilience of agro-ecological landscapes operationalized at village level; and iii) existing knowledge management platforms supported for integrated catchment management and ecosystem-based adaptation.
The project is nationally implemented (NIM) by the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan with support from the UNDP, in line with the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement (SBAA, 1993), the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2016-2021 signed between the UN and the Government of Tajikistan, and the UNDP Country Programme Document 2016-2021 signed between UNDP and the Government of Tajikistan.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Agronomist will be responsible for providing technical expertise and support to enhance agricultural practices, improve crop resilience, and promote sustainable land management in the Kofirnighan River Basin. The Agronomist will work under the overall supervision and guidance of the Project Manager and in close coordination with the local farmers, Project staff, and stakeholders to implement and monitor effective agronomic interventions aligned with Project objectives.
Key Responsibilities include:
Provide Technical Expertise and Support:
- Provide technical guidance on sustainable agricultural practices, including crop rotation, pasture management, intercropping, soil fertility management, drip and other efficient irrigation methods, integrated pest management etc;
- Develop and disseminate best practices for climate-resilient farming (climate smart agriculture practices) to enhance crop productivity and resilience to climate change impacts;
- Support the implementation of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) interventions in agricultural landscapes and document best practices for knowledge sharing;
- Conduct regular field visits to provide hands-on technical assistance and monitor the implementation of agronomic interventions;
- Support and guide the project team in all agriculture-related activities.
Facilitate Capacity Building and Training:
- Conduct training sessions, farmer field days and workshops for local farmers and extension service providers on advanced agronomic techniques and climate-smart agriculture;
- Develop training materials and modules tailored to the needs of the target communities;
- Facilitate training activities on established demonstration plots, turning them into best practices through practical illustration and knowledge transfer.
Ensure Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Facilitate utilization monitoring systems to assess the effectiveness of agronomic interventions and their impact on crop yields, soil health and income generation of farmers;
- Collect and analyze data to inform adaptive management and continuous improvement of agricultural practices;
- Provide regular progress reports and recommendations for scaling up successful interventions;
- Conduct an assessment of progress of all sub-contractor activities against agreed deliverables and facilitate effective stakeholder communication to ensure the dissemination of findings related to agronomical activities.
Ensure Stakeholder Engagement and Coordination:
- Work collaboratively with local communities, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to promote sustainable agriculture and build resilience to climate change;
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and foster partnerships to support the adoption of innovative agronomic practices;
- Participate in Project meetings, workshops, and field visits to ensure alignment and coordination of activities.
Facilitate Knowledge Management and Dissemination:
- Document and share lessons learned, success stories, and case studies on effective agronomic practices and their impact on community resilience;
- Contribute to the development of knowledge products, reports, and publications highlighting Project achievements and impacts through feasibility studies, research, surveys as well as other primary and secondary sources;
- Identify information to be used for communication purposes and disseminate success stories from the field.
The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.
Institutional Arrangement
The Agronomist will report directly to the Project Manager and will work under an overall guidance of the UNDP Team Leader/Climate Change, Energy and Environment and Project Chief Technical Advisor.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
- Achieve Results:
- LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline.
- Think Innovatively:
- LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements.
- Learn Continuously:
- LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback.
- Adapt with Agility:
- LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible.
- Act with Determination:
- LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident.
- Engage and Partner:
- LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships.
- Enable Diversity and Inclusion:
- LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination.
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies:
- Results-based Management:
- Ability to manage the implementation of strategies, programmes and projects with a focus at improved performance and demonstrable results.
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant theories, concepts, methodologies, instruments, and tools.
- Project Management:
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals.
- Event Planning and Execution:
- Ability to build and maintain partnerships with wide networks of stakeholders, Governments, civil society and private sector partners, experts and others in line with UNDP strategy and policies.
- Developmental Evaluation:
- Learning and adaptation focused: ability to promote and facilitate ongoing reflection and adaptation; aimed at informing learning and portfolio related decision making.
- Being comfortable with unknowns, uncertainty and understand the traits and value of working with emergence.
- Being able to give direction rather than destination: monitor and learn about how we understand the present and our direction towards something better (general intent) – not measuring progress and milestones towards a specific pre- defined goal Being able to carry out evaluation thinking in complex systems and adapting evaluation strategies to changing realities.
- Being inclusive, collaborative and co-creative: being able to design and implement evaluation frameworks with the variety of stakeholders and beneficiaries involved.
- Being flexible and able to use of a mix of methods, having a high tolerance for ambiguity and can draw on a variety of qualitative and quantitative evidence, is open to unorthodox types of evidence.
- Ability to set up the structures, conditions, rituals to create a culture for curiosity, reflection and learning and promote evaluation results and insights from a learning perspective.
- Understand key principles of systems and complexity theory.
- Digital Ecosystems:
- Knowledge of how they work, understanding of the opportunities and challenges for governments and society.
- Climate:
- Climate Change Adaptation: Fostering Food Security and resilient Agricultural systems.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary Education is required.
- University degree (bachelor’s degree) in Agronomy, Agriculture, Environmental Science, or related field will be given due consideration, but is not a requirement.
Experience:
- Minimum of 7 years (with Secondary Education) or 4 years (with Bachelor´s degree) of professional experience in agronomy, sustainable agriculture, or related fields, preferably in the context of climate change adaptation or environmental projects is required.
Required Skills:
- Excellent computer skills, including full command of text and spreadsheet programmes and databases.
Desired Skills:
- Experience working with government bodies, UN agencies, international organizations, and/or civil society in the context of natural resource management, climate adaptation, or similar development initiatives;
- Relevant experience in sustainable land management, ecosystem-based adaptation, or agriculture within the climate change resilience agenda in Tajikistan or Central Asia, specifically related to watershed management or agro-ecological landscapes;
- Experience in planning, monitoring, and reporting processes for projects that include Ecosystem based Adaptation, climate-resilient agriculture, or related ecosystem-based interventions;
- Experience in engaging communities and key stakeholders, with a particular emphasis on inclusive approaches that promote the participation of women and marginalized groups in project interventions;
- Experience in managing programmes and projects with a focus on measurable climate adaptation outcomes, improved agricultural practices, and ecosystem-based resilience measures;
- Experience in identifying and managing risks, particularly those related to climate variability, agricultural productivity, or community engagement within adaptation projects.
Required Languages:
- Fluency in Tajik and Russian is required.
- Knowledge of English is considered an asset.
Disclaimer
Applicant information about UNDP rosters
Note: UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Non-discrimination
UNDP has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and misconduct, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
UNDP is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer that does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, age, language, social origin or other status.
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Level of Education: Bachelor Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: No requirements