Organizational Setting

Under the Unilateral Trust Fund Programme (UTF) “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector”, FAO will undertake the leading role in providing capacity building and technical assistance to support the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Project Management Unit (PMU) with the implementation of World Bank-funded project. FAO will also delegate experts to assess the existing capacities of structures involved in seed and fruits trees seedling sector and crisis prevention and management.

Reporting Lines

The National Fruit Tree Nursery and Capacity Development Expert will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in the Republic of Tajikistan and Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO)/ Senior Animal Production Health Officer (REU) in close collaboration with the FAO Tajikistan Office.

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Tajikistan (FAOR), and under the technical guidance and direct supervision of the Lead Technical Officer based in FAO Regional Office in Budapest and day by day supervision of the STA/Coordinator the expert will support the implementation of the UTF/TAJ/023/TAJ “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”, especially to provide extension services to seed and fruits trees seedling farms.

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Tajikistan (FAOR), and the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer based in the FAO Regional Office in Budapest, and day-to-day supervision of the Project Manager, the National Tree Nursery Expert will support the implementation of UTF/TAJ/023/TAJ “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”, with a specific focus on enhancing the performance, management, and productivity of fruits trees nurseries.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide technical support in developing methodology and questionnaire for conducting a comprehensive needs assessment and skill gap analysis of the 13 farm nurseries supported by the project.
•    Conduct field monitoring visits in close collaboration with SUE “Tojikniholparvar” under the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to collect needs assessment data, evaluate current nursery practices, and identify capacity gaps.
•    Prepare a capacity and skills development plan for the 13 farm nurseries, based on identified needs and assessment findings, including recommendations for improving fruits trees nursery management, propagation techniques, and seedling production systems.
•    Conduct trainings for registered farm nurseries based on the needs assessment carried out.
•    Provide extension services and targeted technical support to the 13 farm nurseries to strengthen their knowledge and skills in nursery operations, including seed sourcing, fruits seedling seedling production, pest and disease management, irrigation and nutrient management, and other relevant practices.
•    Introduction procedures of issue the quality certification of fruits trees seedlings for local nursery farms.
•    Prepare regular technical reports summarizing field visits, needs assessment outcomes and recommendations for improvement.
•    Other related tasks, as per request.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    Master’s degree in Horticulture, Agronomy, Pomology, or a related plant science discipline.
•    Minimum 5 years of practical field experience in fruit tree nursery management, seedling production systems, or intensive orchard development projects.
o    Proven expertise in clonal rootstock management, advanced budding/grafting techniques, field-level pest/disease diagnostics, and precision drip irrigation/fertigation setups.
o    Deep understanding of national seedling certification procedures, quality standards, and state phytosanitary requirements.
•    Working knowledge of English (for report writing) and full professional fluency in Tajik and Russian (for field and institutional communication).
•    National of Tajikistan or resident of the country with a valid work permit, based locally and ready for immediate, regional field travel (Khatlon, Sughd, and DRS clusters).

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong computer literacy including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and digital communication tools.
•    Excellent oral and written communication skills.
•    Strong analytical and report writing skills, including preparation of technical and progress reports.
•    Experience working with international organizations, UN agencies or international NGOs.
•    Experience coordinating with national stakeholders including government institutions and development agencies.
•    Knowledge of agricultural development and rural development in Tajikistan.
•    Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
Understanding of gender considerations in agricultural development programmes.

Selection Criteria

•    Knowledge of the agricultural sector and institutional landscape in Tajikistan.
•    Experience in coordinating agriculture or rural development projects.
•    Demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and project coordination.
•    Experience working with international organizations or donor-funded projects.
•    Strong coordination, leadership and interpersonal skills.
•    Knowledge of digital technologies applied to agriculture would be an asset.
•    Private sector experience in agriculture or agribusiness would be an advantage.