Climate Resilient Agronomist

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Pakistan is implementing the “Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management” project in Punjab and Sindh, supported by the Green Climate Fund and provincial governments. The project aims to build national capacity to address climate change impacts on agriculture and water management by promoting climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) and on-farm water management (OFWM) technologies at scale. This role, based in Multan, Punjab, seeks a Climate Resilient Agronomist to ensure that CRA interventions are technically sound, contextually relevant, widely adopted, and sustainable. The position involves close coordination with FAO teams, government departments, and farmers to support training, adaptive research, and dissemination of agro-climate advisories.

Key Responsibilities

- Provide technical support and advisory services by designing and supervising climate-resilient, market-oriented crop production programs. Identify suitable climate-resilient crops, varieties, and sustainable inputs for Punjab’s cropping systems.
- Collaborate with provincial government departments, research institutions, and other projects to coordinate crop production interventions.
- Offer technical backstopping to Farmer Facilitators and government extension staff on CRA practices across major cropping systems such as cotton-wheat, rice-wheat, sugarcane, and high-value vegetables.
- Guide and supervise the Farmer Field School (FFS) program, including curriculum development, training of trainers, implementation, and monitoring of adaptive research and participatory learning.
- Support establishment and management of demonstration plots for adaptive research, ensuring proper application of CRA and OFWM practices.
- Develop and deliver training modules for farmers, FAO staff, and government extension workers, including training of trainers and refresher courses, with materials translated into local languages.
- Assist in profiling, establishing, and monitoring demonstration plots following Standard Operating Procedures, and analyze data to assess the impact of CRA practices on yields, costs, and resilience.
- Contribute to the development and dissemination of agro-climate advisories and early warning messages, coordinating with communication specialists and IT teams.
- Monitor and report on CRA activities, compiling progress reports, economic analyses, and success stories.
- Facilitate stakeholder coordination meetings and strengthen market linkages by liaising with agriculture departments, private sector, and input suppliers.
- Promote gender and social inclusion by ensuring training and demonstration activities are accessible to women and marginalized groups, supporting Women Open Schools and adapting practices to their needs.

Required Qualifications

- Advanced university degree in plant/crop sciences, agronomy, or climate-smart agriculture.
- At least 8 years of relevant experience in Pakistan’s agricultural sector, including a minimum of 3 years of practical field experience in Climate Resilient Agriculture and 5 years in training extension staff on climate-smart practices.
- Fluency in Urdu, Punjabi, Saraiki (for Punjab), or Sindhi (for Sindh) in reading, writing, and speaking.
- Pakistani national.
- Strong knowledge of cropping systems in the Indus Basin and practical experience with crop diversification, climate-resilient crops, and community organization.
- Proven ability to develop technical materials, conduct data analysis, and document field activities.
- Proficiency in computer applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Willingness to travel extensively within the province and work in rural, multi-ethnic environments.

Preferred Qualifications and Additional Information

- Experience working with Farmer Field Schools and smallholder farmers.
- Familiarity with UN systems, codes of conduct, and resource management is desirable.
- Commitment to gender equality and social inclusion is highly valued; female candidates with an agricultural background are strongly encouraged to apply.
- FAO promotes workforce diversity and adheres to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct.
- Appointment is subject to medical fitness, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearance.
- FAO does not charge any fees during the recruitment process.
- Candidates must have qualifications recognized by the World Higher Education Database.

This is a 12-month national project personnel position based in Multan, Pakistan, under the FAO Representation in Pakistan. The role offers an opportunity to contribute to climate resilience and sustainable agriculture in one of the country’s most critical agro-ecological zones.