Overview
The National Technical Specialist will provide strategic guidance, technical input, and policy advice to the Government of Lao PDR on sustainable agriculture, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and agrochemical lifecycle management. The role supports the effective and timely delivery of a GEF FARM Programme project.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide technical input and policy advice on sustainable agriculture, IPM/GAP, agrochemical lifecycle management, and agricultural waste management.
- Advise on linkages with other relevant programmes and projects.
- Draft and review strategic and technical documents.
- Ensure development of cross-project linkages.
- Facilitate information sharing and dialogue.
- Assist in information sharing/knowledge management.
- Record project results and contribute to reports.
- Advise on workplans and budget plans.
- Ensure stakeholder participation in project activities.
- Support implementation of project activities.
- Advise on project progress.
- Advise and support Annual Project Reviews, audits, and evaluations.
- Support recruitment of experts.
- Organize and oversee consultant input.
- Liaise with consultants to ensure timely deliverables.
- Support and facilitate project meetings and workshops.
- Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned.
- Provide capacity development for government staff.
- Track and verify GEF Core Indicators.
- Support operational project closing.
- Undertake technical oversight.
- Support development of concept notes for fund mobilization.
- Support resource mobilization and leadership on sustainable agriculture.
- Strengthen partnerships and coordination with stakeholders.
- Identify capacity building needs and opportunities.
- Ensure appropriate training and workshops are organized.
- Ensure project reports capture results, lessons learned, and good practices.
- Participate in knowledge networks and communities of practice.
- Support establishment of knowledge platforms.
- Promote advocacy for UNDP’s work.
Required Experience
Minimum 5 years (with master's degree) or 7 years (with bachelor's degree) of relevant working experience within sustainable agriculture, IPM/GAP, agrochemicals management, chemicals and waste management, environmental management, agricultural economics, and/or relevant field of studies. At least 5 years of proven experience in project management, in providing management advisory services, hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of development projects. Experience with project planning and consulting. Experience in fostering networks and partnerships. Experience in the use of computers, office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and web-based management systems, and advanced knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Protection, Environmental Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Environmental Management and Planning, Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Sustainable Development, and/or relevant field of studies is required or, A first-level university degree (Bachelor´s degree) in the areas mentioned above in combination with additional 2 years of qualifying experience.
