Climate Resilient Agronomist

FAO; Multan; On-site; PKR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Job summary

FAO Pakistan seeks a Climate Resilient Agronomist in Multan to strengthen CRA interventions, crop production programs, and farmer training. The role involves hands‑on field work, technical advisory, and close collaboration with government partners to scale climate‑smart practices and improve livelihoods.

You will develop training modules, supervise Farmer Field School activities, analyze agro‑climate information, and prepare progress reports to inform policy and program decisions.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in plant/crop sciences, agronomy, or climate-smart agriculture.
• 8 years of proven experience in Pakistan's agricultural sector, with at least 3 years in CRA and 5 years in training staff on Climate Smart Agriculture.
• Fluency in Urdu/Punjabi/Saraiki or Sindhi; Pakistani nationals.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and advisory services for climate-resilient and market-oriented crop production programs.
• Identify resilient crops and inputs; advise on field and nursery development.
• Coordinate with government departments, research institutions, and projects for coordinated crop interventions.
• Develop and deliver training materials for FAO staff, government personnel, and farmers.
• Coach Farmers and extension staff; train facilitators via ToT.
• Develop adaptive research plots within the Farmer Field School program and supervise curricula.
• Integrate CRA and OFWM practices into FFS curricula and demonstrate plots.
• Produce agro-climate information, advisories, and early warning messages.
• Monitor interventions and prepare progress reports and cost-benefit data.

Skills

Practical knowledge of field crops

Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA)

Community organization in arid zones

Farmer Field School implementation

Training extension staff

Data analysis and reporting

Documentation skills

Urdu/Punjabi/Saraiki language fluency

Education

Advanced degree in plant/crop sciences or climate-smart agriculture

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS PowerPoint

Job description

Organizational context: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Pakistan is dedicated to poverty reduction, food security, sustainable livelihoods, and rural development. In collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, FAO has supported research, training, and capacity building in agriculture. Through the "Transforming Indus Basin with Climate Resilient Agriculture and Water Management" project, funded by the Green Climate Fund and provincial governments, FAO Pakistan aims to enhance national capacity to address climate change impacts on agriculture and water management. The project promotes the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture and water management technologies through Farmer Field Schools and integrates climate change adaptation into existing initiatives.

Job purpose: The Climate Resilient Agronomist will contribute to the project's goal by ensuring the technical soundness, contextual appropriateness, and scalability of Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) interventions. This role involves providing expertise in CRA practices and technology transfer, including identifying resilient crops and inputs. The agronomist will also focus on agro-climate information, advisories, and early warning systems, as well as agricultural extension services. This includes developing and delivering effective training methods and modules for FAO staff, government personnel, Farmer Field School facilitators, and directly coaching farmers in the field to foster adoption and sustainability of climate-resilient practices.

Responsibilities: Provide technical support and advisory services for climate-resilient and market-oriented crop production programs, identifying resilient crops and inputs. Advise on various aspects of crop development, including field and horticultural crops, seed production, and nursery development. Liaise with government departments, research institutions, and other projects to ensure coordinated implementation of crop production interventions. Offer technical backstopping to Farmer Facilitators and extension staff on CRA practices relevant to provincial cropping systems. Develop recommendations for adaptive research plots within the Farmer Field School (FFS) program. Guide and supervise the FFS program for adaptive research and participatory learning, including curriculum development and training of facilitators. Ensure the integration of CRA and On-Farm Water Management (OFWM) practices into FFS curricula. Support the establishment and management of demonstration plots for adaptive research. Develop and deliver training on climate, water, and agriculture information, as well as CRA and OFWM practices for farmers, FAO staff, and government personnel. Train Farmer Facilitators and extension staff through Training of Trainers (ToT) and refresher courses. Contribute to developing training materials in local languages. Assist in identifying and selecting farmers for demonstration plots, applying Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and analyzing research outcomes. Contribute to developing agro-climate information, advisories, and early warning messages for farmers. Work with communication specialists to develop collaborative work plans for campaigns and advise on feedback mechanisms. Monitor CRA interventions, collect and compile data for economic and cost-benefit analysis, and prepare progress reports. Document progress, develop databases, and identify case studies. Facilitate stakeholder meetings and liaise with government departments and the private sector to strengthen market linkages. Assist in reviewing policies and regulations for CRA adoption. Ensure CRA and OFWM activities are accessible to women and marginalized groups, supporting Women Open Schools (WOS).

Education: An advanced university degree in plant/crop sciences, agronomy, or climate-smart agriculture is required. Candidates must have 8 years of proven experience in Pakistan's agricultural sector, specializing in crops and marketing, with at least 3 years in practical field experience in Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) and 5 years in training extension staff on Climate Smart Agriculture. Fluency in Urdu/Punjabi/Saraiki or Sindhi is necessary. Applicants must be nationals of Pakistan. Women with agricultural backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Work experience: Requires 8 years of experience in Pakistan's agricultural sector, focusing on crops and marketing. A minimum of 3 years of practical field experience in Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA) and at least 5 years of experience training extension staff on Climate Smart Agriculture are essential. Fluency in local languages (Urdu/Punjabi/Saraiki for Punjab, or Sindhi for Sindh) is mandatory. Candidates must be Pakistani nationals.

Skills: Essential skills include practical knowledge of field crops, homestead gardening, Climate Resilient Agriculture (CRA), and community organization in arid/semi-arid zones of Pakistan. Proven experience in crop diversification, particularly with climate-smart/resilient crops, is required. Ability to work effectively with small farmers, farmer groups, and Farmer Field Schools is crucial. Deep understanding of Indus Basin cropping systems (cotton-wheat, rice-wheat, sugarcane, high-value vegetables) is necessary. Experience in developing technical materials, messages from adaptive research, manuals, curricula, and IEC materials for agriculture and climate-smart enterprises is needed. Strong report writing, data analysis, and documentation skills are important. Good computer proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) is required. Adaptability for extensive travel within the province and working in rural, multi-ethnic environments is essential. Familiarity with UN systems is desirable.

Required languages: Punjabi, Urdu

Desired languages: