Agriculture Expert Consultant

UN Secretariat; Gebze; On-site; TRY 4,455,000 - 6,436,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

World-class UN experience

Job summary

UNTB seeks a specialized agriculture expert to establish and maintain a structured roster of qualified professionals to support its work with LDCs. You will identify, assess and deploy specialists for technical assistance, policy advice, research and project design in agriculture.

Fluency in English is mandatory; PhD is preferred and experience with governments or international development is valued. You will help scale agricultural technologies, contribute to capacity building, and develop

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in agriculture or related field; PhD preferred.
• Minimum eight years of experience in agriculture; 12 years if holding a Master's in agricultural technology and engineering.
• Experience with government ministries, UN entities, or international development organizations.
• Fluency in English; French and Portuguese desirable.

Responsibilities

• Identify, screen, and prioritize agricultural technologies suitable for LDC contexts.
• Evaluate the technical feasibility and potential benefits of technologies.
• Define requirements for adaptation and scale-up of technologies.
• Conduct technology needs assessments, author knowledge products.
• Design and facilitate multi-stakeholder consultations.
• Develop capacity-building programs for beneficiary institutions.
• Design project proposals, develop MEL frameworks, and mobilize financing for deployment.

Skills

Agricultural technology

Engineering expertise

Policy research

Assessments

Analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Capacity development

Project design

Implementation

English fluency

Education

Master's or PhD in agriculture or related field

PhD preferred for ag tech/engineering

Publication in peer-reviewed journal

Job description

Organizational context

The UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (UNTB) strengthens science, technology, and innovation capacities in LDCs. It supports LDCs in adopting and scaling technologies aligned with national priorities, focusing on policy advisory, capacity building, and knowledge services. This role contributes to UNTB's mission by providing specialized agricultural expertise.

Job purpose

The purpose of this role is to establish and maintain a structured, searchable roster of qualified agriculture experts to support UNTB's work with Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This roster will enable UNTB to respond more efficiently and effectively to country requests for technical assistance, policy advice, research, and project design in agriculture. By facilitating the timely identification and deployment of specialists, the role supports LDCs in assessing, adapting, and scaling appropriate agricultural technologies and innovations, thereby strengthening their capacity development in science, technology, and innovation and fostering knowledge exchange and partnerships.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibility is to serve as a specialized agriculture expert, contributing to UNTB's mandate of strengthening science, technology, and innovation capacities in LDCs. This involves providing technical assistance, policy advice, and research support related to agricultural technologies and innovations. Key duties include identifying, screening, and prioritizing agricultural technologies suitable for LDC contexts, evaluating their technical feasibility and potential benefits, and defining requirements for their adaptation and scale-up. The role also entails conducting technology needs assessments, authoring technical knowledge products, designing and facilitating stakeholder consultations, and developing capacity-building programs. Additionally, responsibilities include designing project proposals, developing implementation and MEL frameworks, and mobilizing financing for technology deployment.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's or PhD) in a relevant agricultural or related discipline is required. A PhD is preferred for agricultural technology and engineering expertise. At least one peer-reviewed or recognized publication is also required. Fluency in English is mandatory; French and Portuguese are desirable.

Work experience

A minimum of eight years of professional experience in agriculture, with substantial experience directly related to the area of expertise in an LDC or developing country, is required. For those with a Master's degree in agricultural technology and engineering, at least 12 years of relevant experience, including hands-on technical work, is necessary. Experience working with government ministries, UN entities, or international development organizations is also required.

Skills

Expertise in agricultural technology and engineering, policy research, assessments, analysis, stakeholder engagement, capacity development, and project design/development/implementation. Proficiency in identifying, screening, and prioritizing agricultural technologies. Ability to conduct technical assessments, feasibility studies, and author knowledge products. Experience in designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder processes and training programs. Strong communication and analytical skills. Fluency in English.

Required languages

English

Desired languages

Portuguese, French