Technical Project Assistant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Iraq leads the development and implementation of programmes addressing food security, agriculture, and rural development. The office collaborates closely with national and local authorities.

The position is based in Basra and supports field-level implementation of agricultural activities, particularly related to date palm production systems and farmer support.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Project Assistant will work under the direct supervision of FAO representative in Iraq and in close coordination with FAO technical teams.

Technical Focus

Support implementation of agricultural activities including crop management, integrated pest management (IPM), post-harvest practices, farmer field schools (FFS), and project data management, with a focus on date palm and related value chains.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the technical team in meetings, workshops, and conferences
• Assist in crop management and application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in farmers’ orchards
• Support crop protection and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) activities
• Assist in post-harvest treatments, processing, and marketing activities
• Contribute to the preparation of technical documents and training materials
• Organize logistical arrangements for trainings, events, and field visits
• Handle travel arrangements for project teams and counterparts
• Maintain and organize office files, records, and documentation
• Liaise with Farmer Field School (FFS) facilitators and support field implementation
• Collect, organize, and monitor field data
• Consolidate reports from FFS facilitators and Survey123 platform
• Analyze field data and prepare assessment reports
• Maintain records of equipment distribution and warehouse inventories
• Support preparation of communication materials
• Prepare periodic activity reports

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Protection, or related field
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in agricultural field projects
• Working knowledge of Arabic
• National of Iraq

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in crop management, IPM, and GAP practices
• Experience in supporting Farmer Field Schools (FFS) or similar agricultural extension activities
• Experience in data collection, analysis, and reporting (e.g., Survey123 or similar tools)
• Familiarity with logistics coordination and field operations
• Knowledge of post-harvest handling and agricultural value chains is an asset

Selection Criteria

• Resident of Basra Governorate or willing to be based full-time in Basra
• Working knowledge of English is desirable

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.