National District Extension Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supports the transformation of agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable.
FAO Sierra Leone is implementing the EU-funded Oil Palm Value Chain Improvement Project (GCP/SIL/066/EC) under the broader Sustainable Food and Agricultural Value Chains Development Programme, aligned with the Government’s Feed Salone Strategy and the EU NDICI framework.
The project targets approximately 43,000 farm families across Kenema, Pujehun, Bonthe, and Port Loko, focusing on:
• Dissemination of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
• Rehabilitation of over-aged oil palm plantations
• Strengthening Farmer Field Schools (FFS)
• Post-harvest management and processing
• Formation and strengthening of cooperatives
• Improved nutrition and livelihoods
Implementation is carried out through multiple partners (e.g., SOLIDARIDAD, MOPADA, SLARI, MTHE, MAFS), requiring strong district-level coordination, community engagement, and technical oversight.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will work under the overall oversight of the FAO Representative (FAOR) and the direct supervision of the Agricultural Officer (Oil Palm Value Chains) – Project Lead.
The incumbent will maintain close coordination with:
• District Agriculture Officers (DAOs)
• Implementing Partners (IPs)
• Farmer Field School (FFS) Facilitators
• Technical Working Groups (TWGs)
• Project M&E and Operations teams.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will support field-level implementation, community mobilization, and extension services, ensuring:
• Effective rollout of Farmer Field Schools (FFS).
• Strong community engagement and participation.
• Proper identification and mobilization of beneficiaries.
• Compliance with project SOPs and safeguards.
• Coordination of implementing partners at district level.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Community Mobilization and Engagement

• Identify and mobilize target communities and beneficiaries based on project criteria;
• Facilitate inclusive community consultations ensuring participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups;
• Conduct sensitization campaigns on project objectives and benefits;
• Support participatory rural assessments (PRA) for needs identification.
Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and Capacity Building

• Identify and support establishment of FFS sites in collaboration with IPs and DAOs;
• Supervise and guide FFS facilitators in training delivery;
• Ensure timely implementation of FFS activities and curricula;
• Support formation and strengthening of farmer groups and cooperatives.
Coordination of Implementing Partners

• Facilitate coordination between IPs, DAOs, and communities;
• Monitor partner activities and ensure alignment with project plans;
• Provide regular feedback to the Project Lead on field performance;
• Ensure timely implementation of partner-led activities.

Nursery Establishment and Input Distribution

• Support identification of suitable nursery sites;
• Coordinate establishment of nurseries and seedling distribution;
• Oversee distribution of inputs and ensure proper beneficiary targeting;
• Maintain accurate records of input distribution.

Monitoring, Reporting and Documentation

• Prepare bi-weekly field reports on progress, challenges, and recommendations;
• Maintain updated records of: Beneficiaries; FFS activities and Input distribution;
• Ensure proper documentation (Attendance, minutes, reports, photos);
• Support data collection and validation with the M&E team.

Compliance, Safeguards and SOPs

• Ensure adherence to FAO project SOPs and donor requirements;
• Promote transparency and accountability in field operations;
• Support grievance redress mechanisms and documentation of complaints;
• Ensure all field activities are properly documented and audit-ready.

Dispute Resolution and Stakeholder Engagement

• Work with DAOs and local authorities to ensure land used is dispute-free;
• Support resolution of community-level disputes related to project activities;
• Maintain records of disputes and resolutions;
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement at district level.

Visibility and Communication

• Support awareness and visibility campaigns at community level;
• Ensure project visibility in line with FAO and EU requirements;
• Document success stories and field achievements.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Extension, Rural Development, Social Sciences, or related field
• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in agricultural extension, community mobilization, or tree crop projects
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English
• National of Sierra Leone

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong knowledge of agricultural extension and FFS methodologies.
• Experience in community mobilization and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to coordinate multiple partners at field level.
• Strong reporting and documentation skills.
• Knowledge of results-based management (RBM).
• Ability to work in remote and challenging environments.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Selection Criteria

• Experience with Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and cooperative development
• Experience working at district/community level in Sierra Leone
• Experience with donor-funded or development projects is an asset

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.