Announcement Description
Fauna & Flora International (FFI), founded in 1903, is the world’s longest-established international conservation organization. With its head office in Cambridge, UK, today FFI is active in over 40 countries worldwide, and has been operating in Cambodia since 1996. Our vision is to create sustainable future for the planet where biodiversity is conserved by the people living closest to it. We aim to do this through the conservation of threatened species and ecosystems worldwide, choosing solutions that are sustainable, based on sound science and take account of human need. The FFI Cambodia Programme is recruiting for a skilled and committed to deliver efficient and effective administrative and human resource management of FFI’s offices and operations in Cambodia, in compliance with internal policies and procedures and relevant legislation and statutory and regulatory frameworks.
Department overview:
The goal of the Integrated Conservation and Livelihoods Project (ICLP) is for local populations in the Cardamom Mountain Landscape to sustainably manage and protect their environment while be food and income-secure. FFI recognises that conservation is a social process whereby the livelihoods and wellbeing of local communities are interdependent with their relationship and use of the surrounding environment. This project therefore seeks to address the multi-dimensional poverty and food insecurity suffered by the local indigenous and marginalised populations, while supporting them to protect their biodiversity and reduce drivers for illegal forest activities.
The ICLP works closely with the FFI Cambodia Flagship Species in order to fulfil four keyobjectives; To strengthen the food security for forest communities through no-forest dependent means; To strengthen the income security for forest communities through non-forest dependent means; To support forest communities to protect and conserve important biodiversity including the Critically Endangered Siamese Crocodile and Endangered Asian Elephants and their habitats; and To strengthen the environmental literacy and understanding of biodiversity conservation for communities in the Cardamom Mountain Landscape.
Working through a market systems development approach, the ICLP will focus on improving the local production and surrounding market system of rice, chickens and essential oils. Core project activities will include identification and training of village level advisors to drive project activities, technical production trainings, individual technical coaching, enterprise development, market system strengthening facilitation including key market actor connection meetings and value chain strengthening.
Sustainability is a core element of ICLP and is promoted via several streams. All activities focus on incorporating and enhancing local knowledge that will stay in the community, while promoting horizontal farmer-to-farmer learning. By taking a market base approach, the transition of knowledge is incentivised by profit, and by strengthening key market actors and systems for priority products, allows both the knowledge and inputs needed for improved agriculture to continue after the life of the project.
The on-going species-specific conservation activities are part off a long-term approach with additional income being secured to allow for continued support into the future. Our project focused on capacity building and collaboration with government stakeholders has ensured that species conservation is a primary concern for government and will continue to be so, particularly with regard to the recovery of flagship species such as the Siamese crocodile and Asian elephant.
Announcement Position
Agronomist
Agriculture, Rural development, Monitoring & Evaluation, Resources & Environment
- Location: Koh Kong, Travel to Provinces
- Schedule: Full-time
- Salary: $777 – $856
- Contract duration: 1 year
- Direct Line Manager: Project Manager, Integrated Conservation and Livelihoods Project
- Starting date: May 1st 2019
Duties
- Project Implementation:
- Rice production
- Lead on improving the rice production capability of local community members;
- Develop high impact methodology for increasing rice yields for poor farmers in target communities
- Set up, implement and support farmer field schools to improve for the technical ability of local communities;
- Identify, train and support local village rice advisors to conduct trainings, promote best practice, coordinate meetings;
- Conduct technical analysis on rice production techniques;
- Expand the seed purification activities to improve local access to pure strain locally adapted seeds;
- Promote agro-ecological principles related to rice production;
- Identify resource needs (equipment, learning resources, etc.) required to achieve project objectives and coordinate procurement with the Project Coordinator and the Project Leader’s approval.
- Market system development
- Support the development of local level enterprises to increase community level access to organic inputs to enhance rice yields;
- Working with local level seed purifiers, support enterprise development to increase community level access to high quality pure local seeds to enhance rice yields;
- Connect key market actors to ensure the enterprise and community have consistent access to high quality trusted agricultural inputs.
- General agronomy and agricultural development
- Support other project activities which may require agronomy expertise including essential oils production, horticulture, and poultry production.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Conduct M&E on all aspects of rice production activities;
- Incl. data collection, report writing, rice production analysis, rice yield analysis and any other activities required by the project.
- Biodiversity conservation
- Work with communities to protect biodiversity conservation;
- Be a champion of biodiversity conservation and promote FFI’s values.
- Project Team support
- Support and assist the ICLP team in ad-hoc activities as and when needed;
- Support FFI Flagship Species team when needed to work with the communities.
- Finance and administration
- Identify budget gaps, ensure correct financial procedures are
- Rice production
- Technical Input
- Prepare reports on rice production analysis;
- Develop and implement a robust farmer field school methodology.
- Reporting responsibilities
- Monthly reporting in addition to ad hoc reporting as and when required;
- Working with the Finance an Administration manager and Project Coordinator to help ensure that donor and FFI requirements for the management of and reporting on the use of funds are met, project expenditures are properly tracked, and that correct financial and administrative procedures are adhered to.
Requirements
- Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in agronomy, rural development, natural resource management, agriculture, food security or a related field – Master’s degree preferred.
- Fluent in Khmer and strong written and spoken English.
- Able to drive a motorbike in difficult terrain for long period of time to access rural communities in Koh Kong.
- Essential
- 5+ years’ experience in implementing agriculture projects including rice production.
- Technical skills and experience in; Rice production including SRI, GAP, seed purification and agro-ecological principles, enterprise development and value chain strengthening. Experience in chicken production and horticulture is an asset.
- Experience working in isolated and hard to reach communities work extended period of travel by motorbike.
- Behavioural qualifies
- Commitment to FFI’s mission and vision.
- Commitment to organizational and legal compliance.
- Output-driven
- Rigorous and diligent approach to work.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Team player, demonstrating ability to seek out and harness the views and contributions of others.
- Ability to build positive personal and organizational relationships.
- Ability to work within a multi-cultural environment
- Able to work flexible hours and travel on extended trips to remote, isolated and rural locations with basic conditions.
Application Information
Interested candidate please submit CV & Cover Letter by using the contact detail. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Please mention title on the subject of mail and on the application. For the email address: [email protected], Interviews week of April 8th.
Fauna-Flora International is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or other non-merit factors.
Note: Target communities are located in isolated hard to reach areas, PC must be comfortable traveling for long periods of time by motorbike, car and boat and staying in basic conditions.