Project Officer - agroecology project in Akkar

BACKGROUND

The Project Officer will work under an agroecology project in Akkar. The project seeks to build the individual and collective capacities of smallholder farmers in Akkar to practice agroecology, as a sustainable alternative to cope with current shocks while building ecological and socio-economic resilience. The project adopts a system change approach, involving other actors, including consumers, incoming young farmers, and entrepreneurs, as well as market actors. Through various methodologies including individual and collective capacity building, direct interventions including distributions and establishment of community spaces in collaboration with local stakeholders, various awareness and learning activities and tools, as well as financial and technical support, the project ultimately promotes an alternative food system, that places small producers, women and youth, as well as other vulnerable groups at the core of a paradigm shift.

JOB SUMMARY

The Project Officer will work from the Tripoli office, with daily field visits to project sites in Akkar. S/he will report to the Project Manager.  

The Project Officer is responsible for the implementation of activities at field level, as well as all capacity building activities under the project, namely agroecology trainings and coaching for farmers and incoming farmers (youth). As such, the Project Officer must have a deep and extensive knowledge – both practical and theoretical – of agroecology.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Activity Implementation

• Under the close supervision of the Project Manager, conduct a thorough assessment to identify/select farmers with potential and willingness to shift to agroecology.
• Provide technical, tailored daily support to farmers to shift to agroecology.
• Coordinate distributions of equipment, material and inputs to farmers.
• Under the close supervision of the Project Manager, identify a plot suitable for the establishment of a community agroecology demonstration plot and lead on its establishment and operations.
• Under the close supervision of the Project Manager, identify a plot suitable for the establishment of a community nursery and lead on its establishment and distributions of seedlings to farmers.
• Support the Project Manager to establish an agroecology peer-support network of farmers and lead on tis logistics (meetings, events, gatherings, etc.).
• Support the Project Manager to conduct price setting committees and lead on tis logistics (meetings, events, gatherings, etc.).
• Under the close supervision of the Project Manager, launch an agroecological weekly farmers’ market.
• Support the Project Manager to conduct awareness campaigns on agroecology (regional and national).
• Conduct awareness sessions on agroecology to students and public servants.
• Participate in the development of an agroecology curriculum for incoming farmers (youth).
• Train incoming farmers on agroecology (comprehensive trainings; 50 beneficiaries; 10 cycles)

Other Tasks

• Prepare weekly reports on field implementation, challenges, progress, lessons learned, etc. to the Project Manager.
• Ensure proper filing and archiving of all project documents.
• Attend project meetings and participate actively.
• Collect success stories from the field and ensure project visibility (Mada’s and the donor’s).

QUALIFICATIONS

• University Degree in Agriculture Engineering is required.
• 3 years working in NGOs under agricultural projects
• Ability to work with a broad spectrum of people, both staff and stakeholders/beneficiaries
• English and Arabic required
• Ability to cope with stressful situations and tight deadlines
• Ability to be present on field on a regular basis
• Knowledge of Akkar and farming communities is mandatory