Job Posting: 22 April 2026
Closure Date: 7 May 2026, 12:59 AM
Organizational Unit: SAP
Job Type: Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)
Grade Level: N/A
Primary Location: Various Locations
Duration: 150 days
Post Number: N/A
Important Notice: Please note that the closure date and time displayed above are based on the date and time settings of the applicant’s personal device.
FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture. Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non- and under-represented Members, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold FAO’s values. As a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, FAO has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality. FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to its strategic objectives and operations.
Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) was established in 1996 in Samoa to coordinate FAO’s work in the Pacific. It covers 14 Pacific members and one associate member: Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Tokelau. SAP is responsible for developing, implementing and overseeing programmes and projects addressing food security, nutrition, agriculture, natural resource management and rural development priorities, with gender, climate change adaptation and anticipatory action as key cross-cutting issues. The office is a subsidiary of the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).
The Sustainable Transformation of Domestic Agrifood Systems in Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands (STODAS) project is funded by the European Union for implementation over 2023–2026. It is implemented by FAO in partnership with the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture & Waterways, the Samoa Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Most interventions are delivered through specific agreements with ministries, civil society organizations and research institutions, and are designed to promote a sustainable and resilient transformation of agricultural production and consumption led by local actors and stakeholders.
Within this context, the National Agriculture Specialist will provide national-level subject matter expertise to support the technically effective and timely implementation of the STODAS project in Fiji, Samoa, and/or the Solomon Islands. The specialist will receive guidance from the project’s International Agriculture Expert(s) and the Lead Technical Officer to facilitate productive liaison between FAO and national agriculture ministries on technical aspects of crop and livestock production interventions.
The STODAS project is seeking to fill three National Agriculture Specialist positions, based in Fiji, Samoa and the Solomon Islands, with a focus on:
- Activity 2.1: Enhance domestic crop production, productivity and value addition
- Activity 2.2: Promote enhanced domestic livestock production
Reporting Lines
The Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator (SRC) for the Pacific and will report directly to the Technical Adviser (Agrifood Systems). He or she will also liaise closely with the National Project Coordinator (Agrifood Systems), the STODAS Focal Point within the government agriculture ministry, FAO technical staff, and the wider Project Team.
Technical Focus
Provide national-level technical support to assist in the identification, implementation and monitoring of STODAS agrifood system interventions in Fiji, Samoa, and/or the Solomon Islands. The Specialist will contribute to data collection, analysis, capacity building and stakeholder coordination, ensuring that activities are delivered in line with approved project plans and country strategies.
Tasks and Responsibilities
The National Agriculture Specialist will undertake the following tasks:
- In consultation with the government focal point and technical staff in agriculture ministries, identify community-based production systems and target provinces or divisions in the project countries that can benefit from the project and align with its purpose. This includes assessing vegetable, fruit and crop production systems, poultry and other livestock systems, and their specific needs, gaps, challenges, opportunities, training requirements and market connections.
- Provide this information to support the project team and government in developing detailed concepts for approved interventions so that they align with national agrifood transformation strategies.
- Support the efforts of the National Project Coordinator in identifying local agrifood actors, civil society organizations, farmer groups, associations, processors, traders and potential agribusiness incubatees, and assess their technical capacity to become service providers for project interventions.
- Develop a strong understanding of the STODAS project mission and FAO policies and documentation requirements for Letters of Agreement and procurement, and work closely with the backend team in the Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands to provide the required information efficiently.
- Based on knowledge of technically competent potential service providers, collect information to support liaison between FAO and these organizations so they can register as bidders for competitively advertised country-level interventions and understand the technical proposal submission requirements on the UNGM platform.
- Conduct monitoring and evaluation tasks on activities and on the distribution of FAO-procured goods by service providers, in line with the country-level STODAS workplan and agreed contracts, and provide updates to the National Project Coordinator, the M&E Specialist and the Technical Adviser.
- Support capacity building and provide training to service providers on beneficiary selection criteria and the preparation of quality means of verification for agreed technical outputs, timelines, reports and other deliverables, so that contractual obligations are met and payment delays or contract extensions are avoided.
- Use specialist expertise to conduct training workshops and consultations on specific agrifood system topics as organized by the National Project Coordinator, and support other project activities as needed, including launch events and STODAS National Taskforce meetings.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (including crops, soils, livestock, fisheries or forestry), Agronomy, Horticulture, Veterinary Science, or a related science- or technology-based field.
- At least 5 years of relevant experience in development project implementation, field data collection, agricultural and/or livestock value chain assessment, monitoring and evaluation methods, and results-based project management reporting.
- National or resident of Samoa, Fiji or Solomon Islands.
- Working knowledge of English.
FAO Core Competencies
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
- Proven ability to write reports and analyse data, using relevant software to support STODAS implementation and the preparation of knowledge products and sustainability plans.
- Knowledge of the agrifood system in Fiji, Samoa, and/or the Solomon Islands, and/or other Pacific nations, including relevant innovations and useful new technologies.
- Knowledge and experience in community liaison, development communication and capacity-building methods that are effective in the Pacific context.
- Fluency in at least one national and at least one community-level language used in Pacific countries is an asset.
- Experience working with a broad range of stakeholders, including senior government officials in small and vulnerable states, especially SIDS and LDCs.
- Strong writing skills and language proficiency.
- Work experience in more than one location or area of work.
Additional Information
FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from institutions accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. FAO also seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
How to Apply
- Visit the Jobs at FAO recruitment website and complete your online profile.
- Ensure that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills.
- Attach a letter of motivation to your online profile.
- Once your profile is completed, submit your application.
- Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization for verification of work history, character, education, military and police records where relevant.
- Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Only applications received through the official FAO recruitment portal will be considered.
- Applicants are encouraged to submit the application well before the deadline.
- If support is needed, candidates may create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for assistance.
