Agricultural Engineer(Conservation) reports to the UNOPS Project Management Advisor. Agricultural Engineer(Conservation) is responsible to ensure that the project introduced agricultural development technologies are environmentally acceptable harmony with the project locations and indigenous experiences of the local population while achieving the food security of the target beneficiaries. Agricultural Engineer(Conservation) will lead in introduction and extension of the Conservation Agriculture along with Climate Smart Agriculture and Good Agricultural Practices.
The details of the duties and responsibilities are;
The duties and responsibilities of the Agricultural Engineer (Conservation) but not limited to are;
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Identify the Agricultural technologies
Contractor will provide analystical support in in identifying the Agricultural technologies (Crops, Practices) to be recommended for the project farmers of both upland and lowland for sustainable agricultural production in harmony with environment (CSA, GAP, SALT) based on the results of conducting Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) and SWOT (to understand the status of the agriculture production capacity constraints and indigenous experience), Myanmar Climate Smart Agricultural Strategy (2015), Myanmar Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) 2017 and relevant technologies and best practices recommended by (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) CGIARs such as World Agroforestry (ICRAF), International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Bioversity International (BioVERSITY), etc. and Prominent international financial institutions (IFIs) such as IFAD, WB, ADB. The consultant will study the value chain study reports and other relevant reports produced by the organizations and projects active in the ESAP project areas and the National Policies such as Poverty Alleviation & Rural Development Action Plan (PARDAP) (2011), Myanmar's National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) to climate change (Dec, 2012), Myanmar Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (MCCSAP) 2016-2030.
The contractor will apply the precision agricultural technologies as much as possible to address the location specific agricultural technologies for different agro-ecological zones of the project areas. Consultation with the Department of Agriculture (DOA Department of Agricultural Research (DAR) is required to finalize the identified agricultural technologies.
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Produce technical protocol for trial and demonstration
Agricultural Engineer will provide basic support in in producing the technical protocols and implementation plan of the Trial and demonstrations of the identified agricultural technologies. The KC managers, Village Agricultural Agents, Agricultural Extension Service Provider will participate in drawing the implementation plan.
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Land use planning
Agricultural Engineer will seek the collaboration of Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistics (DALMS) and Participatory Land use Planning Team (PLUP) in producing land use planning in accordance with the identified crops and agricultural technologies.
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Annual work plan and budget plan
Agricultural Engineer jointly with Agricultural Extension Service Provider, KC mangers, Township Project Implementation Specialists will produce the budget plan for Trial and Demonstration and the capacity building plan implementation which are part of the Project Annual Work Plan and Budget Plan.
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Implementation of the Trial and Demonstration
Trial and demonstration will be implemented by the Agricultural Extension Service Provider at the grass root level through KC Managers and the Village Agricultural Agents. CAS will have regular monitoring and technical backstopping.
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Replication and Extension of the approved Technologies/agricultural Practices
Agricultural Engineer will plan the extension and replication of the approved Technologies/agricultural Practices by consultation with the KC Managers, Local authorities and the Rural finance entities for access to the investment/capital.
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FPIC and PRA
Agricultural Engineer will make sure that all planning and plan implementation will have sufficient public/stakeholder consultation through applying Free Prior Inform and Consent (FPIC) approach and PRA Tools as almost entire beneficiaries of the project belong to the indigenous ethnic groups.
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Training need assessment capacity building planning Training and study tour workshop
The Agricultural Engineer will provide support related to the training need assessment for the field staffs and the village agricultural extension agents in the Conservation Agriculture, GAP, SALT, CSA subjects and plan for capacity building. CAS he himself will be the training resource person in GAP, SALT and CSA. CSA will also identify the training resources and establish contacts, plan the training and study tours for capacity building.
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Cooperating Agencies/ Coordination
The Agricultural Engineer will actively cooperate and coordinate with the related organizations and projects in Conservation Agriculture, GAP, SALT and CSA such as Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistic DALMS, Department of Rural Development DRD, Department of Agriculture DOA, Agricultural Mechanization Department (AMD), Agricultural Stations, Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), Local authorities/Administration) in addressing the project impacts.
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Reporting
The Agricultural Engineer will produce the inception report in the initial month of the assignment and followed by monthly progress report, quarterly progress report and other reports data and information as required by the Project Management.
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Other
Other duties as required by the Project Management
Scope
Agricultural Engineer will mainly focus the watershed areas (Upland Watershed areas) of the irrigation schemes.
The Project activities are located in total Eight townships (four in Kayin State and four in Shan State), Hopong, Hsihseng, Kyawktalonegyi, Taunggyi townships of southern Shan state and Pha-an, Hlaing Bwe, Kawkareik, Thandaunggyi for Kayin State. Project is investing in the renovation of six irrigation schemes in Shan state with total command areas of 25,000 acres. In Kayin state project is investing in improving of the pump irrigation schemes, solar pump and excavation of the drainages and construction of the sluice gates covering the command areas of total 30,000 acres. Project is also providing the community facilities to the upland farmers who are adopting project introduced conservation agricultural practices. The community facilities are Access roads, Rural Water supply schemes, Mini hydro powers, Tube wells, Solar pumps and Harnessed streams.
Project plan to establish 43 Agricultural Knowledge Centers (KCs) for dissemination of the agriculture technologies, to accommodate farmer meetings, workshops and training.
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The Agricultural Engineer will coordinate and collaborate with Irrigation and Water Utilization Management Department (IWUMD) Investigation Branch, Department of Agriculture (DOA), Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), Department of Rural Development (DRD), Department of Agricultural Land Management and Statistic (DALMS), Agricultural Stations, Department of Agricultural Research (DAR), Local authorities/Administration) to perform duties and responsibilities assigned to her/him efficiently.
Procedures:
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Study the project documents, meeting with the project authorities, project assigned specialists and consultants.
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Form the team for RRA and SWOT. Identify the study areas, conduct the study.
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Analyse the results jointly with Value chain specialist, DOA, DAR and identify the technologies for trial and demonstration.
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Produce the technical protocols for trial and demonstrations.
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Train the field staffs the technical protocols for trial and demonstration.
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The Agricultural extension service provider, KCs and Local authorities assist in implementing the trial and demonstration.
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Provide support in producing the report on the trial and demonstration findings jointly with DOA and DAR.
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Provide support in producing the plan for Extension Plan for approved conservation agricultural technologies.
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Conduct the training need assessment in GAP, SALT, CSA.
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Produce the capacity building plan for Conservation Agriculture (Training, Study tour plans)
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Produce the training materials and conduct the training on GAP, SALT, CSA for the local staffs.
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Procure the assignment completion report.
Knowledge Management:
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Actively interact with other Project personals and groups to share case studies, lessons learned and best practice on the Knowledge Management System.
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Provide feedback to Practice Leads on policy, supporting guidance with an aim towards continuous improvement of UNOPS policies
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Complete lessons learned as per reporting format
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Consultant applies the UNPOS communication system tools efficiently for efficient information flows.
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Data and information, Reports Produced are stored in online storage provided by UNOPS and shared with other relevant sectors and officials within UNOPS.
Type of Assignment and Duration
Core Values and Principles:
Look for ways to embed UNOPS sustainability principles.
Seek opportunities to champion gender equality at work place.
Understand the principles of the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness and mainstream them into the project plans
Look for ways to build capacity of local counterparts
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Excellence
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Contribute to innovation and the adaptation of best practice standards of sustainability and quality.
Expected Results
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Inception Report (in the first initial month of assignment)
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Report RRA and SWOT study on the Conservation Agriculture GAP, SALT, and CSA.
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Trail and Demonstration Plan for Conservation Agriculture, GAP, SALT, CSA (Including the technical protocol)
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Report the Results of the Trial and Demonstrations.
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Extension plan for the Conservation Agriculture, GAP, SALT, CSA.
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Capacity Building Plan for GAP, SALT, CSA
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Completion Report (Within one month after the completion of the assignment)