Information on vacancy |
Period of publication |
11.03.2025 - 25.03.2025 |
Field of activity / position: |
Agriculture, irrigation / Master |
Duties |
This position holder will be based in and work for Ministry of Agriculture of Republic of Uzbekistan
Background The Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration (FOLUR) Impact Program aims to promote sustainable food production and responsible commodity value chains at a global scale. Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), this program operates across 27 countries, including Uzbekistan. The program focuses on integrated landscape management (ILM), sustainable agricultural practices, and restoring natural habitats to improve ecosystem services and contribute to climate resilience. In Uzbekistan, the FOLUR project is centered around improving wheat production systems, fostering crop diversification, and restoring degraded lands. With a strong emphasis on community-driven approaches, the project seeks to enhance the livelihoods of farmers, improve food security, and support national efforts to meet global climate and sustainability goals. Through the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, the project promotes sustainable wheat value chains, ecosystem restoration, and the empowerment of rural communities, especially women and youth. The initiative is also aligned with Uzbekistan's national strategies to promote sustainable agriculture, reduce land degradation, and combat climate change. In this project, Component 2 of the FOLUR Impact Program in Uzbekistan focuses on promoting sustainable food production practices across wheat-based landscapes and developing responsible commodity value chains. The goal is to demonstrate sustainable agricultural practices on 300,000 hectares of both irrigated and rain-fed lands. This component is designed to address the environmental and productivity challenges faced by Uzbekistan's wheat sector, which is a critical commodity for the country's food security and rural livelihoods. Component 2 aims to improve the productivity and sustainability of wheat production through climate-smart agriculture, conservation practices, and crop diversification. Objectives The Wheat Value Chain Expert plays a critical role in enhancing the productivity, sustainability, and profitability of wheat production systems within the FOLUR project framework. This expert focuses on optimizing every stage of the wheat value chain, from production to marketing, ensuring that practices are sustainable and align with broader agricultural goals. Scope of Work Value Chain Analysis and Strategy Development: • Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the wheat value chain to identify challenges, bottlenecks, and potential areas for improvement. • Develop strategic plans that promote sustainable practices within the wheat production and supply chain, aligning with project goals for environmental conservation and economic growth. Market Development and Access: • Identify and establish new market opportunities for sustainably produced wheat, including potential international and domestic buyers. • Work with local cooperatives and farmer organizations to enhance their market access and develop brand value for sustainable wheat products. Capacity Building and Training: • Design and implement training programs for farmers and producer organizations on sustainable wheat cultivation practices, crop diversification, and post-harvest management. • Promote knowledge sharing among stakeholders, facilitating workshops and field demonstrations to encourage the adoption of best practices. . Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: • Partner with Conservation Agriculture and GIS experts to integrate sustainable practices and data-driven approaches into the wheat value chain. • Collaborate with National Policy Experts to advocate for policies that support the adoption of sustainable practices within the wheat sector.
• Organize and deliver training workshops for wheat producers, processors, and value chain actors on climate-smart farming practices, post-harvest management, and market integration. • Provide technical assistance to national extension services, ensuring they have the knowledge and tools to support farmers in adopting sustainable wheat production practices. • Facilitate knowledge exchange between Uzbekistan's wheat sector and international research institutions, ensuring the adoption of the latest innovations in wheat production. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Knowledge Sharing • Develop a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework to track the impact of wheat production improvements and value chain development efforts. • Produce knowledge products, such as policy briefs, reports, and case studies, that document Uzbekistan's progress in wheat production and value chain development. • Ensure that lessons learned from Uzbekistan's wheat value chain projects are shared with international stakeholders, promoting cross-border collaboration and market integration. Collaboration with other Experts within the FOLUR Project • Collaborates with National Wheat VC Expert. • Collaborates with National and International Consultants for workshops and FFS. • Collaborates with ILM Planning Experts for integrating sustainable agricultural practices into land-use planning. • Collaborates with Knowledge Management Expert (Communications/Advocacy) for document and promote project results, to gather data, case studies, and outputs from different components for communication and advocacy purposes. Expected Outputs and Responsibilities
Component 1: Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) for Sustainable Wheat Systems Output 1.1: Development of climate-resilient wheat production practices integrated into Uzbekistan's ILM plans. Output 1.2: Strengthening of local capacities to implement conservation agriculture practices within wheat farming systems. Output 1.2.4: Develop and validate the economic rationale for scaling up sustainable wheat production landscapes and Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) practices, ensuring these approaches are adopted by the Inter-Ministerial Task Force (IMTF). This involves setting up and approving economic indicators, gathering initial project data, and establishing models that highlight the financial and ecosystem benefits of FOLUR principles at district and regional levels. Output 1.3: Collaboration with international research organizations to introduce innovations in wheat farming, such as precision agriculture and sustainable inputs. Responsibilities Provide expertise on sustainable wheat production practices, focusing on integrating environmental sustainability into ILM. Facilitate the introduction of modern technologies and practices in Uzbekistan's wheat production systems. Development of Economic Models and ROI Analysis: Build economic models that highlight potential returns on investment (ROI) for ILM and sustainable wheat production, showcasing the financial and environmental benefits at both district and regional levels. Draft investment cases for sustainable practices, using project data to validate the models and ensure they reflect real-world economic and ecosystem benefits. Publishing and Dissemination of Findings: Prepare reports, case studies, and promotional materials to communicate the financial and environmental value of ILM practices and sustainable wheat production. Share investment models and economic case studies with regional and global partners, with an emphasis on ensuring equitable access to resources and markets for all, particularly addressing gender inclusivity and social equity.
Stakeholder Engagement and Training: Engage with local stakeholders, farmers, and regional partners to build awareness of the economic benefits of sustainable practices, promoting wider adoption. Conduct training sessions and workshops on interpreting economic data, understanding ROI models, and utilizing the published economic case studies for decision-making and advocacy. Component 2: Promotion of Sustainable Food Production and Responsible Commodity Value Chains Output 2.1: Strengthening of wheat value chains, ensuring sustainable market access and value addition. Output 2.2: Development of policy recommendations to promote private sector investment and improve market linkages within the wheat value chain. Output 2.3: Facilitate partnerships between smallholder wheat farmers and market actors, promoting inclusive value chain development. Responsibilities: Provide technical support to design and implement sustainable wheat value chains, linking farmers to local, regional, and international markets. Develop strategies for improving wheat quality and enhancing value addition across the wheat value chain Component 3: Conservation and Restoration of Wheat Production Landscapes Output 3.1: Support for the conservation of soil and water resources in wheat farming areas through sustainable agricultural practices. Output 3.2: Integration of wheat production systems with biodiversity conservation goals, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources. Output 3.3: Promotion of ecosystem-based approaches in wheat production to enhance productivity and environmental sustainability. Responsibilities: Lead efforts to integrate conservation agriculture practices in wheat farming, ensuring soil health and water efficiency. Collaborate with stakeholders on ecosystem-based approaches to enhance the sustainability of wheat production systems.
Component 4: Knowledge Management, Monitoring, and Evaluation Output 4.1: Development of knowledge products that capture Uzbekistan's progress in wheat production and value chain development. Output 4.2: Facilitation of knowledge sharing with international partners, promoting cross-border collaboration on sustainable wheat farming and value chain development. Output 4.3: Design and implementation of an M&E framework to track wheat production and value chain performance, ensuring data-driven decision-making. Responsibilities: Produce knowledge products reflecting global best practices in wheat production policy reform and share them with international partners. Ensure that Uzbekistan's wheat-related policies are monitored and evaluated using internationally recognized frameworks.
Deliverables
Wheat Production Best Practices Report - A comprehensive report outlining the best practices for sustainable wheat production, climate resilience, and soil and water management, based on global standards.
Wheat Value Chain Strategy Document - A strategy document detailing actionable steps for strengthening Uzbekistan's wheat value chain, improving market integration, and enhancing value addition.
Policy Briefs - At least two policy briefs focusing on wheat production and value chain improvements, including recommendations for attracting private sector investment and promoting market access.
Capacity Building Reports - Reports on capacity-building initiatives, including training workshops, technical assistance, and knowledge exchange programs for wheat farmers and value chain actors.
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Reports - Periodic reports that track the progress of wheat production systems and value chain development, including environmental, social, and economic indicators.
Final Report - A final synthesis report summarizing the achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for future improvements in wheat production and value chain development.
Timeline: The consultancy services shall be provided within 100 days from the Effective Date of the Consultancy Agreement, with a total engagement of up to 100 working days during the project's 3-year duration. |
Requirements to the candidate |
Age: |
Irrelevant |
Gender: |
Irrelevant |
Residence: |
Uzbekistan |
Education: |
Higher |
Professional requirements |
Minimum requirements Qualifications and Experience The ideal International Wheat International Wheat Production and Value Chain (VC) Expert should possess the following qualifications: • Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Agronomy, Crop Science, Agricultural Economics, or a related field with a specialization in wheat production or value chain development. • At least 10-15 years of professional experience in international wheat production systems and value chain development, with a focus on sustainable agriculture and market integration. • Proven experience working with international organizations (such as FAO or other UN agencies) on wheat production, value chain improvements, and market access. • Strong understanding of wheat value chains, including market-based solutions, private sector engagement, and trade facilitation. • Experience in climate-smart agriculture, conservation agriculture, and precision farming techniques in wheat production systems. • Experience working in Central Asia, especially Uzbekistan, is highly desirable, with an understanding of the local agricultural, policy, and socio-economic context. • Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and data analysis software. • Fluency in English is required (knowledge of Russian is a plus). Competencies: • Expertise in sustainable wheat production practices and climate-smart farming techniques. • Proven ability to design and strengthen wheat value chains, ensuring market access and value addition. • Strong communication skills and experience working with diverse stakeholders, including government, private sector, and smallholder farmers. • Ability to manage multi-stakeholder projects and ensure timely delivery of results.
Location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Site visits: Project locations Karakalpakstan, Khorezm and Kashkadarya |
Working conditions |
Region |
Tashkent |
Employment |
Full |
Salary offered |
TBD |
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Personal account |
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