Beekeeping Specialist

**CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT***: 2300579

Beekeeping Specialist

Job Posting: 24/Feb/2023

Closure Date: 17/Mar/2023, 5:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit: NSAG

**Job Type**: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant / PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Italy-Rome

Duration: 4 months

Post Number: N/A
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- 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 person 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
- FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, 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

**Organizational Setting**

The Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) promotes and facilitates the sustainable development of the livestock sector, integrating scientific, technical expertise and policy advice. It hosts technical networks in areas of animal genetics, feed and pastoralism, among others. It provides analysis and technical assistance, and facilitates policy dialogue (incl. intergovernmental bodies).
The consultancy is located in the Animal Production and Genetics Branch (NSAG). The Unit generates information and manages knowledge, facilitates the development and implementation of innovative solutions and provides technical expertise to improve productivity, efficiency and resilience of livestock production. The activities of the Unit cover all production systems, from pastoralism to industrial, including crop-livestock integrated systems; and aim to enhance their sustainability.

**Reporting Lines**

Under the direct supervision of the NSAG Animal Production Officer, and in close consultation and collaboration with relevant colleagues in FAO HQ and decentralized offices and partners, the incumbent will support NSAG’s work related to bees and beekeeping.

**Technical Focus**

The contributions of beekeeping and bees is reflected in various areas of work of FAO, and the organization is increasingly engaging in this sector. While bees and other pollinators play a vital role in pollination, increasing agricultural yields, and contributing to biodiversity and other ecosystem services, beekeeping also provides tangible support to the livelihoods of rural communities and indigenous peoples, which leads to a more stable food security framework. By observing World Bee Day (WBD) each year on May 20th, awareness is raised on the essential role bees and other pollinators play in keeping people and the planet healthy, and on the many challenges they face today. FAO has been celebrating this day since 2018.

**Tasks and responsibilities**
- collect information on all ongoing activities related to beekeeping in FAO and prepare/update respective documents.
- liaise with the FAO Procurement Team to review the list of the latest procured beekeeping items and liaise with FAO decentralized offices to gather existing templates of technical specifications for the most procured items and create/update a related database;
- liaise with external experts to collect feedback on regional or national specificities that need to be considered in developing technical specifications for procurement of bees and beekeeping equipment.
- provide technical reviews of project reports related to beekeeping activities and on technical specifications for procurement of bees and beekeeping equipment.
- in close consultation with the WBD task force, support the organization of World Bee Day.
- perform any other duties in agreement with the Animal Production Officer.

**CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING**

**Minimum Requirements**
- Advanced university degree (for Consultants)/ University degree (for PSA) in biology, entomology, agriculture, animal science, veterinary science or a related field.
- Three years of relevant experience in apiculture.
- For Consultants: working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian. For PSAs: working knowledge of English.

**FAO Core Competencies**
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

**Technical/Functional Skills**
- Extent and relevance of experience in apiculture/beekeeping, particularly in low
- and middle-income countries.
- Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation, editing and revision of technical/scientific/project documents related to apiculture;
- Extent and relevan