Field Facilitator

POSITION TITLE	Field Facilitator
POSITION LOCATION	Jamaica
REPORTS TO	Country Coordinator
CONTRACT TERM	2 years
APPLICATION DEADLINE	2nd October, 2023
EXPECTED START DATE	October 2023

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Are you an enthusiastic program facilitator committed to ensuring inclusive and sustainable agricultural markets in the Caribbean function effectively? WUSC is currently looking for a Field Facilitators in Jamaica to facilitate the inclusion of women and youth into sustainable agricultural markets in the Caribbean.

BACKGROUND

World University Service of Canada (registered as WUSC Caribbean in the Caribbean), is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank.

WUSC Caribbean is implementing the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) Project, which promotes climate resilient agriculture for equitable economic growth to increase the economic prosperity of women and youth (female & male) in more sustainable agricultural markets in the Caribbean. The project is a multi-country economic growth project, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and is being implemented in Dominica; Guyana; Jamaica; Saint Lucia; and Suriname.

Women and youth (female & male) are central players in the targeted agricultural market systems so they can restore the dwindling number of farmers in the region, while strengthening more climate resilient domestic agricultural production to enhance food security, and reduce reliance on imported agricultural products, for more sustainable economic growth. Recognizing that adult males are currently dominant actors in market systems, the SAC Project also works with men, so they can become advocates for women and youth fostering the right conditions for equitable participation. The SAC Project engages agricultural markets in each of the target countries, and provides capacity-building support to local organizations.

WUSC Caribbean applies an Inclusive Market Systems (IMS) approach, engaging multiple stakeholders, including established country partners, to create links between key market actors; strengthen their capacity through training, information sharing and outreach; and foster climate resilient approaches (re-orienting agricultural development for sustainability), at every stage and via every market actor in the agricultural value chain. This approach helps to mitigate the impacts of climate change, reduce the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, and fosters climate-resilient agricultural markets that offer increased, sustainable economic benefits for women and youth.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Country Coordinator, with guidance from the Regional Climate Smart Agriculture Specialist and in collaboration with other SAC team members, the Field Facilitator is responsible for supporting the facilitation and engagement with all relevant agricultural market system actors (with particular emphasis on women and youth) as well as facilitating economic growth opportunities in the agricultural product markets systems being supported in-country by WUSC Caribbean. 

The Field Facilitator will be responsible for providing support to the SAC project’s Country Coordinator in the planning, management, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the SAC project’s programing activities linking women and youth to sustainable agricultural market systems using an inclusive market systems approach.  The candidate will work closely with all relevant in-country and regional stakeholders – including producers, agro-processors, local and national government agencies, the private sector and others, to ensure the targets set for the country level Annual Work Plan (AWP) will be achieved fully and on time.

The Field Facilitator will be the lead in the following parishes in Jamaica:  St Anne; Trelawney; St Mary; Manchester; and Clarendon.

• Work closely in support of and with the Gender Equality Officer, Agribusiness & Marketing Officer and the Climate Smart Agriculture Officer and other Field Facilitators in Jamaica in designing, planning and implementing/facilitating related project activities;
• Support the development of AWPs and strategic SAC interventions at the country level;
• Obtain and  aggregate  relevant  personal  and  production  data  at  the  household  level  for producers of the targeted agricultural markets who can potentially be supported through the SAC project and are willing to participate in project activities;
• Assess the constraints affecting production, productivity and product quality for each of the targeted agricultural markets, at the individual and community levels;
• Support WUSC Caribbean to develop and implement specific strategies aimed at addressing the constraints identified.    Such strategies will include,  but  not  be limited  to  the establishment  of  demonstration  plots and pilot projects for the  purpose of  guiding  farmers  in  sustainable agricultural practices involved in the production of the targeted agricultural products;
• Ensure that innovative climate smart, climate resilience and gender sensitive approaches are integrated into targeted agricultural product market systems;
• Assist WUSC Caribbean / SAC to identify specific issues at the producers level, which when satisfied will allow them to effectively and efficiently satisfy market requirements, particularly in the context of product quality and consistency of supply;
• Assist WUSC Caribbean / SAC to deliver training, individual coaching and other forms of support to identified beneficiaries of the Project, particularly women and youth (female and male);
• Assist WUSC Caribbean to monitor beneficiaries’ use of material inputs and other forms of support, as provided by the Project, and to assess the results obtained from the use of such support;
• Support SAC project consultants, volunteers and other key project partners in conducting the necessary field visits;
• Preparation of reports for farming communities, detailing the activities undertaken, findings and recommendations from the community/beneficiary level (particularly women and youth);
• Support the collection and reporting for the SAC database with disaggregated information collected from project stakeholders; and
• Other tasks and duties as may reasonably be assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Social Science, Community Development, Marketing or other relevant field.

Experience & Competencies

• At least three (3)  years of work experience in projects, marketing and/or entrepreneurship; 

• Qualification in agriculture with proven experience in providing agricultural extension services to farmers and experience in agricultural produce marketing an asset;
• Understanding of gender and youth issues related to agricultural production;
• Basic familiarity with relevant government and non-government institutions, international and donor agencies working and supporting agricultural development in the country/region;
• Knowledge and understanding of soil fertility and management and/or water management, post-harvest handling, quality, food safety and phytosanitary issues is an asset;

• General knowledge of agricultural policies and strategies, projects focused on agricultural productivity enhancement in country;
• A team player with good interpersonal and communication skills;
• Good analytical and report-writing skills;
• Highly proficient in use of Microsoft and Google software including Gmail, calendar, drive, spreadsheet, word processing and presentation software;
• Pro-active with ability to take initiative and work in a team environment;
• Adaptable and flexible, with the capacity to find innovative ways to manage issues and challenges using problem solving skills;
• Willingness to learn new technologies;
• High tolerance for uncertainty;
• Persistence;
• Strong cross-cultural skills and cultural sensitivity; and
• A driver’s licence as well as a good knowledge of the country’s regions is a key asset.

Languages

• Complete fluency in English is required; and

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and fast-paced. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility. And we provide a phenomenal learning experience.

WUSC Caribbean offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC Caribbean work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

APPLICATIONS

WUSC Caribbean’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. Successful applicants may be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check where appropriate.

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Suitably qualified persons are invited to submit their cover letter, CV, and the name and contact information of 3 professional references via email to [email protected]. Please use the subject line Field Facilitator for job applications.

While WUSC Caribbean thanks all applicants for their interest, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.

The Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean (SAC) project is implemented by World University Service of Canada (WUSC) with funding support from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC).