Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Production And Protection)
AI summary
FAO is recruiting a Senior Agricultural Officer specializing in Plant Production and Protection to lead regional programs in Africa from Accra, Ghana. The role involves providing technical policy expertise, managing multidisciplinary teams, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices to enhance food security. This is a P-5 internationally recruited position requiring advanced qualifications and significant experience in agronomy and plant science.
- P-5 International Professional level position with FAO
- Based in Accra, Ghana with regional Africa focus
- Lead technical policy work on plant production and protection
- Manage multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder engagement
- Application deadline: October 20, 2026
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- Required10+ years of relevant experienceThe job post includes a minimum experience signal.
- RequiredEducation or certification mentioned in the postThe captured text mentions education, a diploma, certificate, or licence.
- PreferredPractical evidence in security, internship, entregadorThe tags and summary point to skills connected with this role.
- RequiredAvailability to work in AccraThe vacancy is associated with this location.
- UnclearComfort with the International contract termsConfirm hours, duration, probation and benefits at the original source.
Documents to prepare
- Likely requiredUpdated CV
- Role specificCover letter or short employer message
- OptionalProfessional references
- Role specificAcademic or professional certificates
- VerifyID or passport only after verifying the employer
Application tips for this job
- Place your strongest Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Production And Protection) evidence in the first half of your CV.
- In your cover letter or employer message, connect your experience to FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the role in Accra.
- Add concrete examples related to security, internship, entregador, ideally with measurable outcomes or clear responsibilities.
- Follow the instructions from Impactpool Ghana; avoid sending documents to unofficial contacts or copied links.
- Confirm the deadline, interview location and employer contact before sharing personal documents.
- Plan to submit before the listed deadline: 2026-10-20.
Source and safety check
- Impactpool Ghana
- Original source link available
- Application method is clear
- Deadline is available: 2026-10-20
- No major risk signal was detected in the captured text.
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Interview preparation
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Original source description
Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Production And Protection)
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Accra
International
P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position level
Speaks Chinese, Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish
Application deadline: October 20, 2026 (21 days)
Apply
Summary by Impactpool
The FAO is seeking a Senior Agricultural Officer specializing in Plant Production and Protection to lead and implement regional programs in Africa. This role involves providing technical policy expertise, managing multidisciplinary teams, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The officer will work closely with various stakeholders to enhance food security and agricultural development in the region. The position is based in Accra, Ghana, and requires a strong background in agronomy and plant science.
Candidate Requirements:
Advanced University degree in agronomy or related field
Ten years of relevant experience in plant genetic resources
Working knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of another FAO language
Experience in planning and implementing plant protection programs
Proven ability to mobilize resources
Experience in organizing international meetings and training courses
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
• 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
• 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
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.
FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for
better production
,
better nutrition
,
a better environment,
and
a better life
, leaving no one behind.
Organizational Setting
The FAO Regional Office for Africa, (RAF), leads the implementation of FAO Strategic Framework and the Regional Priorities in Africa. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and - in collaboration with sub-regional offices, and divisions at Headquarters - develops, promotes, and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities.
The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.
The position is located in the FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.
Reporting Lines
The Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Production And Protection)
reports to the Deputy Regional Representative, RAF and works in close functional contact with the technical divisions
/offices and centres
at FAO headquarters, especially the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP), subregional offices, and country office teams.
Technical Focus
·
Sustainable cropping systems, which encompass seed systems from the conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, through plant breeding to seed delivery.
·
Agronomics including the optimal use of natural resources and external inputs, irrigation, land preparation and sundry cultural practices;
·
Plant health, with emphasis on integrated pest management (IPM) that incorporates host plant resistance and biopesticides while minimizing risks from chemical plant protection products;
·
Innovations along crop value chains, such as sustainable agricultural mechanization, biotechnologies, protected cultivation, drones, sensors, and digitalization.
Key Results
Leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of Regional Programmes of work, projects, products and' services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and in alignment with the Organization's Gender Policy.
Key Functions
·
Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates, and/or participates in regional committees, project teams and working groups, and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and standard setting bodies.
·
Analyses global and country specific requirements and relevant technical issues to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
·
Implements and monitors programmes of work involving the development of the approach, evidence-based strategies and related tools, methodologies and the supporting system/database, monitoring and reporting frameworks.
·
Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis' activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
·
Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Decentralized Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.
·
Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning and on-line tools.
·
Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.
·
Leads and/or participates in resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Corporate Strategy.
Specific Functions
·
Leads the development of interventions in RAF region that use modern crop production and protection systems to address Members' development needs relating, in particular, to climate change adaptation and mitigation; nutrition outcomes; and overall input use-efficiency.
·
Promotes the use of modern agriculture technologies e.g. drones, remote sensors, artificial intelligence, digitalization, information technology, etc. that are context-sensitive to enhance the productivity and resilience of cropping systems while promoting sustainable agricultural mechanization; and efficient soil fertility and moisture management.
·
Provides regional leadership, technical oversight, and resource mobilization for the incorporation of sustainable crop production systems encompassing seed systems; agronomics and plant health into FAO flagship initiatives and strategies, such as the One Country One Priority Product (i.e. OCOP); the Hand-in-Hand Initiative; and Digital Village.
·
Leads RAF's efforts to strengthen capacities, partnerships, networks, and knowledge platforms both within and outside the Organization, to develop solutions, and foster innovation and collaboration across the region in all domains of sustainable crop production systems, including the harmonization of seed policies and regulations, the management of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA), phytosanitary frameworks, pest surveillance systems, and pesticide risk reduction measures.
·
Strengthens institutional and human capacities to enable the active participation of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in relevant FAO's governance and normative mechanisms, especially the Committee on Agriculture; International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; International Plant Protection Convention; and the Rotterdam Convention and other externally-led processes, for instance the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
·
Supports country level actions guided by FAO Country Programming Frameworks and contributes to enhanced South-South and Triangular Cooperation, promoting the uptake of evidence-based, and innovation-driven solutions, including through digitalization, for sustainable plant production and protection systems that
produce more with less
by safeguarding natural resources base and reducing the environmental footprints of cropping systems.
·
Leads the incorporation of context-appropriate innovations, such as agricultural biotechnologies, sustainable agricultural mechanization, protected cultivation, drones, sensors, and digitalization to enhance the productivity of cropping systems and the quality and safety of their produce.
·
Collects, reviews and analyses relevant information and data on agrifood/agribusiness innovation and digital agriculture especially by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and their contribution to sustainable agrifood system transformation and the realization of FAO's Regional Programmes.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
·
Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agronomy, plant science with specialization in seed science/technology, crop improvement or related field.
·
Ten years of relevant experience with public or private sector institutions, international organizations with an emphasis on seeds and plant genetic resources including related policies including in developing countries.
·
Working knowledge (proficiency- level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
Knowledge and Skills
- •
- Results Focus
- •
- Leading, Engaging and Empowering
- •
- Communication
- •
- Partnering and Advocating
- •
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
- •
- Strategic Thinking
- Technical/Functional Skills
- •
- Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
- •
- Demonstrated skills in the analysis of technical issues for policy development, as well as to provide advice at local, national, and regional level, including experience on main crops and/or cropping systems of the Africa region.
- •
- Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of programmes related to plant protection in development organizations.
- •
- Proven ability to mobilize resources.
- •
- Extent and relevance of experience in organizing international meetings, seminars and training courses.
- •
- Extent and relevance of knowledge in the implementation of international instruments related to plant protection.
- •
- Extent and relevance of knowledge and understanding of the work of international organizations and national governments.
- •
- Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency- level B) of French is considered an asset.
- _________________________________________________________________
- FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
- _________________________________________________________________
- GENERAL INFORMATION
- Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
- FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
- Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
- CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
- A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link:
- https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp
- Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
- • Dependency allowances
- • Rental subsidy
- • Education grant for children
- • Home leave travel
- • 30 working days of annual leave per year
- • Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
- • International health insurance; optional life insurance
- • Disability protection
- FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
- • elements of family-friendly policies
- • flexible working arrangements
- • standards of conduct.
- _________________________________________________________________________________________________
- ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
- HOW TO APPLY
- • To apply, visit the recruitment website at
- Jobs at FAO
- and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
- • Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
- • Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
- • Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at
- http://www.whed.net/
- .
- These qualifications should be in alignment with the
- International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) mappings
- .
- • Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
- • Incomplete applications will not be considered
- • Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
- • Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
- • Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
- • We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
- If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance:
- https://fao.service-now.com/csp
- FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT
- At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
- Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.
- Summary by Impactpool
- The FAO is seeking a Senior Agricultural Officer specializing in Plant Production and Protection to lead and implement regional programs in Africa. This role involves providing technical policy expertise, managing multidisciplinary teams, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The officer will work closely with various stakeholders to enhance food security and agricultural development in the region. The position is based in Accra, Ghana, and requires a strong background in agronomy and plant science.
- Candidate Requirements:
- Advanced University degree in agronomy or related field
- Ten years of relevant experience in plant genetic resources
- Working knowledge of English and intermediate knowledge of another FAO language
- Experience in planning and implementing plant protection programs
- Proven ability to mobilize resources
- Experience in organizing international meetings and training courses
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- Connect with organization
- Senior Agricultural Officer (Plant Production And Protection)
- FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
- Accra
- International
- P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position level
- Speaks Chinese, Arabic, English, French, Russian, Spanish
- Apply