Technical Project Assistant

Karbala, Iraq·Posted today

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Full job description

Position details

Vacancy number: 2602071
Opportunity type: Non-staff opportunities
Grade / contract type: NPP (National Project Personnel)
Organizational unit: FNIRQ - FAO Representation in Iraq
Duration: 3 months with possibility of extension
Application deadline: 19/Oct/2026, 10%5C:59%5C:00 PM

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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　　
All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Iraq supports the Government of Iraq in strengthening food security, sustainable agriculture, resilient livelihoods and rural development. FAO works in close collaboration with national and local authorities, farming communities and other relevant stakeholders to implement programmes responding to the priorities of the agriculture sector.
The position is based in Karbala and will support the field-level implementation of FAO agricultural activities in the governorate, with particular focus on date palm production systems and support to farmers. The incumbent will work closely with the FAO technical team, relevant government counterparts, local stakeholders and beneficiaries to facilitate the effective implementation and monitoring of project activities at field level.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Project Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the FAO representative in Iraq and in close coordination with FAO technical teams.

Technical Focus

Support implementation of agricultural activities including crop management, integrated pest management (IPM), post-harvest practices, farmer field schools (FFS), and project data management, with a focus on date palm and related value chains.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support the technical team in meetings, workshops, and conferences
•    Assist in crop management and application of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in farmers’ orchards
•    Support crop protection and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) activities
•    Assist in post-harvest treatments, processing, and marketing activities
•    Contribute to the preparation of technical documents and training materials
•    Organize logistical arrangements for trainings, events, and field visits
•    Handle travel arrangements for project teams and counterparts
•    Maintain and organize office files, records, and documentation
•    Liaise with Farmer Field School (FFS) facilitators and support field implementation
•    Collect, organize, and monitor field data
•    Consolidate reports from FFS facilitators and Survey123 platform
•    Analyze field data and prepare assessment reports
•    Maintain records of equipment distribution and warehouse inventories
•    Support preparation of communication materials
•    Prepare periodic activity reports

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Plant Protection, or related field
•    Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in agricultural field projects
•    Working knowledge of Arabic
•    National of Iraq or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Experience in crop management, IPM, and GAP practices
•    Experience in supporting Farmer Field Schools (FFS) or similar agricultural extension activities
•    Experience in data collection, analysis, and reporting (e.g., Survey123 or similar tools)
•    Familiarity with logistics coordination and field operations
•    Knowledge of post-harvest handling and agricultural value chains is an asset
•    Working knowledge of English is desirable

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
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/
For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

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

Listing sourced from FAO careers. Applications are handled entirely by the employer.