BACKGROUND
UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.
UNDP - Sri Lanka, World Food Programme - Sri Lanka, and Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment agreed to jointly implement the remaining activities of “Addressing Climate Change Impacts on Marginalized Agricultural Communities Living in the Mahaweli River Basin of Sri Lanka” Project funded by the Adaptation Fund from October 2017 to January 2019.
The overall objective of the project is to secure community livelihoods and food security against climate change-induced rainfall variability leading to longer droughts and more intense rainfall. To directly address these climate-induced impacts, the project proposes to; 1. Develop household food security and build resilient livelihoods for rain-fed farming households; 2. Build institutional capacity in village, local, regional service delivery to reduce risks associated with climate-induced rainfall variability in Medirigiriya, Lankapura and Walapane Divisional Secretariat Divisions (DSDs) in Polonnaruwa and Nuwara Eliya districts.
The project will deliver tangible impacts on the ground that include increased local availability of food, livelihoods that can withstand current climate shocks, more information on risks and adaptive strategies, better connectivity to early warning and risk forecasting and, importantly, an efficient and informed agriculture extension service.
The outcomes and outputs are designed to address specific vulnerabilities faced by rain-dependent farmers; strategies to overcome dry season food and income security; introduction of diversified income sources to broad-base risk, improved water storage and irrigation to overcome uncertainty of rainfall, improved soil quality and fertility for increased production, and timely, quality agriculture advice and extension.

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES

• Develop diversified home garden based agro forestry in target DSDs, to build household adaptive capacity to climate change;
• Introduce and promote drought tolerant crop varieties and agronomic practices to counter effects of rainfall variability;
• Identify and promote climate-resilient alternative income sources among rural households such as livestock, perennial cash crops and inland fisheries;
• Train and mobilize officers at village, division and provincial level to design, and monitor local adaptation strategies;
• Strengthen farmer organizations with information, training and equipment to implement adaptation strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop climate resilient divisional development plans for Madirigiya and Lankapura DSDs;
• Facilitate institutional support and operational systems for climate resilient livelihood development in Madirigiya and Lankapura DSDs;
• Facilitate the participatory development of agriculture development plans for each tank rehabilitated under the project in Madirigiya and Lankapura DSDs;
• Form and strengthen the agriculture producer groups in two divisions under the leadership of Provincial Department of Agriculture and the guidance of Consultant – Agriculture Development for implementation of climate resilient agriculture development activities;
• Establishing climate resilient home gardens through relevant government authorities in Madirigiriya and Lankapura DSDs;
• Establishing climate resilient diversified livelihoods through relevant government authorities in Madirigiriya and Lankapura DSDs;
• Assist the Consultant – Agriculture Development for establishing a trainer pool to carry out trainings on risk assessments, vulnerability and climate resilient agriculture development in three divisions;
• Facilitate the establishment of climate resilient farmers markets;
• Participate in the Divisional Agriculture Coordination Committees;
• The Consultant shall make his/her own arrangements for food, lodging and field transportation in the site.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Diploma in Agriculture, Development studies, Social Science with minimum 5 years’ experience, or;
2. More than 10 years’ experience in rural community development;
3. Written and spoken knowledge of Sinhala and English;
4. Fluency in Tamil is an additional requirement.

To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.