UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries
Terms of Reference
Job Title: Agriculture Expert Consultant (Roster)
Duration: Experts included in the UNTB Expert Roster will remain listed for a period of four years.
Travel: Most assignments will be home-based, with possible travel depending on assignment requirements.
Please note that inclusion in the roster does not imply automatic deployment or guarantee any formal engagement with UNTB. When a relevant assignment arises, UNTB will contact suitable roster experts with a specific Terms of Reference outlining the scope and duration of the assignment and will confirm interest, availability and the applicable fee.
1. Background
The UN Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries (UNTB) is the United Nations entity dedicated to strengthening the science, technology and innovation capacities of least developed countries (LDCs). Its mandate includes supporting LDCs to identify, absorb, develop, integrate and scale technologies and innovations in line with their national priorities.
Under its Strategic Plan 2025–2027, UNTB organizes its work around three strategic areas: high-impact policy and technical advisory services; capacity-building for transformation; and knowledge services for results. Through these areas, UNTB supports LDCs in developing and implementing effective science, technology and innovation policies and programmes, strengthening the capacities of policymakers and institutions, and accessing knowledge and expertise relevant to their development needs.
UNTB aims to serve as a hub that connects LDCs with technical assistance, policy advice, capacity-development opportunities, research and analysis, technology-transfer support and specialized expertise. By mobilizing knowledge and expertise from research institutions, academia, the private sector, international organizations and development partners, UNTB seeks to help LDCs translate identified technology needs into practical policies, programmes, partnerships and solutions.
2. Purpose of the Roster
Technology Needs Assessments across countries have identified agriculture as one of the most frequently prioritised sectors across LDCs.
The Agriculture Expert Roster aims to give UNTB a structured, searchable pool of qualified experts aligned with LDC priority areas and UNTB’s areas of work. By maintaining this pool, UNTB will be able to respond faster and more consistently to country requests, support TNA follow-up and project design, and avoid repeating the search process each time expertise is needed for different programme work, while building its credibility as a practical, service-oriented partner for STI capacity development.
Specifically, the roster will allow UNTB to:
- Enable timely identification of specialists for technical assistance, policy advice, research, capacity development and project design.
- Match agricultural expertise with country needs identified through TNAs and other forms of engagement.
- Support LDCs in assessing, adapting and scaling appropriate agricultural technologies and innovations.
- Strengthen the development of policies, strategies, technical assessments, implementation plans and project proposals.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and partnerships among governments, research institutions, academia, the private sector and development partners.
- Provide access to expertise across different agricultural technology areas, regions, languages and levels of experience.
- Reduce repeated expert searches by maintaining structured and updated information in one place.
3. Application Structure and Areas of Expertise
To ensure a structured and searchable pool of qualified experts, applicants will be selected based on a combination of their primary technical domain and their functional scope of work.
Applicants may select multiple primary technical domains. For each domain selected, they must specify one or more functional scopes of work that reflect their expertise, along with corresponding evidence.
When applying, candidates will be required to:
- Select one primary technical domain and, if applicable, one secondary technical domain (Section A).
- Select one primary functional scope of work and, if applicable, one secondary functional scope of work (Section B), and provide supporting evidence for each selection.
Section A: Primary Technical Domains
Applicants may select from the following technical domains:
- Agricultural water management and irrigation
- Agricultural data, digital agriculture and knowledge systems
- Crop production, plant breeding and agricultural biotechnologies
- Post-harvest management, agro-processing and agricultural value chains
- Sustainable farming systems, including climate-smart technologies
- Fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic food systems
Section B: Functional Areas of Expertise
Applicants should specify the functions they are qualified to perform within their chosen primary domain(s).
1. Agricultural Technology and Engineering Expertise
- Identify, screen and prioritize agricultural technologies and innovations that fit national and local agro-ecological conditions, infrastructure, resource availability and development priorities, using clear technical criteria and evidence.
- Evaluate technology relevance, technical feasibility, maturity and readiness, performance, indicative cost ranges, and operation and maintenance needs to establish suitability for local conditions in LDCs.
- Quantify the economic, social, environmental and climate benefits of priority technologies, including productivity gains, resource-use efficiency, emissions reduction and climate resilience.
- Define the technical requirements for adaptation, transfer and scale-up, including site suitability, standards and certification, supply chains and spare parts, local fabrication and repair capacity, and technician skills.
- Lead the technical components of Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) and author high-quality technical knowledge products, including technology factsheets and profiles, technical guidelines, operational manuals and training materials.
2. Policy, Research, Assessments and Analysis
- Review national development priorities, STI policies and agricultural innovation systems to assess local absorptive and adaptive capacities, and provide actionable, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the enabling environment for agricultural transformation.
- Design rigorous research methodologies, analytical frameworks, survey instruments and data-collection tools that combine qualitative and quantitative methods and suit data-limited LDC contexts.
- Analyse complex data to identify technology needs, systemic bottlenecks, capacity gaps, regulatory constraints and development opportunities, and turn findings into clear priorities for action.
- Assess the economic and social dimensions of technology adoption, including cost-effectiveness, affordability, adoption barriers, livelihood impacts, and gender and social inclusion, as part of TNAs, baseline studies and institutional assessments.
- Author high-quality, policy-relevant knowledge products, including policy briefs, country profiles, technical reports, baseline summaries, comparative synthesis papers and thematic working papers, for UNTB and LDC stakeholders.
3. Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Development
- Design and facilitate inclusive multi-stakeholder consultations, national validation workshops, focus group discussions, technical working groups and other participatory processes that bring together governments, research institutions, the private sector, farmer organizations and development partners to build consensus and national ownership.
- Design, deliver and support training programmes, technical briefings, learning sessions, peer exchanges and interactive workshops, and develop tailored training materials and toolkits that strengthen skills for technology adoption and use.
- Build partnerships and knowledge networks among national, regional and international actors to promote South-South and triangular cooperation, knowledge sharing, and the long-term sustainability of results.
4. Project Design, Development and Implementation
- Develop high-quality project proposals that align with LDC national priorities and meet donor and financing requirements.
- Translate assessment findings, diagnostics and technical recommendations into actionable implementation plans, action plans, project frameworks, results matrices and pilot initiatives.
- Develop monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) frameworks, including indicators, baselines and reporting systems, to track progress, measure impact and inform adaptive management.
- Identify and mobilize financing opportunities from donors, climate and development funds, and the private sector to support technology deployment and scale-up.
Note: The listed functions are indicative and may be expanded to include other related tasks as required.
4. Qualifications and Experience
General Qualifications for All Areas
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or PhD) in agriculture, agronomy, agricultural engineering, agricultural economics, agribusiness, food systems, rural development, irrigation engineering, water resources management, natural resource management, environmental science, climate change, biotechnology, data science, public policy or another discipline directly relevant to the selected area of expertise.
- A minimum of eight years of professional experience in agriculture, including substantial experience directly related to the area of expertise for which the applicant is applying in at least one LDC or developing country.
- At least one peer-reviewed publication relevant to the selected area of expertise, or an authored or co-authored publication published by the UN or a recognized international organization in which the applicant is clearly credited.
- In-depth understanding of the agricultural, socio-economic and STI challenges in LDCs, including national development priorities, absorptive capacity constraints, and conditions affecting agricultural technology adoption and scaling.
- Experience working with line ministries, national STI bodies, UN entities or international development organizations.
Additional requirement for Area 1: Agricultural Technology and Engineering Expertise
A PhD in a relevant technical or engineering field is preferred. Applicants with a Master’s degree must have at least 12 years of relevant professional experience, including hands-on technical work in developing, testing, deploying or maintaining agricultural technologies.
Specific Qualifications by Functional Area
1. Agricultural Technology and Engineering Expertise
- Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, testing, piloting, deploying or maintaining agricultural technologies in the selected technical domain, preferably in LDC or developing-country settings.
- Proven experience conducting technology assessments, technical feasibility studies or technology readiness evaluations, or preparing technology profiles, specifications or technical standards.
- Experience supporting technology transfer, adaptation or scale-up, such as working with research institutes, extension services, the private sector or farmer organisations to build the local systems, skills and delivery channels needed for technologies to be adopted and sustained.
2. Policy, Research, Assessments and Analysis
- Experience conducting or leading research, needs assessments, technology assessments or similar assignments related to agriculture at the country, regional or sectoral level, using qualitative and quantitative methods.
- Demonstrated track record of providing strategic policy, regulatory or institutional advisory services to line ministries, national STI bodies, UN entities or international development organizations.
- Proven ability to gather and synthesize complex data from academic and non-academic sources, formulate evidence-based conclusions, and communicate findings effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
3. Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Development
- Proven experience designing and facilitating national-level multi-stakeholder processes, such as consultations, validation workshops or technical working groups, involving government, research institutions, the private sector and farmer organizations.
- Demonstrated experience designing and delivering training programmes or curricula for policymakers, researchers, extension workers or farmers, including evaluating training outcomes. Certification in training, facilitation or adult learning is an asset.
- Experience conducting capacity needs assessments and developing capacity development plans or learning strategies for agricultural institutions, extension systems or national STI bodies.
4. Project Design, Development and Implementation
- Experience managing or coordinating the implementation of agricultural development or technology projects, including pilots, covering work planning, budgeting, partner coordination, risk management and donor reporting.
- Demonstrated experience in designing successful, awarded project proposals, technical assistance packages, concept notes or multi-year project documents for international donors, climate finance mechanisms (e.g. GCF, GEF) or multilateral development banks.
- Proven experience developing results frameworks, theories of change, logframes and MEL systems, or managing the implementation of multi-year development projects.
5. Languages
Level III proficiency in English is proposed as a requirement. French and Portuguese proficiency at Level III is desirable.
6. Application Requirements and Guidelines
Applicants must submit the following:
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- Cover letter, including the proposed daily consultancy fee.
- Completed responses to the open-ended questions in the application form, clearly outlining the applicant’s relevant technical domain(s), functional area(s), years of experience and demonstrated expertise.
Responses should include examples of relevant assignments and outputs, such as positions held, technical assistance delivered, tools or systems developed, publications or guidance prepared, projects implemented, and countries or institutions supported.