Information Architect

Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations
Terms of Reference for Consultant
Minimum number of year of relevant experience required: 7yrs

Name:
Job Title:			Information Architect  (Job ID: FORM-IA)
Division/Department:					Research and Extension Unit, DDNR
Programme/Project Number:						Project Funding
Location:			Home based
Expected Start Date of Assignment:							16 February 2015	Duration:			30 working days (on actually employed basis) NTE 31 July 2015
Reports to:		Name:		Ms Karin Nichterlein				Title:		Agricultural Research Officer, DDNR
General Description of task(s) and objectives to be achieved
Within the framework of the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP), FAO is working with TAP partner organizations, the TAP Global Task Force and the TAP Capacity Development (CD) Expert Group, to foster greater coherence of capacity development in tropical agriculture and to strengthen interaction for more harmonized CD. The CD Expert Group brings together experts for the development of a common Framework on Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems. It will consist of a resourced core group of three experts and a wider group of experts from TAP Partners providing in-kind contributions. The three core experts require specialized knowledge in one the following areas each: Capacity Development (CD) for Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS), Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Experts in the wider group are expected to contribute specialized knowledge in one or more of these areas. Their work will build on existing knowledge and resources including on materials compiled and reviewed conducted in 2014. The critical task for the CD for AIS and M&E experts is to develop the CD Framework for AIS ensuring that it is anchored in good development effectiveness[1] and good capacity development practice[2], that it is based on a thorough environmental scan and that it is useful for all TAP Partners as well as governments and other stakeholders, while the ICT expert will develop the concept of the information management and knowledge sharing system TAPipedia.   The expert will be responsible for the conceptual design of the system for information and knowledge management (TAPipedia), enabling open access to information[3] as well as flexible knowledge sharing and updating as needs evolve.   Under the overall supervision of the Chief, of the Research and Extension Unit, and in collaboration with the Agricultural Research Officer the consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:   Tasks: Study review prepared during the preparation phase and other related TAP documents as background information for the design of TAPipedia and provide feedback to the review related to web-based information and knowledge sharing platforms; inform the choice of software according to database requirements, degree of user-friendliness, possibilities of updating the database and the technical facilities available; design, conceptually, the different components and knowledge sharing mechanisms of TAPipedia (marketplace, documentation of case studies and lessons learned, presentation of the CD Framework for AIS and toolbox, etc); suggest user-friendly formats for TAP partners to share knowledge as well as for cataloguing documents that facilitate reviews, and meta-evaluation; suggest how TAPipedia can add value to the content (e.g. feedback function, information on use);
key performance indicators
Expected Outputs:									Required Completion Date:
Deliverables: Provide feedback on review related to web-based information and knowledge sharing platforms to the CD in agriculture consultant; Draft report on the conceptual design of TAPipedia shared and discussed with wider CD Expert Group (workshop) and feedback incorporated in conceptual design of TAPipedia Feedback from CD Global Task Force addressed in the final concept report									28 February 2015   30 June 2015   25 July 2015
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES
Bachelor’s Degree in information technology related subject
Technical competencies and Experience Requirements The consultant should have: At least seven years’ experience in ICT system design (conceptual and technical aspects); solid understanding of complex information and knowledge management; demonstrated ability to interact with other experts; strong analytical and good English communication and writing skills.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested applicants are required to create an online Personal Profile Form (PPF) in FAO iRecruitment. To create the PPF, please follow the instructions available at:http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/  Indicating the job ID given above, the PPF should be sent via e-mail to:Tropagplatform@fao.org   Deadline for application: 14 September 2014   Applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

---

[1] See http://www.aideffectiveness.org/

[2]See http://www.fao.org/capacitydevelopment/en/

[3] See http://www.cgiar.org/resources/open/ & http://aims.fao.org/advice/open-access