[Remote] Accessible Greenhouse Design Expert

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. FAO is a specialized UN agency that leads international efforts to eliminate hunger and promote sustainable management of natural resources. They are seeking an Accessible Greenhouse Design Expert to provide specialized technical leadership on accessible greenhouse design and controlled-environment agriculture adapted for persons with disabilities. Responsibilities • Conduct structured technical assessments at all six pilot institutions to document existing infrastructure constraints, identify site-specific adaptation requirements, and assess the functional needs of users with different disability types (physical, visual, hearing, intellectual), with due attention to the specific requirements of women and men with disabilities where these affect design specifications • Coordinate with the Agricultural Officer (REU) throughout the development of technical specifications to verify that all accessibility design solutions, including raised cultivation bed dimensions, drip irrigation configurations, passageway layouts, and workstation ergonomics, are agronomically compatible with productive greenhouse operations under Uzbekistan’s agro-climatic conditions; the Agricultural Officer’s written clearance is required before technical specifications proceed to multi-stakeholder review • Develop technical specifications for the design and adaptation of accessible greenhouse units, drawing on international standards (ISO, universal design principles, CRPD Article 27) and on documented good practice from operational inclusive greenhouse programmes, covering at a minimum: raised cultivation bed dimensions and surfaces; passageway widths and gradients; non-slip flooring; entry thresholds and ramp specifications; drip irrigation controls adapted by disability profile; ergonomic tool storage and workstation layouts; handrails and other safety features; and lighting and adaptive signage • Lead and coordinate the multi-stakeholder review of the draft technical specifications with NASP, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Social Inspection under NASP, and Disabled Persons' Organizations (DPOs), ensuring that the specifications are technically validated against the functional requirements of users with different disability types; finalize the standard for submission to NASP as a national technical norm • Provide technical quality assurance for the commissioning of the six accessible greenhouse pilot units, verifying compliance with the validated design standard; this will be conducted primarily through remote review of commissioning documentation, photographs, and contractor reports, with on-site inspection visits to a representative selection of pilot sites where feasible within the agreed mission schedule • Provide technical guidance and quality review to the National Expert on Agriculture in the development of the disability-adapted greenhouse farming training curriculum, ensuring that training content accurately reflects the validated accessibility specifications and that participants are prepared to operate all adaptive equipment and modified greenhouse systems covered by the design standard • Provide technical guidance to the National Expert on Agriculture during the training-of-trainers (ToT) workshop for site instructors from all six pilot institutions, covering the technical aspects of disability-adapted greenhouse operation: correct use and maintenance of adaptive equipment (raised beds, drip irrigation controls, ergonomic workstations), occupational safety procedures specific to the adapted facilities, and correct interpretation of the design standard in day-to-day training delivery • Develop the SmartGreen Inclusion (SGI) replication toolkit, integrating the validated accessible greenhouse design standard, the disability-adapted training methodology, pilot evidence, and an operational checklist for NASP regional programme officers; incorporate cost model data provided by the National Expert on Agriculture based on pilot production cycle results • Present the validated accessible greenhouse design standard and the SGI replication toolkit at the dedicated dissemination workshop and the project final workshop, providing technical clarification to NASP regional staff, Ministry of Agriculture representatives, and other stakeholders on design specifications and their application • Provide technical inputs to the follow-on project proposal for national scaling of the SGI model, as required, particularly with respect to the technical accessibility standard, cost model, and replication considerations • Prepare technical notes and mission reports following each field visit and key deliverable milestone, and provide technical contributions to project progress reports as requested by the LTO • Perform other duties as requested Skills • Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in agricultural engineering, horticulture, architecture, civil engineering, or another field directly relevant to accessible greenhouse design and controlled-environment agriculture. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience • Minimum of 8 years of relevant international professional experience in greenhouse design or controlled-environment agriculture, combined with demonstrated experience in accessible or universal design for persons with disabilities • Working knowledge (level C) of English • Demonstrated experience in developing technical design standards or specifications, preferably in the agricultural or built-environment sector • Proven experience working on disability inclusion, accessibility standards, or universal design, including familiarity with the CRPD and Article 27 on work and employment • Experience developing training materials, toolkits, or guidance documents for replication or scale-up purposes • Demonstrated ability to apply universal design principles and accessibility standards in technical specifications, with practical experience in designing or adapting facilities to accommodate users with diverse disability types including physical, sensory, and intellectual disabilities • Ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, including coordination with national institutions and stakeholders • Excellent communication and report writing skills, with a demonstrated track record of working effectively in a team • Prior experience working with FAO, other UN agencies, or international development partners on technical cooperation projects is an asset • Familiarity with Central Asia, and specifically with Uzbekistan's agricultural and social protection context, is an asset • Working knowledge of Russian is an asset Company Overview • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It was founded in 1945, and is headquartered in Rome, Lazio, ITA, with a workforce of 10001+ employees. Its website is https://www.fao.org. Apply To this Job