Activity Coordinator - Entomologist

Reports to: Project Manager – C4RPWC (direct), Technical Lead – C4RPWC (technical).
Location: Ajman, UAE

Purpose of the position

The Activity Coordinator – Entomologist supports the in‑country implementation of the Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control (C4RPWC) Program. This role ensures that field activities, data collection, stakeholder engagement, and operational tasks related to Red Palm Weevil (RPW) management are implemented effectively and in alignment with program protocols.

The position represents the C4RPWC project at the country level and acts as the primary liaison with local authorities, farmers, and implementing partners. The Activity Coordinator contributes technical inputs, facilitates field operations, and ensures timely reporting to the Project Manager and Technical Lead.

About ICARDA

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is a treaty-based international non-profit research organization supported by CGIAR.
ICARDA’s mission is to reduce poverty, enhance food, water, and nutritional security, as well as environmental health in the face of global challenges including climate change. We do this through innovative science, strategic partnerships, linking research to development and capacity development that take into account gender equality and the role of youth in transforming the dry areas. ICARDA works in partnership with governments, universities, civil society, national agricultural research organization, other CGIAR Research Centers, and the private sector. With its temporary Headquarters in Beirut, Lebanon, ICARDA operates in regional and country offices across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For more information: www.icarda.org.

Main responsibilities

Field Implementation & Activity Coordination

• Coordinate day‑to‑day implementation of RPW control activities within the assigned country.
• Plan, schedule, and supervise field operations including trapping, monitoring, sampling, and other entomological activities.
• Ensure field protocols follow the program’s technical guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Facilitate deployment of technologies, tools, and materials provided under the project.
• Support demonstration activities, pilot trials, and field experiments.

Data Collection, Quality Control & Reporting

• Conduct field data collection on RPW populations, trap performance, infestation levels, and field interventions.
• Ensure timely uploading of field data to designated digital platforms.
• Maintain accurate field records and support preliminary data analysis as requested.
• Prepare concise weekly and monthly activity updates for the Project Manager.
• Reportoperational or technical challenges and propose solutions.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Support coordination with national partners such as ministries, agricultural authorities, extension officers, and farmers.
• Coordinate field visits, training sessions, and joint field inspections with national counterparts.
• Facilitate communication between country‑level institutions and the C4RPWC central team.
• Contribute to community outreach, awareness sessions, and farmer engagement.

Technical Support

• Provide basic entomological guidance during field implementation.
• Assist in the execution of surveys, sampling, and diagnostic procedures for RPW detection.
• Support the Technical Lead and Workstream teams when conducting in‑country missions.
• Ensure field activities comply with safety, biosecurity, and IPM principles.

Logistics, Operations & Procurement Support

• Coordinate logistics for field activities, including transportation, access permissions, and equipment management.
• Track inventory of traps, lures, pheromones, detection tools, and field supplies.
• Assist the Project Manager with country‑level procurement requests and vendor follow‑up.
• Ensure timely delivery of materials to activity sites.

Capacity Building

• Support the organization of farmer field schools, training workshops, and capacity development sessions.
• Assist in demonstrating RPW control tools and methods to extension agents and farmers.
• Contribute to training content preparation under the guidance of the Technical Lead.

Requirements

Education, qualifications, and experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Entomology, Plant Protection, Agricultural Sciences, or closely related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in pest monitoring, IPM, or field‑based agricultural projects.
• Experience working with RPW, date palms, or tree pests is an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating field activities and working with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong field experience and ability to work in rural settings.
• Good communication and coordination skills with farmers and government partners.
• Proficiency in data collection tools and basic data analysis (Excel, mobile data platforms).
• Ability to travel frequently within the country.
• Fluency in Arabic; working knowledge of English.

Benefits

Terms of appointment, salary, and benefits

This is a nationally recruited staff position open for residents in UAE for which ICARDA offers an attractive compensation package including a competitive salary, medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, five months’ maternity leave, 15 days’ paternity leave. The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of 3 years, renewable subject to continued need for the position and satisfactory performance. The probation period will comply with the applicable labor law of the respective country.

Please be advised that ICARDA accepts applications only in English, as per the organization's standard communication language. Applications in other languages will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.