Technical Adviser (Food Security Sector Coordinator) at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN)

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-UN) – An intergovernmental organization, FAO has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Its employees come from various cultural backgrounds and are experts in the multiple fields of activity FAO engages in. FAO’s staff capacity allows it to support improved governance inter alia, generate, develop and adapt existing tools and guidelines and provide targeted governance support as a resource to country and regional level FAO offices. Headquartered in Rome, Italy, FAO is present in over 130 countries.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Technical Adviser (Food Security Sector Coordinator)

Location: Maiduguri, Borno
Organizational Unit: FAO Representation in Nigeria, FRNIR
Job Type: Staff position
Type of Requisition: Professional Project
Grade Level: P-4
Duration: Fixed-term: one year with possibility of extension
Post Number: 2007854
CCOG Code: 1A1

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines:

The Technical Adviser reports to the FAO Deputy Representative under the technical guidance the World Food Programme (WFP) Deputy Country Director and the Global Food Security Cluster (gFSC) Country Focal Point.

Technical Focus:

Provides coordination, leadership, and guidance for the food security cluster in Nigeria.

Key Results:

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development, and implementation of departmental / divisional programmes, projects, products, and services in accordance with departmental / divisional objectives and FAO’s Strategic Objectives.

Key Functions

Provides technical leadership assistance on the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes / projects; assists in the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies follow-up actions;
Coordinates programme-related activities and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies;
Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications;
Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations;
Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities;
Leads field missions, including the provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties;
Provides advice regarding the development of policies and strategies, as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO’s work.

Specific Functions:

Facilitates active participation and inclusion of key humanitarian partners (government, national and international NGOs, UN agencies);
Establishes and maintains appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms;
Coordinates with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors;
Ensures mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis;
Develops a strategy for ensuring an integrated, coordinated and coherent approach for addressing short and medium-term food security needs;
Manages the inclusion of key humanitarian partners (government, national and international NGOs, UN agencies) in a strategy plan;
Ensures appropriate participatory and community-based approaches;
Ensures appropriate attention to priority cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g. gender, protection, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, environment and early recovery) in needs assessments, analysis, planning, monitoring, response and reporting;
Ensures key needs assessment and analysis related to food and agriculture security are undertaken on a regularly and timely basis ;
Harmonizes food basket/transfer values and targeting approaches;
Coordinates sector-wide emergency preparedness;
Undertakes planning and strategy development;
Ensures the application of appropriate standards;
Ensures monitoring and reporting;
Undertakes advocacy and resource mobilization for the FSC members;
Undertakes training and capacity building;
Provides assistance or services as a last resort subject to access, security and availability of funding;
Designs and participates in resource mobilization activities for the Food Security Cluster.

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Economics, Food Security or other field related to the work of the Organization;
Seven years of relevant experience in public and/or private sectors related to humanitarian response programming, planning and technical cooperation in food and agriculture, including experience in developing countries, especially in countries that are vulnerable to disaster or other emergency risks;
Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies:

Results Focus
Team Work
Communication
Building Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical / Functional Skills:

Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;
Extent and relevance of experience in technical cooperation’ s related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes;
Extent and relevance of experience in working with intergovernmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams;
Demonstrated ability to work and plan at strategic as well as operational levels;
Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of the international humanitarian response architecture, including co-ordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Strategic Response Plan process, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals);
Demonstrated ability to work productively in a stressful environment and to maintain visibly high levels of morale in difficult circumstances.

General Information

FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Conditions of Service
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

Dependency allowances
Rental subsidy
Education grant for children
Home leave travel
30 working days of annual leave per year
Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
International health insurance; optional life insurance
Disability protection

FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes: