International Senior Policy Consultant

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

FAO's Subregional Office for Southern Africa is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). It assists the FAO Representations (FAORs) in the subregion with addressing subregional food security, agriculture and rural development issues at country level. The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO’s Regional Office for Africa

Reporting Lines

The Senior Consultant reports to the Subregional Coordinator and maintains regular contact with FAO headquarters in Rome for functional guidance on matters relating to policy and governance support in the food and agricultural sectors.

Technical Focus

Provides leadership, guidance and operational support for results-based policy assistance and governance work of decentralized offices in the Sub Region, in relation to regional and sub-regional policy issues, and provides guidance to the work of policy officers posted at country level in relation to their work on food security, nutrition and sustainable agricultural development.

Leading and coordinating coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work supporting member states at regional and country level: i) in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework, in alignment with the Organization's Gender Policy, and its delivery mechanisms, and ii) in response to new policy assistance requests.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Manage or lead highly specialized or multi-disciplinary teams, and provide technical leadership in high-level policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies;
• Lead the work carried out by technical or policy officers from HQ or out-posted staff in the Decentralized Offices in relation to policy and governance work under FAO's strategic framework;
• Facilitate and Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices, and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and food systems;
• Interact with UN Regional and Country teams to improve cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food, and nutrition security and sustainable development;
• Analyse regional and country-level issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements;
• Design, implement and monitor regional and sub-regional policy work programmes and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies;
• Lead capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance, and oversees the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits;
• Represent the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in development economics, political sciences or agricultural economics or related field

• Ten years of experience in policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes

• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• 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 essential

• Understanding of complex policy processes

• Relevance and extent of experience in policy analysis and advise relating to food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development

• Relevance and extent of knowledge and experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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