Anticipatory Action Specialist

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background, and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations, and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• 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

Organizational Setting

The Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) is responsible for ensuring FAO's efforts to support countries and partners in preparing for and effectively responding to food and agricultural threats and crises. It is responsible for coordinating the development and maintenance of corporate tools and standards to enable Decentralized Offices to assist Members to prepare for, and respond to emergencies. OER ensures humanitarian policy coordination and knowledge, liaison with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee as well as with humanitarian resource partners, co-leadership with World Food Programme of the global Food Security Cluster, organizational preparedness, surge capacity and response to large-scale emergencies. OER supports food and nutrition security assessment and early warning activities related to emergency and humanitarian analysis and responses. OER plays a major role in the development and leadership of the Organization's programme to increase the resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises.

Reporting Lines

The Anticipatory Action Specialist reports to the Team Leader, Evidence for Programming Team, OER.

Technical Focus

Under the overall supervision of the Team Leader, Evidence for Programming Team, the Anticipatory Action Specialist will support the further development of FAO’s Anticipatory Action programmes, including technical support to decentralized offices on AA programming, institutionalization, advocacy, evidence and learning.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Anticipatory Action Specialist will:

• Support the implementation of a corporate approach for the scale up of anticipatory action, working with relevant FAO teams to link capacities for risk analysis, flexible financing and implementation;
• Support the identification of triggers for anticipatory action based on a thorough understanding of risk dynamics (e.g. identification of most impacted areas, vulnerability analysis and prioritization, interrelation with food security analysis etc.);
• Support governments and FAO Country Offices with the development and implementation of AA systems, formulation of anticipatory action proposals, activation of funds and timely implementation, liaising with all relevant internal and external actors;
• Contribute to the broader agenda on anticipating humanitarian crises including by facilitating discussions and consultations with key partners;
• Support impact analyses (including Return on Investment) studies on anticipatory action in collaboration with relevant FAO teams, and use the results to advocate for a scale up of an anticipatory approach to food crises;
• Support the collection, categorisation and dissemination of innovative anticipatory action good practices in agriculture, in partnership with FAO's technical teams and external expert entities, supporting cross-learning between different country contexts;
• Support capacity building efforts on anticipatory action, including through the design and implementation of training materials and activities at country, regional and global level;
• Support the reinforcement of links with other FAO data and analysis systems and technical expertise contributing to the effective mitigation and prevention of food crises;
• Support the development of partnerships in anticipatory action with key actors at local, regional and global level including through joint risk analysis, programming and advocacy.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agriculture, Food Security, Economics, Natural Resources Management, Rural Development, International Relations, Social/political Sciences, or related fields;
• At least 1 year (Category C) or 5 years (Category B) of relevant experience in food security and resilience analysis and / or emergency programming for the humanitarian/agricultural/food security sectors, including work experience with national and international NGO’s, UN agencies, governments, donors;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other languages of the Organization (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian);

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 conflict-affected and emergency contexts;
• Extent and relevance of experience in food security and resilience analysis and/or emergency programming for the humanitarian/agricultural/food security sectors;
• Excellent research, report writing, analytical and communication skills;
• Demonstrated ability to analyze problems, make appropriate recommendations, effective decisions, including in emergency settings;
• Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines, within a multi-disciplinary team.

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