Subregional Coordinator (SRC) for Central Africa

Libreville

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Libreville
Grade: Senior Executive level - D-1, Director - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: Closed

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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 Members and persons 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 FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) leads FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Subregional Offices, and the Centres, Divisions and Offices at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities.

The Subregional Offices (SROs) mainly consist of Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) and are led by Subregional Coordinators (SRCs). The SROs represent a critically important component of FAO’s Decentralized Offices and are integral to the planning and delivery of FAO’s strategies, initiatives and programmes at the subregional and country levels. They bring cutting-edge technical expertise to the countries of the subregions and serve as the first ports of call for technical support.

The Subregional Office for Central Africa (SFC) covers the following countries: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The Subregional Coordinator also serves as the FAO Representative to the host country, Gabon, as well as to Sao Tome and Principe.

The position of the Subregional Coordinator for Central Africa is located in the Subregional Office for Central Africa in Libreville, Gabon.

Reporting Lines

The Subregional Coordinator for Central Africa works under the guidance of, and reports to, the Assistant Director-General/ Regional Representative (ADG/RR), Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Summary of Duties and Functions:

The Subregional Coordinator for Central Africa consults and coordinates with RAF for planning, development, implementation, monitoring and reporting for subregional activities, initiatives, priorities as well as for the FAO Strategic Framework.

The Subregional Coordinator is FAO’s focal point for addressing subregional food security, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, sustainable management of natural resources, climate change and rural development issues.

He/she heads a Subregional Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) in the framework of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and provides support to the effective delivery of RAF Programme of Work and Regional Priorities. He/she contributes to the preparation of the Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) for the FAO Member countries in the Subregion, and ensures effective collaboration with subregional economic integration organizations, UN-system entities at the subregional and national levels, and other subregional institutions and media. He/she provides functional guidance to FAO Representatives (FAORs) in the Subregion, in their capacity as MDT members.

The Subregional Coordinator leads the Multidisciplinary Team in the Subregional Office for Central Africa (SFC). He/she leads FAO’s response to subregional priorities in line with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and the Regional Priorities from the FAO Regional Conference for Africa and is accountable for FAO activities in the Subregion. He/she also represents FAO in the country of assignment. The SRC supports the FAO Regional Representative for Africa in his/her capacity as an accountable member of the regional United Nations Development Group (UNDG) team as defined in the “Management and Accountability System of the UN Development and the Resident Coordinator System”. The SRC is part of the RAF Core Leadership Team (CLT) and he/she contributes to addressing strategic issues, e.g. work planning, programming, budgeting and other strategic issues in RAF. In particular, he/she is responsible for the following:

Oversight of FAO strategic planning and programme development in the subregion:
- lead the analysis and dialogue on subregional priorities and the development of subregional strategies;
- advise and collaborate with internal partners to raise awareness of subregional priorities and needs, and ensure that they are reflected in corporate and regional policies;
- ensure the provision of timely technical support to the FAO components of the UN common planning and programming frameworks (e.g. United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework [UNSDCF], Consolidated Appeals Process [CAP], Flash Appeals, etc.), the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for all countries in the Subregion and related FAO programmes, projects and/or other activities;
- lead subregional mobilization of extrabudgetary resources, making optimum use of the expertise available in the Decentralized Offices.
Programme implementation and monitoring:
- support Member countries in the Subregion to address food insecurity, malnutrition, hunger and inequalities by working together with institutional partners in the Subregion, in accordance with agreed priorities, approved programme/workplans/budgets, strategic objectives and corporate policies;
- coordinate and ensure timely and appropriate technical backstopping to FAO programmes and projects in the Subregion in close collaboration with FAO technical divisions and units, and in line with corporate norms, standards and procedures;
- undertake regular reporting and monitoring on subregional programmes.
Leadership on knowledge management:
- support and, where relevant, lead the subregional policy dialogues on areas of FAO’s mandate;
- facilitate timely access by subregional stakeholders to FAO’s knowledge resources and global public goods, and knowledge sharing within and beyond the Subregion;
- act as the spokesperson of FAO in the Subregion and communicate FAO programme and impacts to partners, media, and other stakeholders.

Management of human and financial resources:
- lead and manage the Subregional Office and ensure effective and efficient use of human and financial resources in line with corporate policies and administrative procedures;
- manage all matters related to the security and safety of FAO personnel and their eligible dependants and ensure full adherence to the UN Security Policy, rules and regulations, as well as to security-related instructions issued by FAO;
- contribute to strategic leadership and management decisions on FAO’s work in Africa as a member of RAF’s Core Leadership Team.
Contacts/Partnerships:
- support the effective establishment of partnerships and collaborations with governments, donors, civil society, NGOs, UN system organizations and other international organizations;
- advocate FAO’s policy positions in the relevant subregional fora, represent FAO in the media, and implement a pro-active communications strategy to raise awareness about FAO with the general public;
- support the UN joint communication efforts at the subregional level and speaking with “one voice”.

General Requirements

Advanced university degree and post-graduate qualifications in the field of agriculture, fishery, forestry or international relations.
Minimum twelve years of relevant experience in programme development and management, resource mobilization, especially familiarity with International Financial Institutions (IFIs), global funding envelopes for agriculture and environment, e.g. Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund, etc., and private sector or blended financial modalities, development or humanitarian related issues, preferably with some years of experience in Africa.

Extensive leadership, managerial and professional experience in fields related to the mandate of FAO. Previous leadership roles in a multicultural setting would be an advantage.
Extensive experience in partnership with international organizations, national government, private sector, civil society organizations, youth and women organizations, farmer associations, etc.
Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of French and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of English.