Programme Officer

Job Title: Programme Officer 

Organization: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Closure Date: 02/Aug/2023, 12:59:00 AM

Organizational Unit: SAP, RAP

Job Type: Staff position

Type of Requisition: Professional

Grade Level: P-3

Primary Location: Apia, Samoa

Duration: Fixed-term: 1 year with possibility of extension

Post Number: 2009650

CCOG Code: 1A02

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

The post is located in the Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) in Apia, Samoa.

Reporting Lines
The Programme Officer reports to the Sub-regional Representative, SAP. As a core management team member in SAP, the Programme Officer works closely with SAP’s Multidisciplinary Team and receives technical guidance from the RAP's Country Support and Field Programme Stream and relevant units at headquarters.

Technical Focus
Sound operational principles for efficient and effective business processes, work practices, procedures, and applications aimed at managing projects/programmes for compliance with the Project Cycle and related implementation processes.

Key Results
Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate assigned programme/projects.

Key Functions
•    Participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects, etc.; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation;
•    Reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and tracks follow-up actions;
•    Assists in policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies, etc.;
•    Prepares various written outputs, e.g. drafts background papers, analyses, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.;
•    Undertakes outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities;
•    Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.).

Specific Functions
•    Supervises the Programme Support team and ensures its efficient and effective operational deliveries;
•    Supports and contributes to FAO’s inputs to the development, revision, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting over the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF);
•    Coordinates corporate/internal reporting, monitoring and evaluation and coordination of the FAO Pacific Country Programming Framework (CPF);
•    Ensures relevant corporate measures for the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of Technical Cooperation Programme(TCP) Projects and the overall management of the allocated budget; 
•    Oversees operations support for the budget holder and technical officers over programme and project design, with specific attention to budget management and the relevant FAO and donors’ procedures; 
•    Supports and contributes to the development, revision, monitoring, and implementation of the Subregional Office Resource Mobilization and Partnership Strategy, with specific attention to ensuring that the CPF is well funded. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
•    Advanced university degree in business administration or public administration, social science, political science or a related field; 
•    Five years of relevant experience in project or programme management, development and/or project planning/formulation/implementation;
•    Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project development (including formulation and analysis).
•    Demonstrated experience and effectiveness in programme/project management (planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting).
•    Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of the technical programme, operational guidelines and project/programme management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO, which would be considered an asset.

FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 

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: 
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct.

HOW TO APPLY 

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ 
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org  

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