Policy Specialist

Job Title: Policy Specialist 

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

Closure Date: : 05/Sep/2023, 12:59:00 AM

Organizational Unit: ESP

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: Consultant

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Various Locations-Various Locations

Duration: 11 months (renewable)

Post Number: N/A

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device. 

• 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 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 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 

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on 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. 

FAO is actively engaging in UN country level repositioning for SDG achievement, participating in the negotiation and formulation, as well as in the annual updates, of Common Country Assessments (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF). In this context, the Organization, under the technical leadership of the Economic and Social Development stream and the Regional Offices, in close coordination with other headquarters technical units, is implementing a mechanism for scaling up the needed human resource analytical and technical expertise in support of the CCA/UNSDCF process at country level. The mechanism will leverage ongoing processes and initiatives already identified within the Organization and draw upon the most sophisticated tools available, including advanced geo-spatial modeling and analytics. The effort will draw upon FAO’s specialized tools and analytical methodologies, including sectoral, to propose specific solutions tailored to the country needs and potentials, to ensure a robust UNSDCF Theory of Change that positions FAO as the premier agrifood systems player in the UN system.

As part of the CCA/UNSDCF analytical support mechanism, the need for improved technical support has been identified for producing country situation analyses and for facilitating the dialogue and policy response within the negotiation of the CCA/UNSDCF process and complementary investments in agrifood systems. 

Reporting lines

The Policy Specialist reports to the Regional Programme Leader (RPL) under the overall technical oversight of the Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, and in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders from decentralized (Regional, Subregional and Country) offices. 

Technical focus

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the RPL, he/she will support the regional office and the FAO country offices by delivering the technical support on agrifood systems policy analysis as part of the CCA/UNSDCF analytical support mechanism and scaling up investments. 

Tasks and responsibilities

•    As an input into the CCA, UNSDCF process and country investments in agrifood systems, the preparation of a country situation analysis report which includes:
1.    a policy analysis based on information from the data platform and other sources and leveraging existing FAO tools and methodologies, covering the current status, key challenges and potential entry points framed in the context of the 2030 agenda and ensuring an agrifood systems transformation lens that brings to bear the main areas of FAO’s comparative advantage under the four betters as per the SF22-31 and considering the FSS national pathways for food systems transformation;
2.    an evaluation of interactions and trade-offs among objectives and actions, pinpointing key bottlenecks and proposals for focused policy support and dialogue as well as scaling up investments.
•    Provide support to the FAO country representative in technical backstopping to FAO participation in CCA, UNSDCF processes and country investments in agrifood systems;
•    Identify critical points, technical elements, information and data related to FAO's performance in the CCA sections in order to propose dialogue and policy response while guiding the construction of the UNSDCF;
•    Provide support to the Representation by contributing, organizing and analysing information from the CCA, in order to position the Organization as a focal point in the field of agrifood systems transformation within the UN system;
•    Provide support to FAO country representative in technical backstopping on diagnostics and analytics for supporting design and scaling up of country priority investments in agrifood systems;
•    Identify support requirements for country offices in terms of CCA and UNSDCF and propose solutions in coordination with RLC; 
•    Systematize and disseminate experiences, lessons learned, and best practices around the CCA and UNSDCF;
•    Other tasks assigned by the immediate supervisor, according to the contractual objectives.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements

•    University degree (preferably PhD, MS or equivalent) in Economics, Agricultural Economics, Public policy or related field;
•    At least 12 years (for COF) or 15 years (for PSA) of professional experience for Level A, and five years for Level B in the analysis of economic development issues relevant to FAO’s mandate with emphasis on policies for sustainable agriculture, rural development or food security, including working experience in a developing country context;
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). For PSA, working knowledge of English. 

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Well-acquainted with FAO’s work as an Organization; 
•    Excellent communication and facilitation skills and demonstrated senior management and leadership track records;
•    Extent and relevance of experience in undertaking analysis and assessments, using benchmarked approaches of agrifood systems; 
•    Depth of experience of social, economic and political issues related to agrifood systems, sustainable agriculture, rural development or food security in the region; 
•    Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of FAO’s specialized tools and socioeconomic analytical methodologies;
•    Sound technical and political judgement and capacity to work well with a range of actors including technical teams and decentralized country teams from other UN entities;
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable;
•    Demonstrated experience in drafting technical reports/documents in English and an additional UN language is considered a strong asset;
•    Analytical skills and ability to express and synthesize ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, and demonstrated communication skills;
•    High-quality communications and analytical skills.

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing)
• Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list
• 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/ 
• For more information, visit the FAO employment website
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

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
• 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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