The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) was established in 1996 in Samoa to coordinate the FAO work in 13 Members in the Pacific subregion - Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and one Associate Member, Tokelau. SAP is responsible for developing, overseeing and implementing programmes and projects to address food security, nutrition, agriculture, and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion wide institutions and entities. The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok. Key Functions:
Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned technical cooperation-related programmes/projects; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties; identifies follow-up actions.
Coordinates technical cooperation activities and programme-related activities and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for their implementation and leads the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
Provides advice regarding the development of policies and strategies related to technical cooperation, as well as regional, subregional and national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO's work.
Specific Functions:
Reviews and analyses the project background, its objectives as they align with the national and regional agrifood systems objectives and aspirations, and consistently maintains excellence in the project delivery through building effective national teams and partnerships.
Formulates the first year's workplans for each of the three countries within the first three months of the project start in consultation with the LTO, country focal points, EU 'with assistance from the FAO national staff and obtain the endorsement of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and the stakeholders by organizing an inception meeting and implement the same with excellence.
Plans and organizes half-yearly PSC meetings and Annual Review and Planning Meetings (ARPMs) to facilitate review of project activities and outputs, formulation of subsequent annual work plans, and knowledge sharing.
Leads the process of hiring, mentoring and managing the project team members in Fiji, Samoa and Solomon Islands, the ad hoc national and international experts, and Service Providers, and coordinate the overall project operational arrangements through contractual agreements with key project partners in compliance with the FAO policies.
Liaises with the government ministries to build the national capacities to improve the policy environment throughout the agrifood value chain to reduce the disincentives and increase the incentives for domestic food production and value addition and improve the trade and marketing ecosystem to help enhance the affordability and consumption of domestically produced, nutritious food.
Facilitates technical coordination and collaboration between the government counterparts, national technical officers, international consultants, and project partners.
Leads the establishment of agribusiness incubators in each of the three project countries and facilitates widespread engagement of youth and women in the agrifood system transformation.
Develops and implements an effective communication and knowledge sharing strategy for the project.
Identifies the CSOs to work with for project implementation and develops their capacities.
Understands and ensures compliance to all relevant FAO and EU policies, including on visibility and publications.
Keeps a regular communication mechanism with the donor and the three country focal points.
Carries out any other relevant duties as required by the project and the organization.
Candidates Will Be Assessed Against the Following:
Minimum Requirements:
Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), or related field.
Seven years of relevant experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
Technical/Functional Skills:
Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
Relevance and extent of experience in technical cooperation related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
