Senior Technical Officer (COAG Secretary)

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The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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
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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.

FAOs commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

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

The Committee on Agriculture (COAG) is FAOs main technical advisory Committee on agriculture responsible for: i) Reviewing major agricultural and nutritional problems and proposing concerted action by FAOs Member Nations; ii) Advising the FAO Council and the Director-General on activities relating to agriculture livestock food nutrition and natural resource management with particular emphasis on all the social technical economic institutional and structural aspects relating to agricultural and rural development in general; and iii) Reviewing specific matters relating to agriculture food and nutrition referred to the Committee. COAG also provides advice and recommendations to the FAO Conference on global agricultural policy and regulatory matters and to the FAO Council on matters relating to the Organizations priorities programmes and budgets.

The post is located in the Office of the Deputy Director-General (DDG) and supports the work of the Natural Resources and Sustainable Production (NR) stream in close collaboration with the FAO Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) Land and Water Division (NSL) and other technical units. The incumbent plays a key coordination and advisory role for the streams substantive technical work oversees preparations for the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) and directly supports the Deputy Director-Generals front office in advancing strategic and programmatic priorities with Members and partners.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Technical Officer (COAG Secretary) reports to the Deputy Director-General and collaborates closely with the Directors of the Streams technical divisions among others across the Organization. The incumbent provides coordination analytical and advisory support to the front office of the DDG including in the context of Governing Bodies engagement and internal programmatic alignment.

Technical Focus

The Senior Technical Officer (COAG Secretary) acts as Secretary of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG). S/he provides policy and regulatory guidance on issues related to agriculture livestock food safety nutrition rural development and natural resources management. S/he provides overall management support and advice under the Programme Priority Areas and other key priorities of the Strategic Framework.

Key Results
Leadership and technical expertise for the planning development and implementation of programmes of work projects related products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Leads the development implementation and evaluation of technical issues of assigned programmes/projects; directs the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
• Ensures the integration of gender equality and womens empowerment in FAOs work in accordance with FAO Policy on Gender Equality.
• Coordinates programmes and reviews the assessment of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects as well as the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs e.g. background papers analyses substantial sections of reports as well as studies and inputs to publications.
• Directs substantive support to consultative meetings and conferences to include the proposition of agenda topics identifying participants preparation of documents and presentations.
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops and seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions including provision of guidance to external consultants government officials and other parties.
• Provides advice to develop policies and strategies as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAOs work.

Specific Functions

• Manages the preparation of DDG streams inputs to Governing Bodies and Regional Conferences documents; monitors deliberations ensures appropriate follow-up action is taken on decisions and recommendations related to agriculture and in particular to areas of work led by the FAO Plant Production (NSP) and Land and Water (NSL) Divisions and related initiatives.
• Acts as Secretary of the Committee on Agriculture (COAG) organizes and ensures effective planning and implementation of biennial sessions and related activities; monitors implementation of its deliberations and of its programme of work working closely with the COAG Bureau members and relevant FAO units and ensures collaboration with other FAO Technical Committees and Statutory Bodies.
• Coordinates and supports technical divisions within the NR stream particularly NSP and NSL in the development and articulation of divisional priorities and contributions to substantive corporate technical and programmatic initiatives ensuring alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework and visibility through COAG and other governing mechanisms.
• Acts as a central interface between NSP and NSL technical divisions (including the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the DDGs front office facilitating policy coherence collaborative work and timely exchange of information and positions related to science innovation and natural resources management.
• Supports the DDG and the front office in strategic engagement with Members partners and across FAO streams providing substantive briefings talking points and technical inputs for high-level events external communications and senior management coordination.
• Coordinates stream-wide inputs to corporate initiatives position papers and intergovernmental processes ensuring they reflect technical coherence and strategic alignment with COAG mandates and DDG priorities including advocacy initiatives ensuring the development and implementation of effective communication and information strategies and advises on the overall scope and content of the publications and communication programmes.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agricultural sciences agricultural economics development economics rural sociology food security nutrition sustainable agriculture (including livestock forestry and fisheries) or related field.
• Ten 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 with special emphasis on developing countries.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic Chinese French Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Leading Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work particularly in field positions is essential.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and implementation of projects and programmes related to food security agriculture and rural development and technical cooperation.
• Extent and relevance of experience in facilitating collaboration and managing partnerships including with international agricultural research and innovation organizations and networks.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across technical areas and senior leadership settings ensuring coherence between programmatic implementation and high-level strategic direction.
• Proven track record in front-office advisory roles particularly in large international organizations supporting decision-making and cross-organizational coordination.
• Proven leadership skills and experience in working with a wide range of stakeholders intergovernmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated results-based management capabilities with an ability to manage programmes budgets and human resources efficiently and ability to mobilize resources and to deliver quality results and against deadlines.
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing high-level international meetings seminars and training courses.
• Demonstrated good communication skills and ability to produce and review reports and documents.

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

• 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

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 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
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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.

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