FAO Representative in Oman

Leadership Competencies
Results focus: Takes accountability for the delivery of agreed results in service of FAOs strategic framework

Leading engaging and empowering others: Coordinates directs facilitates and recognizes team efforts; creates an enabling environment and assists others to realize and develop their potential

Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication

Partnering and Advocating: Promotes ideas and develops partnerships to advance the Organizations work

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement: Continually seeks to improve the knowledge skills and work processes of oneself and others

Strategic thinking: Makes informed and coherent decisions aligned with broader goals and strategies.

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

GENERAL INFORMATION

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: 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.

Organizational Setting

The main aim of the FAO Country Offices which are headed by FAO Representatives (FAORs) is to assist governments to develop policies programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition to help develop the agricultural fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

The FAO Representative (FAOR) manages and is accountable for the FAO country programme office resources and staff. He/she reports to and works under the overall guidance and supervision of the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative (ADG/RR) and where applicable under the technical supervision of the Subregional Coordinator. The FAOR works closely with the Regional Leadership Team and is supported by the Regional/Subregional Office and headquarters technical administrative and operational staff as appropriate.

The FAOR also reports periodically to the Resident Coordinator (RC) on his/her respective contributions to the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and works towards the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and is an active and accountable member of the UNCT as defined in the approved Management and Accountability Framework that operationalizes the RC/UNCT relationships in accordance with the UN General Assembly resolution 72/279 and is also an active member of the Humanitarian Country Team where relevant.

The position is located in Muscat Oman.

Technical Focus

The FAOR leads FAOs response to national priorities and sustainable development challenges to advance the 2030 Agenda as well as to advocate for action aimed at accelerating the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as established in FAOs Country Programming Framework (CPF) and in line with the FAO Strategic Framework with particular focus on the Programmatic Priorities Areas (PPAs). The FAOR is entrusted with leading FAOs contributions to the UNSDCFs.

Key Results

The FAOR successfully leads and manages the FAO Country Office and effectively represents FAO in his/her country(ies) of accreditation developing maintaining and enhancing collaboration with the host government and other key stakeholders on development and humanitarian issues.

Key Functions

Represent and advocate the work of the Organization:

Represent FAO towards national authorities partners and stakeholders.

Advocate FAOs policy positions in the relevant national fora represent FAO in the national media and implement a proactive communications strategy to raise FAO awareness with the general public.

Support UN joint communication efforts and speak with one voice in delivering the 2030 Agenda.

Facilitate timely access by national stakeholders to FAOs knowledge resources and global public goods.

Provide leadership on food security and agriculture policy as well as operational matters within the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator System.

Lead the overall emergency response preparedness coordination and response at the country level in cooperation with the government UN Country Team/Humanitarian Country Team and Cluster/sector activities and related resource mobilization efforts.

Develop and operationalize the CPF derived from UNSDCF:

Support the countrys efforts towards the achievement of the SDGs in line with FAOs mandate and Strategic Framework.

Lead in line with national priorities and in consultation with national stakeholders and partners the timely development of the CPF and the Country Work Plan (CWP) in accordance with and as derived from the UNSDCF process and related FAO programmes projects and/or other activities (such as normative and policy functions).

Lead the analysis of the country situation providing when necessary updates and alerts on key events and trends including for the UN Common Country Analysis (CCA).

Lead FAOs contribution to the UN common planning and programming frameworks i.e. CCAs UNSDCFs (former UNDAFs) Consolidated Appeals Processes (CAPs) Humanitarian Action Plans Flash Appeals Joint Programmes etc.

Advise and collaborate with internal partners to raise awareness of country priorities and needs and support their inclusion in corporate and regional policies.

Lead the dialogue and liaise with national government authorities on issues of FAOs mandate.

Build partnerships and mobilize resources:

Support the operationalization of the CPF and the UNSDCF.

Support the establishment of effective partnerships and collaborations with governments donors civil societies non-governmental organizations (NGOs) the UN and other international organizations.

Lead country-level mobilization of extrabudgetary resources making maximum use of the expertise available in the Decentralized Offices.

Support the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in strategically positioning the UN in the country and in joint UN resource mobilization efforts.

Programme implementation and monitoring:

Ensure that programmes are managed and monitored effectively and in compliance with corporate policies as well as procedures.

Mobilize technical backstopping to FAO projects in line with corporate norms standards and procedures.

Provide (when requested) technical support services in FAOs areas of competence in the country(ies) of assignment as well as other countries of the subregion.

Operate as budget holder for national projects entrusted to him/her.

Oversee the effective implementation of FAO programmes and projects lead periodic reviews monitor the CPF and FAO components in the UN Sustainable Cooperation Frameworks and Joint Programmes and ensure timely reporting including to the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator as well as the UN Country Team on jointly agreed results.

Report results as per corporate reporting requirements in a timely manner.

Address issues in real-time to minimize reputational and financial risks for FAO.

Effectively manage the office personnel and financial resources:

Lead and manage the Country Office and ensure effective as well as efficient use of human and financial resources in line with corporate policies and administrative procedures ensuring that internal control mechanisms are in place and enforced.

Manage all matters related to the security and safety of FAO personnel and their eligible dependents whilst ensuring full adherence to the UN Security Policy rules and regulations as well as to security-related instructions issued by FAO.

Improve the observance of legal statutory or regulatory obligations; FAOs ethical standards and its internal Human Resources rules and policies including the application of FAO zero tolerance policies on prevention of sexual abuse and harassment and gender parity. Promote and nurture staff development in addition to welfare.

Identify and implement effective and efficient controls that better respond to operational risks faced in achieving FAOs objectives including preparation and implementation of Anti-Fraud Control plans.

Maintain and improve the reliability appropriateness and timeliness of financial and non-financial information.

Reduce losses and waste of assets as well as resources whether through misdirected effort avoidable errors mismanagement abuse or fraud.

Ensure that a gender focal point is designated as required by the FAO Gender Equality Policy.

Sustain and increases the confidence among Members and other stakeholders in the reliability resilience and efficiency of FAOs management systems.

Promotes and leads initiatives under the FAO Corporate Environmental Policy and its Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy 2020-2030 to reduce emissions increase efficiency and integrate sustainability into the Organizations daily operations.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Advanced university degree (Masters degree or equivalent) in an area related to the activities of the Organization e.g. Agriculture Forestry Fishery or Rural development etc.

Ten years of relevant experience in planning formulation implementation monitoring and evaluation of field programmes.

Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official 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 is essential in both programmatic areas and fostering government relationships.

Extent and relevance of experience in developing and managing country field programmes from design to delivery (programme/project identification formulation analysis planning implementation monitoring and evaluation).

Extent and relevance of experience in the coordination and/or management of technical cooperation projects and programmes including emergency recovery and rehabilitation related programmes.

Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization.

Extent and relevance of experience in negotiating and cooperating with national governments intergovernmental organizations and other institutions as well as in designing collaborative networks and joint programmes.

Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of Arabic.

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 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 FAOs 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.

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 FAOs 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.

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 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.