Operation Support Specialist for the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGHCI)

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• 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 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.

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) provides investment and finance solutions that lead to more efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agrifood systems. Working in over 120 countries, the Centre provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. It partners with governments, international and national financing institutions, the private sector and farmers, research institutions and academia to improve the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. The Centre's four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge, learn and build capacities at country level. For additional information on the FAO Investment Centre, its activities, partners and the organizational structure please visit the following link.

The Sustainable Cocoa Initiative (SCI) aims to strengthen the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the cocoa and chocolate sector, by fostering enabling policies and promoting public and private investments in the cocoa value chain. To support the SCI, CFI is collaborating with Governments, European Union (EU) Delegations and FAO Representations in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon, the EU in Brussels, the Secretariat of the Cote d'Ivoire – Ghana Cocoa Initiative, FAO technical divisions and diverse cocoa sector actors to design and implement an integrated set of actions and provide a diverse range of services. While the SCI will focus initially on the three major African cocoa producing countries of Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon, its objective is to reach out to other cocoa producer countries in Africa and elsewhere, to engage in similar structural reforms in support of sector sustainability. As a lead implementation partner, FAO will design and implement this support in a flexible and demand-driven manner by which National Governments European Union Delegations, cocoa sector stakeholders and relevant development partners including financial institutions will articulate and agree to priority interventions, which are coherent with national goals and Initiative objectives. The initiative will thus support different stakeholders to build on the consensus that is emerging among producing countries, industry representatives, cocoa smallholders, and European consumers to link increases in cocoa farmers' revenues to a clear commitment to halt deforestation and eliminate child labour, while promoting social inclusion and gender equality.

Reporting Lines

The Operation Support Specialist will work under the overall technical supervision of the SCI Lead Technical Officer, and the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGHCI) Executive Secretary.

Technical Focus

The Operation Support Specialist will provide technical support to improve the operational capacity of CIGCI and contribute to the implementation of its annual work plan. The specific aim is to contribute to the achievement of the Economic Pact for Sustainable Cocoa.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide technical support in developing strategies and action plans related to the achievement of Economic Pact for Sustainable Cocoa.
• Facilitate and lead technical studies, workshop and activities linked with the achievement of Economic Pact for Sustainable Cocoa.
• Serve as monitoring and evaluating resource person for drafting progress reports of the projects linked to the Economic Pact and implemented by the CIGCI, suggesting improvements and innovative solutions where necessary.
• Provide support for partnership and resource mobilization related activities of the CIGCI with local and international partners.
• Contribute to the design, planning and implementation of economic evidence-based knowledge production activities for the achievement of Economic Pact for Sustainable Cocoa.
• Contribute to the prioritization, planning and delivery of diverse communication products in support of the CIGCI.
• Support the preparation and finalization of written outputs/deliverables (e.g., draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports, inputs to publications, country documents and overall CIGCI documentation)
• Any other activities related to the achievement of Economic Pact for Sustainable Cocoa.
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree or equivalent in Agriculture, Economics, International Development, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in management and provision of technical support to cocoa production and value chains, with a focus on economic topics.
• Working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for consultants). Working knowledge (level C) of English, French, Spanish, Arabic or Russian (for PSAs).

FAO Core 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 is desirable. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in participating in multidisciplinary teams for the preparation of strategies and sector studies as well as formulation, implementation support or evaluation of food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and value chain development. 
• Extent and relevance of experience of cocoa value chains and cross-cutting policy issues is highly desirable. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in investment design, implementation support and evaluation procedures of FAO’s main development partners, in particular the European Union.
• Demonstrated strong network and working relationship with government and relevant stakeholders in the cocoa sector is an asset.
• Experience working in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire is considered an advantage.
• Demonstrated experience in dealing with government officials, development partners and other country level stakeholders.
• Excellent drafting skills and capacity to synthesize;
• Relevance of experience in different geographical areas.
• Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English and French.

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

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 create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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