Technical Adviser (Rural Development Officer)

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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 persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
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• 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.

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.

Organizational Setting
The FAO Representation in Georgia (FEGEO) is a multi-accreditation office of the Organization with a non-residential FAO Representative. FEGEO is leading FAO's response to the national priorities related to food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the country. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the country closely interlinked with and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework in Georgia (UNSDCF) and the FAO Country Programme Framework (CPF). FEGEO formulates and implements the programme drawing on technical expertise from the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) and headquarters as well closely working with resource and development partners and the stakeholder in the public and private sector, academia, and the civil society.

FEGEO has a large portfolio of projects implemented with a team of national and international staff and several offices throughout the country. FAO's main areas of work, based on the Country's Programming Framework (CPF), are focused on development of agriculture and food systems, rural development, food safety and consumer protection, environmental protection and climate change.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Reporting Lines
The Technical Adviser (Rural Development Officer) reports to the FAO Representative in Georgia. The incumbent works under the secondary supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative in Georgia and under the technical supervision and support of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO). The Technical Adviser (Rural Development Officer) will also collaborate with other FAO consultants, professionals and administrative staff in FAO Georgia, FAO REU and FAO headquarters.

Technical Focus
The incumbent will be recruited under the GCP/GEO/031/AUS project titled Inclusive Rural Development and Sustainable Agriculture.

The overarching goal of the project is to foster increased competitiveness within the agricultural sector, enhance food production, and concurrently alleviate rural poverty, with a specific emphasis on mitigating inequality. This will be achieved by providing support for the effective execution of the Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy of Georgia 2021-2027.

Furthermore, the project's anticipated outcomes are intrinsically aligned with the thematic focus area of sustainable rural development and the enhancement of livelihood opportunities, as stipulated within the Framework Strategy of the Austrian Development Cooperation concerning the EU Eastern Partner Countries. The successful realization of these objectives is expected to catalyse significant positive change in the Georgian agricultural landscape, with far-reaching implications for rural development and economic growth. By complementing the LEADER approach, the project will emphasize inclusivity as a core principle, ensuring that all stakeholders are actively involved in project implementation.

The main role of the incumbent will be to plan, lead and coordinate the project implementation. This includes the overarching technical area of rural development and integrated community development with specific focus on supporting rural communities, extension service, producers' groups and vulnerable groups e.g. women and rural youth. The project will focus its interventions on selected municipalities (to be identified in the inception phase) as well as on national level.

Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support technical cooperation-related programmes, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

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, 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
• Provides technical guidance to ensure proper implementation of project work plan and budget.
• Coordinates, manages and ensures the cohesion and coordination between different components (outputs) of the Project.
• Guides and monitors national consultants, project component teams and contracts to ensure timely delivery of outputs to an acceptable standard.
• Technically guides the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of project activities (through quarterly project progress reports, mission reports, financial reports and other documentation) to FAO, national stakeholders, and donor and propose adjustments to project activities as necessary.
• Leads the development and delivery of various written outputs, including background papers, analyses, training materials, technical reports from the contributing teams and review them before submission for clearance.
• Provides strategic policy advice to government counterparts, donor and other partners on technical issues.
• Promotes the identification of good practices and lessons learnt from the Project for sharing and learning within FAO as well as externally. Addresses obstacles and challenges identified during Project implementation.
• Identify necessary inputs, including international and national consultants, equipment, contracts, supplies, etc. for different project activities.
• Contributes to consultative and other meetings and participates as speaker in workshops and other events related to agricultural and rural development, as appropriate.
• Leads field missions and conducts periodic monitoring and backstopping visit to Project sites
• Works closely with the Government's competent authorities to discuss needs and tailors advice and project activities to respond.
• Provides advice regarding the development and implementation of policies to national and local authorities based on project experiences.
• Leads technical discussions and provides policy advice and expertise, in collaboration with and under the technical guidance of the LTO and other relevant FAO technical officers.
• Designs, conducts and coordinates research, data collection, validation, analysis and/or reporting activities to allow for the collection of data for progress indicators and the assessment of the implementation of the programme in technical aspects as defined in the logical framework.
• Liaises with the LTO and other FAO technical officers in headquarters and REU to obtain technical inputs and technical clearances on technical reports and presentations.
• Supports and builds capacity for the project team to ensure timely technical support and capacity development provided to relevant stakeholders and project partners during the implementation of the Project's workplan.
• Promotes linkages, dialogues and technical cooperation with relevant stakeholders in Georgia, including Government institutions, donors, private sector companies and civil society organizations and participates in technical platforms and coordination fora, meetings and conferences for the benefit of the Programme's targeted population.
• Ensures information sharing with other projects or programmes in the country or internationally. Contributes to establish partnerships around support to local rural development.
• Performs any other related duties as required.
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in rural development, social sciences, agriculture, economics or related fields.
• Seven years of relevant experience in policy advice/assistance, programme or project management and analysis related to rural development.
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Team Work
• 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
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Relevance of academic qualifications.
• Extent of knowledge and experience related to in policy assistance and/or analysis related to rural development, which may include issues of poverty reduction and/or rural employment and/or social inclusion (specifically youth and gender);
• Extent of experience with European rural development policy and programmes.
• Extent and relevance of experience in project/programme design, management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Report and analytical writing skills.
• Strategic thinking.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Work experience in the Europe and Central Asia region, as well as within UN/international organizations, is an asset.