Secretary, International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

• 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 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
• 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

TheInternationalPlantProtectionConvention(IPPC)wasestablishedunderArticleXIVofthe Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations andhasthepurposeof securingcommon andeffective action toprevent the spreadand introduction of pests ofplants andplantproducts, andtopromote appropriatemeasuresfortheircontrol.ThecontractingpartiestotheIPPCundertaketoadoptthelegislative,technical and administrativemeasures specified in the Convention and in its supplementary agreements.The Commission onPhytosanitary Measures(CPM) is the highestGoverning Body ofthe IPPC. ArticleXII of the IPPC statesthat "TheSecretary ofthe Commission shallbeappointedbytheDirector-Generalof FAO."

The post is located in the IPPC Secretariat within the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Secretary (IPPC) reports to the Director,NSP undertheoverallguidanceoftheresponsibleDeputyDirector-General.

Summary of Duties and Functions

As outlined in the Convention, the Secretary of the InternationalPlantProtectionConvention (IPPC) is responsible for managing the IPPC Secretariat, ensuring the implementation of the IPPC work programmes in different areas of activity; supporting the Commission's sessions, its subsidiary bodies and other working groups and for liaising between FAO and the CPM, IPPC's highest governing body.

In particular, he/she will\:

• Formulateandimplement theIPPCstrategicframework,workprogrammesandpoliciesasagreeduponbytheCPMin consultation with the CPM Bureau and unitsconcerned in FAO;monitornewissues,concerns and developments in the fieldofplanthealthanddevelopproposalsfor possibleaction.
• Manage thehumanandfinancial resources of theSecretariatand theCPM withinresources provided byFAO,and any extra-budgetaryresources.
• Develop and lead efforts to mobilize resources for the IPPC’s activities and support funding outreach approaches for technical staff in Decentralized Offices (DOs) and headquarters, as appropriate.
• Managethepreparationandeditingofthereports issuedbythe CPM,itssubsidiarybodiesandotherworkinggroups,as wellasotherpublicationsproducedbytheSecretariatinitsdifferentareasofactivityandensure thepublicationand disseminationofthestandards,reportsanddocumentsadoptedbytheCPM.
• PromotetheIPPCatthe international, regionalandnationallevels,especiallywithregardto attractingfinancial,staff and/or other contributionstoitsworkprogrammebyprovidingcommunication,fundraising andpromotionstrategiesforthe IPPC, designingandimplementingapublicationplanfortheIPPC.
• Further develop the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) which provides training, collaboration opportunities and digital GIS (Geospatial Information Systems) tools and resources to strengthen Africa’s phytosanitary systems.
• Facilitate thegovernanceandfurther development oftheIPPCelectronic certification tool(theePhyto Solution)andany futurecollaborative effortsrelatedtoelectroniccertificationand/ordata.
• Ensure the development andmaintenance of appropriate toolsfor theexchange of information among Members and between Members and theSecretariat.
• MonitortheimplementationoftheIPPCanditsInternationalStandardsforPhytosanitaryMeasures(ISPMs).
• Ensurethecoordinationanddeliveryoftechnicalassistanceforphytosanitarycapacitybuilding.
• Represent theIPPC and liaisewiththe World Trade Organization (WTO), theConvention onBiological Diversity (CBD),the Biodiversity LiaisonGroup (BLG),the Standardsand Trade Development Facility (STDF)andother international governmental, non-governmental and regional organizations relevant to the goals of the IPPC.
• Represent the IPPC Secretariat in its relations with the media, non-governmental organizations and private sector.
• Reportonallthesemattersannually totheCPM.
• Performotherdutiesasrequired.