Communication for Rural Development Specialist

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Partnerships Division (PSP) is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the identification, strengthening and stewardship of strategic partnerships with non-state actors, including parliamentarians, civil society, private sector, academia and research institutions, family farmers’ and indigenous peoples’ organizations, to facilitate delivery of FAO's strategic objectives (SOs), and field programme by fostering dialogue, developing capacities, scaling up programmes and advocating for FAO’s corporate positions.

The Division works to ensure secure tenure right and promotes the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI). It has the lead responsibility for the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT), the FAO Policy on Indigenous People and the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact. Furthermore, the Division facilitates jointly with IFAD the secretariat of the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF 2019-2028) contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. Within the framework of its organizational leadership in the field of family farming, the Division is responsible for promoting policy dialogue and to deliver support to member countries, producer organizations and field projects ensuring multi-stakeholder processes and engagements at global, regional and country level, leading the work of the Organization in the area of Communication for Development (ComDev).

PSP through its Communication for Development Team (ComDev) located in the Family Farming and Partnerships with Producers Organizations Unit (PSPF), assists member countries, FAO SOs, field programmes, decentralized offices and partners in the design and implementation of ComDev strategies and plans and the delivery of inclusive rural communication services for family farming and sustainable rural development. Priority is given to improving stakeholder engagement in FAO programme delivery, enhancing the capacity of rural institutions and family farming organizations, supporting evidence and policy dialogue and technical advice for inclusive rural communication services. Special support is also provided to the implementation of UNDFF’ Global Action, in particular of Outcome 4.4 Communication, ICT capacities/services improves and family farmer’s voices heard, and to FAO programme and producers’ organizations through participatory communication plans, regional and national ComDev initiatives and platforms, knowledge sharing, partnerships, and capacity development in ComDev for family farmers and their organizations.

The Organization frequently engages experts to work on short-term activities and projects as international consultants or under personal service agreements (PSA). International consultants or PSAs are engaged by the Organization to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which is short-term by nature. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions. The assignment can be from 1 month up to 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the resources and needs of the Organization.

The objective of the Call is to attract suitable individuals to undertake B-level and C-level consultancies and/or PSAs in the area of Communication for Rural Development, in line with the following priorities and tasks\:

a) support the design and implementation of ComDev projects, strategies and components according to the FAO guidelines, http\://www.fao.org/3/a-i4222e.pdf; b) support the Communication for Rural Development activities undertaken by the Organization and the Partnerships Division (PSP) at HQs and country level, ensuring stakeholder engagement and improving FAO programme delivery; c) enhance the ComDev capacities of non-state actors, in particular family farmer, indigenous peoples and civil society organizations, as well as rural institutions, Governments, community media and networks and development programmes; and d) provide technical advice and promote evidence, knowledge sharing, partnerships and policy dialogue to ensure inclusive rural communication services as part of agriculture, rural development and family farming policies and programmes.

Individuals meeting or exceeding the requirements of the Call will be included in the Communication for Rural Development‘s Partnerships Division Roster. Experts who are registered in the Roster are available for consideration whenever relevant opportunities arise matching the required profiles.

Reporting Lines

The consultants or PSAs will work under the general guidance of the Unit Heads, and under the direct supervision of the Team Leader of the FAO Communication for Development Team within the Partnerships Division (PSP), in close collaboration with other concerned FAO divisions (e.g. Office of Corporate Communication, OCC), strategic objectives teams and decentralized offices. When activities are carried out in countries, the consultants will be required to work in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment, as well as the relevant FAO regional office.

Technical advice in the design and implementation of Communication for Rural Development projects, strategies and services in connection with FAO strategic objectives and field programmes and activities.

The general functions, tasks and responsibilities in the area of Communication for rural development will include but are not limited to the following elements\:

• Provide technical assistance for the design of ComDev strategies and components in FAO programmes and projects and support the implementation ensuring stakeholder engagement and improving FAO programme delivery according to the relevant FAO guidelines http\://www.fao.org/3/a-i4222e.pdf.
• Support FAO Strategic Programs, Regional Initiatives, CPFs, decentralized offices, family farmers and producer organizations and FAO partners in relation to ComDev plans and activities.
• Support the UN Decade of Family Farming global action plan, with special attention to Outcome 4.4, Communication, ICT capacities/services improved and family farmer’s voices heard, and facilitate the implementation of participatory communication plans for the UNDFF.
• Support regional ComDev initiative/platforms (ComDev Asia, Yenkasa Africa, Onda rural) and foster strategic partnerships and cooperation in this field.
• Provide advice in the design, piloting and upscaling of inclusive rural communication services (RCS), involving the use of appropriate media and their adoption by family farmers, and promote policy dialogue.
• Take care of the organization of trainings, e-learnings and the preparation and sharing of case studies, methodologies and tools to enhance ComDev capacities especially of FAO offices, rural institutions, farmer organizations, indigenous peoples and development practitioners. and
• Perform other task as needed.

• Advanced university degree in (for Consultants) / University degree (only for PSA) in communication and/or ICTs for development, social sciences, agricultural sciences or related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in Communication for Development, particularly in the agriculture, family farming and rural development sector.
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian. (for PSA it can be required only one language)
• Research and analytical skills, and ability to present and communicate effectively both orally and in writings.
• Proven competence in the formulation and monitoring of Communication for Development strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to identify appropriate media and channels.

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of academic qualifications in areas related to Communication for Development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in planning and monitoring Communication for Development activities and reviewing policy, institutional and/or legal frameworks in a wide range of cultural and development contexts as well as in monitoring related systems.
• Extent and relevance of experience and technical capacity in designing and implementing Communication for Development strategies and plans to rural development, family farming, climate adaptation and resilience.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing Communication for Development activities and establishing partnerships and networks with relevant partners in this field.
• Knowledge of FAO methods for communication for development or dialogue facilitation an asset.
• Knowledge of FAO’s strategies activities and methodologies in Communication for development.
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills, as well as gender sensitive and cross-cultural competency.
• Ability to operate effectively in a team, contributing positively to team operations and working relationships. Work experience in more than one location or area of work

• Level, extent and relevance of experience in Communication for Rural Development in support of field projects, rural institutions and producers
• Knowledge of FAO Communication for Rural Development guidelines, methods and tools
• Experience in organizing trainings, technical meetings an seminars in Communication for Development
• Capacity to animate and support regional and national networks and facilitate participatory communication activities
• Experience Ability to participate and work in a team under tight deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience working in complex environments.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines and multiple work streams.
• Depth of English language skills\: full fluency in written English is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign and Photoshop is desirable.
• Knowledge of Machine Translation Tools and Techniques, Natural Language Processing, Knowledge Management Systems, Web Usage Analysis, Information Retrieval/Extraction Systems is desirable.