FOOD SECURITY CLUSTER/SECTOR COORDINATOR

Rome

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Rome
Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
- Development Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals
- Humanitarian Aid and Coordination
- Security and Safety
- Nutrition
- Food Security, Livestock and Livelihoods
- Managerial positions
- PSE
Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

Since its endorsement by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) in December 2010 and its functional set-up in April 2011, the global Food Security Cluster (gFSC) has been successful in creating a conducive environment for global partners to discuss food security operational and policy matters. It has been instrumental in developing tools and providing guidance and support to countries affected by humanitarian crisis.

The gFSC is led by FAO and WFP. Over 40 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the international Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are active members at global level. The cluster focuses on coordination of food assistance and livelihood humanitarian interventions.

Overall, food security is the largest sector in humanitarian response, as it represents 35% of funding requirements through the global humanitarian appeal. The average profile of a country food security cluster is a group of 68 partners targeting two million food insecure people and managing a sector appeal of US$ 250 million yearly.

Reporting Lines

The Consultant reports jointly and equally to the FAO Representative and WFP Country Director

Technical Focus

The Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator (CC) is one of the core Food Security Cluster (FSC) Coordination team members and plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent and effective food security interventions by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a coordinated and strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis.

Tasks and responsibilities

Contribute to the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO) and lead the process for the FSC through identification of needs, severity, geographical scope, and Persons in Need, with the support of the IMO and in consultation with the cluster partners;

Undertake planning and strategy development by contributing to the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) and lead the process for the FSC through coordinating the design of the response strategy and logframe, in consultation with the cluster partners;

Lead the review of FSC partners projects submitted on the HPC online system, based on the agreed inclusion criteria (where relevant);

Establish and maintain appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms\: ensure inclusion of key partners at national and sub-national level, organize regular cluster meetings, as required;

Facilitate / lead needs assessment & analysis, support in conducting surveys such as EFSA /CFSAM/SMART, secondary data review, and dissemination of available information (inventory / repository) to partners;

Ensure that available information is analysed in a coordinated manner and utilised for decision-making at different levels (e.g. Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) or Cadre Harmonisé (CH) - country specific);

Ensure mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g. gender, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, disability, environment, early recovery, protection, nutrition) and appropriate participatory and community-based approaches in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring;

Ensure the use and application of common standards (e.g. SPHERE standards and CHS), and harmonization of programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package);

Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response;

Ensure the development of regular food security reports (Sitreps, Bulletins, newsletters, etc.);

Participate in various coordination forums including Inter-cluster, technical working groups (e.g. Cash WG) and other relevant clusters, especially Nutrition, WASH, Health, and Protection;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs or related field;
Minimum 5 years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level. Experience in food security related topics is mandatory and experience in the FSC is desirable;
Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

FAO Core Competencies

Results Focus
Teamwork
Communication
Building/maintaining Effective Relationships
Knowledge Sharing

Technical/Functional Skills

Ability to work and plan at strategic and operational levels;
Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including humanitarian principles, coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Humanitarian Programme Cycle - HPC, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals, Pooled funds);
Ability to express and summarise ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner;
Ability to organise workshops, meetings and to present outcomes in behalf of a group of stakeholders;
Assessment, Survey, and Monitoring and Evaluation;
Willingness and ability to work in difficult environments, in often stressful time- critical situations;
Formal training in Cluster CC or previous Cluster experience is strongly desirable;
Knowledge of and experience in using advanced Excel
Experience of the country or region of deployment is desirable.
Cultural and Gender awareness and sensitivity