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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL/REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE NEAR EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

Cairo

  • Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Location: Cairo
  • Grade: Senior Executive level - ADG, Assistant-Director-General
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Managerial positions
    • Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE)
  • Closing Date: Closed

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the specialized Agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to high-quality food.

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's regional priority activities and business development in line with SDGs. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with divisions and offices at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RNE also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and guides the implementation of approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RNE develops and maintains relations with a wide range of partners, including resource partners, the private sector and non-state actors, including regional institutions such as the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

Reporting Lines

The Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative works under the guidance of, and reports to the Deputy Director-General.

Summary of Duties and Functions

In the framework of FAO’s mandate, Strategic Objectives, agreed Organizational results and technical, operational and administrative corporate procedures and policies, the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative (ADG/RR) is the senior representative of the Director-General in the region and represents FAO vis-à-vis region-wide institutions and media. He/she is responsible for developing, promoting and overseeing FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture, rural development and agricultural innovation; the implementation of approved programmes/projects related to regional priorities; addressing region-wide food security, agriculture and rural development issues; leading the Regional Office in the performance of its functions. He/she leads and supervises members of the Regional Management Team composed of the Deputy Regional Representative, the Regional Programme Leader and Subregional Coordinators, as well as provides guidance on regional priorities to all FAO offices and units in the region and exerts direct supervision over Regional Office staff.

The ADG/RR receives advice from, and provides advice to, Heads of FAO’s headquarters’ divisions and offices, as well as the Subregional Coordinators and FAO Country Representatives in the Near East and North Africa. In particular, the ADG/RR, RNE will\:
  • advocate the Organization’s policy positions and communicate FAO’s messages at regional level;
  • support, in consultation with region-wide organizations, the regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture, rural development and agricultural innovation, and facilitate the emergence of regional partnerships;
  • assure, in collaboration with divisions and offices at headquarters, the due application of FAO’s corporate procedures, standards and policies in the region;
  • support monitoring of regional events and medium- and long-term perspectives, knowledge and information exchange, development of regional norms, standards, policy and regulatory frameworks, capacity development, resource mobilization, aid coordination and investments in food security, nutrition and agriculture, including joint United Nations approaches;
  • lead the prioritization of FAO’s work at regional level in close consultation with FAO units as well as region-wide organizations;
  • represent FAO in the UN Regional Collaborative Platform (RCP) and oversee FAO’s contributions to its activities;
  • oversee and monitor FAO’s collaboration with its Members and institutional partners in the region, in accordance with agreed priorities, approved programme/budgets, Strategic Objectives and corporate policies;
  • oversee and facilitate prioritization and monitoring of FAO’s work by the Regional Programme Leader and the Subregional Coordinators, in consultation, as necessary, with his/her respective counterpart organizations and governments;
  • lead FAO’s resource mobilization to support programmes at regional, subregional and country levels;
  • lead the region’s contribution to FAO’s programming and budgeting processes and ensure coherence between global, regional, subregional and country priorities and related budgetary allocations;
  • manage the regional Technical Cooperation Programme allocation;
  • provide operational support to FAO Country Representatives on emergency and rehabilitation operations and advise on managing operations in countries where operational capacity is not adequate; assure an effective and enabling environment in which the Organization can respond effectively, and in a timely manner, to food and agricultural threats and emergencies at country, subregional and regional levels;
  • lead the organization of FAO’s Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC) and oversee the follow-up to its recommendations;
  • support other bodies or intergovernmental meetings convened by FAO at regional level;
  • oversee the implementation and negotiation of host country agreements, accreditation of FAO Representatives and the work of FAO Country Offices within the region, and ensure provision of policy, operational and administrative support services;
  • lead and manage the Regional Office by overseeing its budgetary allotments; supervising its staff; making efficient and effective internal organizational arrangements; ensuring the effective application of corporate policies and administrative procedures on, inter alia, procurement, HR management, accounting and field operations; leading the Regional Office in the development and implementation of the field programme at regional level; and ensuring the security, safety and welfare of staff and eligible dependants, as well as the protection of the Organization’s assets, property and information;
  • oversee the management of risk in all units within area of command, ensuring that any significant control weaknesses be escalated and that managers throughout area of command, including FAORs, observe internal control policies and procedures.

Minimum Requirements

  • Advanced university degree in a field related to the work of the Organization;
  • Extensive leadership and managerial/administrative experience;
  • Demonstrated professional competence and management/ strategic leadership of a high level;
  • Familiarity with results-based management approaches and ability to manage programmes and budget to achieve progress towards high impact results that respond to client needs;
  • At least fifteen years of relevant experience in the field of food security, agriculture, rural development and agricultural innovation;
  • Knowledge of regional government key players in the area of agricultural development;
  • Familiarity with regional agricultural networks;
  • Ability to lead and work effectively with a diverse team of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international setting;
  • Experience with multilateral negotiations and advice to governments;
  • Good resource mobilization and partnership development skills;
  • Working knowledge of English and a limited knowledge of one of the other FAO official languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
This vacancy is now closed.
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