Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) Sub-National Cluster Coordinator for Al Mukalla Hub

Organizational Setting

FAO's office for Yemen is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing countrywide food, agriculture and rural development priorities under Yemen. It develops and maintains relations with the relevant Ministries at country level. This position is based in FAO Representation in Sanaa, Yemen. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

The Food Security and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC) Sub-National Cluster Coordinator for Al Mukalla Hub reports to the FSAC Coordinator and works in close consultation with the FAO and WFP field teams in Al Mukalla.

Technical Focus

The main role of the FSAC Sub-National Cluster Coordinator is to ensure an appropriate food security and agriculture coordination mechanism in Al Mukalla hub which covers Hadhramaut, Al Mahara, Soqotra, and Shabwah governorates. This includes coordination and liaison with all humanitarian partners including Donors, UN agencies, relevant government institutions, national and international NGOs, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and other international organizations.

The Sub-National Cluster Coordinator is a member of the FSAC team and will work impartially with all the members of the cluster and its subcomponents. The incumbent is 100% dedicated to the cluster and does not represent any specific agency or organization.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Represent FSAC in the Al Mukalla hub;
• Create a network of organizations involved in Food security and Agriculture activities;
• Create, manage and maintain up to date sub-cluster (hub level) contact directories and mailing lists of Food Security and Agriculture Cluster partners;
• Establish and maintain appropriate FSAC coordination mechanisms at local level (e.g. organize regular meetings, draft meeting agendas, lead field level FSAC meetings, prepare minutes and share with partners, and communicate key issues to the FSAC Coordinator, etc.);
• Coordinate with UN agencies, INGOs, local authorities, relevant technical line ministries, local civil society and other relevant actors;
• Actively support the inclusion of key local humanitarian partners within the hub in FSAC meetings;
• Ensure constant support to local partners (NNGOs and CBOs), UN Agencies, INGOs, relevant technical line ministries, and authorities through organizing relevant food security and agriculture related capacity building trainings;
• Participate and represent the FSAC in other relevant Coordination and Cluster meetings (AHCT, RCT, ICCM, ICWG, CMWG, Nutrition Cluster, WASH Cluster, Health Cluster etc.) conducted in the hub;
• Collect and manage relevant Food Security and Agriculture related information from the hub and timely share it with the National Cluster, Cluster Lead Agencies (WFP and FAO), OCHA, local cluster partners, and other relevant stakeholders;
• In collaboration with the Information Management Officer (IMO), produce regular cluster district level 4W/ response and gap analysis maps, reports and info graphics, and snapshots for the hub;
• Produce monthly hub Sit Reps on the evolving food security situation highlighting key concerns, gaps, challenges faced by partners, key advocacy messages and support needed (from the National cluster, Cluster Lead Agencies, OCHA, authorities, and other stakeholders);
• In conjunction with the IMO, ensure that all respective hub FSAC partners’ details are captured accurately in the response and gap analysis maps, info graphics, 4Ws, and other communication documents;
• In close coordination with the IMO, collect, update, and disseminate yearly village level FSAC partners planned activities to assist in avoidance of overlaps and/or duplication of assistance;
• Constantly ensure that there are no overlaps or duplication in assistance in the hub by making sure that FSAC partners provide and adhere to sub-district and village level plans, and coordinate prior to activity implementation;
• Ensure that FSAC Partners adhere to the YHRP district level targets for Emergency Food Assistance, Emergency Livelihoods Assistance, Conditional Cash Transfers/Cash for Work, and longer-term livelihoods activities for the hub;
• Support the implementation of Food Security and Agriculture related assessments in areas under the coverage of the hub;
• In close coordination with the IMO, collect data on the humanitarian requirements and contributions (financial, material, human- as appropriate) to inform HNO, HRP, and other appeals as appropriate;
• Ensure that sub-cluster FSAC Partners are familiar and adhere to all FSAC tools and standards (e.g. Reporting Tools, Assessment Tools, FSAC Indicators, minimum food basket, minimum emergency livelihoods package etc.);
• Participate in hub level FSAC specific and Inter-Cluster needs assessment and analysis, e.g. Famine Risk Monitoring (FRM), Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), Rapid Food Security Assessments, Multi-Cluster/Sector Initial Rapid Assessments (MIRA), Initial Situation Tool (IST);
• Ensure that all beneficiaries assisted under the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) and either Multi- Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) or one-month General Food Distribution (GFD) are incorporated into the regular 1st line FSAC response;
• Undertake regular joint field monitoring visits to FSAC partners’ project sites to monitor impact of programs (including Humanitarian Fund funded programs), ensure adherence to FSAC standards, and get beneficiary/community feedback;
• Undertake a capacity audit of local partners (NGOs and CBOs) to determine eligibility for FSAC membership;
• Respond to ad hoc requests from potential partners wishing to join the cluster (as per the laid down FSAC membership criteria);
• Ensure adequate attention to priority cross-cutting and cross-sectorial issues (e.g. Accountability to Affected Populations, Gender, Age, early recovery);
• Track the financial expenditure of the sub-cluster activities (e.g. workshops, trainings, meetings etc.) in the respective hub and liquidate advances on a timely basis;
• Contribute to regular programme monitoring and reporting systems as needed;
• Bring any issue requiring urgent action to the attention of the Cluster Coordinator and Cluster Lead Agencies (WFP and FAO) immediately;
• Perform other tasks as required by the Food Security and Agriculture Cluster Coordinator;

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Development Economics, Rural Sociology, Economics, Rural Development, International Development, Social sciences, or a related field. An advanced degree would be a plus;
• Between 7 to 10 years progressively responsible humanitarian work experience with UN and/or NGO, including program management and/or coordination in the first phase of a major emergency response relevant to the cluster;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish (knowledge of Arabic is preferred)
• National of Yemen.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focused
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work;
• Extent and relevance of experience of high-level coordination and chairing of meetings; ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working and especially negotiating with multiple parties/stakeholders in a politically and culturally sensitive environment;
• Ability to work in a challenging environment and to travel extensively in the assigned areas;
• Excellent communication skills in English and Arabic languages, both verbal and written;
• Willingness and ability to work in multicultural and difficult environments, in often stressful and critical situations;
• Openness to learning, flexibility, and able to easily adapt to changing circumstances;
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work in Yemen is desirable;
• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting emergency response programming;
• Understanding of the Yemen humanitarian response architecture, including coordination mechanisms and funding mechanisms (e.g. YHF, CERF etc.);
• Extent and relevance of experience to work productively in a pressurized environment with long work hours, high workload, and to maintain visibly high levels of morale in difficult circumstances.

Selection Criteria

• Relevance of education and professional background;
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate high-level meetings;
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize competing tasks;
• Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills in English;
• Possession of capacity building and mentoring ability for cluster partners;
• Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working;
• Extent of experience in coordination of food security and multi-cluster needs assessment and analysis;
• Tact and ability to negotiate with multiple parties/stakeholders in a politically and culturally sensitive environment;
• Ability to work under minimal supervision while meeting performance expectations;
• Ability to remain calm even during highly stressful situations
• Capacity to take initiative, develop own hub work plan, and suggest modifications in the process
• Extensive work experience outside the humanitarian sector which is relevant to this post may be considered as a replacement for humanitarian experience;
• Experience in coordination, facilitating and chairing meetings, and networking;
• Good level of analytical and report consolidation/writing skills and experience;
• Good knowledge of basic computer application software including advanced MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) and other relevant utilities required for the job;
• Ability to use advanced communication systems such as Skype, Email, Internet, and others