Senior Policy Officer (Food Security And Nutrition)

• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply for this position
• FAO does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

• 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.

The Regional Office for RLC 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 priority activities in the region. 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. RLC also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RLC develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

The post is located in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Santiago Chile

The Senior Policy Officer reports to the Regional Programme Leader in coordination with the Assistant Director General, Regional Representative and maintains regular contact with FAO headquarters in Rome for functional guidance on matters relating to policy and governance support in the food and nutrition sectors. The Senior Policy Officer has regional responsibilities and in addition provides the first port of call for country offices in the South America Sub region in his/her areas of expertise. S/he convenes and coordinates regularly with other food security and nutrition policy officers in decentralized offices in the region to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of regional priorities in response to country demands. S/he also supervises one or more multidisciplinary, geographically dispersed teams.

Regional and sub-regional policy issues with a focus on food systems transformation and food and nutrition security policies, responses, programmes, partnerships, investments and innovations. Economic and social policy related to agriculture, food security and nutrition. Evidence based policies to enhance economic and physical access to healthy food, including through nutrition sensitive social protection programmes and value chain approaches. Policy evaluation and impact assessment.

Development and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work supporting member states at regional and country level: i) in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and its delivery mechanisms, and ii) in response to new policy assistance requests.

• Manages or leads highly specialized or multi-disciplinary teams, and provides technical leadership in high-level policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies

• Leads the work carried out by technical or policy officers from HQ or out-posted staff in the Decentralized Offices in relation to policy and governance work under FAO’s strategic framework

• Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices, and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and food systems

• Interacts with UN Regional and Country teams to improve cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food, and nutrition security and sustainable development

• Analyzes regional and country-level issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements

• Designs, implements and monitors regional and sub-regional policy work programmes and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies

• Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance, and oversees the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.

• Represents the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences

• Leads and/or provides technical, policy and operational support to results-based FAO regional initiatives, corporate planning, strategic partnerships and cooperation initiatives with member countries as well as UN, international and regional organizations and regional multilateral processes within the region, with a focus on food systems transformation and food security and nutrition policies, responses, programmes, partnerships, investments and innovations that contribute at a large scale to the SDGs.

• Leads, participates in, or contributes to policy assistance and governance missions that work with decentralized offices in the region and national, sub regional and regional public, private and academic institutions, networks, and UN agencies to: (a) identify, formulate, appraise and backstop regional and national programmes and projects in areas of FAO's mandate; (b) review and develop technical cooperation programmes in line with economic policy, food security and nutrition priorities and frameworks of the region and its member countries; (c) provide policy-related technical support to FAO Representatives in the formulation/revision of their Country Programming Framework (CPF), and in the participation in in-country multilateral processes such as the CCA, UNSDCF, and PRSPs, particularly in the context of the One UN reform.

• Promotes FAO's field programme in the region, in line with national and FAO strategies and priorities, covering project identification through preparation, approval and facilitation of resource mobilization.

• Organizes and contributes to technical servicing of FAO regional statutory bodies, including the regional conference and other relevant regional and sub-regional fora, technical and policy networks, and capacity development efforts.

• Mobilizes and/or maintains strategic alliances, cooperation, partnerships (including with the private sector), communities of practice and resources to catalyse policy change, digital innovation, and build and enhance the portfolio of food systems and food security and nutrition related programmes

• Leads, contributes to and publishes state-of-the-art analyses, assessments, databases, knowledge products and tools, managing and sharing knowledge and data to ensure that regional policy and programme recommendations are forward looking, aligned to the FAO global strategies and other current positions, are regularly updated with lessons and good practice from the field and are adopted by stakeholders within and between countries.

• Represents FAO in diverse fora and in the media.

• Advanced university degree in development economics, political sciences, agricultural economics, nutrition or related field

• Ten years of experience in policy advice and analysis relating to food security and nutrition and food systems transformation and monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes and/or agriculture and rural development

• Working knowledge (Level C) of English and Spanish

• Results Focus

• Leading, Engaging and Empowering

• Communication

• Partnering and Advocating

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Strategic Thinking

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential.

• Strategic understanding of complex policy processes and demonstrated capacity to promote intersectoral approaches to achieve food system transformation and governance.

• Extent and relevance of experience in policy analysis and advice relating to food and nutrition security, food systems transformation, sustainable agriculture, and rural development. A range of experience in different types of policy positions, including applied policy experience within governments and/or international organizations is an asset.

• Experience in leading and preparing flagship publications, quality of analytical writing and oral communication skills, including publication record.

• Extent and relevance of knowledge and experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and senior government officials, development partners, expert groups and other stakeholders on policies, programmes and projects,

• Demonstrated track record of successfully mobilizing resources and investments, including from non-traditional donors.

• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, manage and motivate multidisciplinary teams in complex international organizations to achieve large-scale results in constantly changing environments. A high level of computer literacy and experience in using innovative technologies, approaches and tools in managing teams and in managing for results is an asset.

• Prior experience in the Latin America and Caribbean region is an asset