Data Protection and Intellectual Property Specialists

Organizational Setting

The Legal Office provides authoritative legal advice and assistance on a wide range of issues to the Director-General, units in Headquarters and in the field, the Governing and Statutory Bodies and Members of the Organization.

The position is located in the General Legal Affairs Service (LEGA). The Service provides advice to, and acts on behalf of, the Organization on legal matters, ensuring that its activities are conducted in a manner consistent with its Basic Texts and with its status as an inter-governmental organization of the United Nations System, and that its relationships with Governments, organizations, institutions and individuals are on a sound legal basis.

As a knowledge-based Organization with a technical mandate, FAO units at Headquarters and in other locations collect, generate and share a large volume of data and information, including personal data. FAO is embarking upon a number of significant digital and other initiatives which, as recognized by its Governing Bodies, will require strengthened corporate frameworks for protection of data and, as relevant, intellectual property rights. A systematic review of FAO’s data protection and intellectual property frameworks is required, and the development of new corporate policies and operational guidance, aligned with international standards and good practice, the status of FAO as a UN System organization, as well as its operational and programmatic needs. The new policies and guidance must be fully integrated in FAO’s corporate rules, processes, policies, and information systems. The work is time-sensitive and must be completed in 2021. The work will be performed under time-limited temporary assignments, under the supervision of Legal Office, and will include regular updates to FAO senior management and, as appropriate, relevant Governing Bodies.

This call for expressions of interest is for the purpose of identifying specialists in Data Protection and/or Intellectual Property. This call is aimed at experts with various levels of experience in the areas of data protection and intellectual property to fit one of the two profiles described below. The experts who are hired for the assignment will be home-based.

Reporting Lines

The Data Protection and Intellectual Property Specialists report to the Legal Counsel, while day-to-day supervision is provided by the Senior Legal Officer (LEGA), and other Legal Officers, as appropriate.

Technical Focus

Data Protection and Intellectual Property.

Key Results

Comprehensive regulatory frameworks for data protection and intellectual property to govern and guide all operations, located at Headquarters and elsewhere, in line with the Organization’s UN System status and its Basic Texts.

Tasks and responsibilities

The tasks and responsibilities of each selected candidate will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignments depending on their level of experience, expertise and language skills.

Profiles

Data Protection and Intellectual Property Coordinator

• Plan the development of relevant corporate frameworks and guidance, implement those plans and supervise the work of others in such implementation, to ensure that the key outputs are delivered within the specified time-frame.
• Coordinate extensive research and analyses of international guidance - in particular those of the UN System - to identify generally recognized minimum standards and principles, new trends and issues, and related institutional arrangements for protection of data and intellectual property.
• Collaborate with counterparts in other UN System agencies and partners to ensure consistency and coordination with UN System policy approaches.
• Map existing FAO rules, policies, guidance and processes, as well as FAO’s ongoing and new activities to identify gaps and needs. Consult with, and seek inputs from, all relevant units of FAO, particularly in respect of the International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture, the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, and the Strategy for Private Sector
  Engagement 2021-2025.
• Take into account the outcome of the analyses, and any guidance received from Members, make recommendations on regulatory and institutional arrangements in support of FAO’s activities, including appropriate innovative ideas and principles, for FAO’s corporate data protection and intellectual property policies, and for their effective and consistent implementation. Recommendations should include including risk avoidance and/or risk mitigation strategies.
• Amend existing, and/or develop new, policies, procedures, operational guidance and methodologies aimed at the timely operationalization of the new data protection and intellectual property frameworks.
• Prepare reports for Senior Management and FAO’s Governing Bodies on the status of the review and implementation of FAO’s data protection and intellectual property policies.
• In collaboration with key stakeholders, promote communication, information and sensitization activities related to data protection and intellectual property.
• Perform any other duties as required.

Data Protection and Intellectual Property Specialists

• Under the day-to-day supervision and at the direction of the Coordinator:
  • Research and review a variety of information sources and international guidance - in particular those of the UN System - to identify generally recognized minimum standards and principles, frameworks, and related institutional arrangements, for data protection and intellectual property.
  • Draft, review, amend and update a range of data protection and intellectual property related documents.
  • Seek inputs from relevant FAO units and external entities as appropriate.
  • Assist in the development of innovative principles and ideas and provide support with the production of accurate and timely integrated analysis products to support and document decision-making and policy development.

• Perform any other duties as required.