Rural Institutions, Services & Empowerment Specialist

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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

The Social Policies Rural Institutions Division (ESP) coordinates FAO’s work on social protection; gender equality, decent rural employment, rural institutions and people’s empowerment, and the right to food. It is responsible for working with member countries and other partners to reduce rural poverty through strengthening social protection systems, diversifying rural employment opportunities, reducing gender gaps and other social inequalities in agriculture, promoting territorial development, strengthening producer organizations and improving the rural poor’s access to productive resources and services, including rural financial services and investment capital.

Within ESP, the Rural Institutions, Services and Empowerment (RISE) Team works to promote effective rural institutions, inclusive service systems, and territorial/rural development approaches to create an enabling environment for rural people to actively participate and seize opportunities to improve their livelihoods in a sustainable manner. The Team supports countries in applying territorial approaches in policy making and development planning; promoting pluralistic market-oriented services and inclusive rural financial systems; strengthening producer organizations and empowering rural women and men through gender-sensitive participatory and community-driven approaches to policies and programs.

RISE Team aims to improve rural livelihoods and support family farmers through services and institution building to enable small-scale producers and their organizations to increase productivity and income and link to markets and value chains. The team provides support to member countries in the development of policies, capacities and institutional arrangements for pluralistic service provision (by a wide range of service providers), inclusive rural finance, territorial development and strengthening capacities of producer organizations to enable small-scale family farmers to increase their productivity, manage their farms as a sustainable businesses, link to markets, and act collectively to improve their livelihoods as a means for reducing rural poverty.

FAO International Consultants and Call purpose

The Organization frequently engages experts to work on short-term projects as international consultants. The functions of a consultant are results-oriented and normally involve analysing complex issues, directing seminars or training courses, preparing documents for conferences and meetings, or writing reports on matters within their area of expertise. An international consultant is engaged by the Organization to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which would be short-term by nature. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions similar to those of staff members. The assignment can be from 1 month up to 11 months on a When-Actually-Employed (WAE) basis. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the resources and needs of the Organization.

The purpose of this Call is to attract qualified candidates for consultancies in the area of Rural Institutions, Services and Empowerment (RISE) to populate the divisional roster for this profile. Individuals who satisfactorily meet or exceed the requirements of the Call will be included in the divisional Roster Rural Institutions, Services & Empowerment Specialist. Candidates who are registered in the Roster will be considered for future contracts when relevant opportunities arise.

Reporting Lines

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Policy Officer, in close collaboration with the Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSR), and under the functional supervision (for all communication outputs/products) of the Office for Corporate Communication (OCC), the consultant will lead, coordinate and implement the communication and resource mobilization activities of the RISE team.

Technical Focus

Ensure the development and implementation of the team resource mobilization, advocacy, engagement, visibility and communication efforts within the international scenario and with different stakeholder.

Tasks and responsibilities

Oversee the implementation of RISE Resource Mobilization Action Plan, including development of strategic approaches to seize opportunities

• Engage with colleagues in ESP Management Team, Technical networks, , the Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSR), Technical units and Decentralized offices to support implementation of RISE Resource Mobilization and Partnership Action Plan with a goal to orchestrate and seize partnering opportunities at all levels;
• Act as RISE focal point to the different related Task Forces, ensuring pro-active participation in initiatives and processes;
• Support development of partnerships with PSR and PSU and strengthen the linkage with resource mobilization;
• In coordination with PSR, develop specific resource partner fund-raising strategies and approaches, solicit and promote funding proposals in line with the SDGs, from relevant Technical units, Regional and Country offices;
• Draft and implementation a resource mobilization strategy for the programme in coordination with PSR.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of marketing plans for FAO’s programmes and projects.
• Contribute to communications and outreach activities, including organization of specific donor events and outreach campaigns.

Take part in strategic meetings with resource partners and other relevant events

• Facilitate proactive engagement in close coordination with PSR with traditional and non-traditional resource partners, building on FAO comparative advantages and best practices and programmatic objectives.
• Support all possibilities for resource partner interaction for business areas at global, regional and country level, and in coordination with PSR and/or regional and country office resource mobilization focal points.
• Design and deliver promotional material, shape presentations and speaking points in support of key outreach opportunities and resource partner interactions.

Assist with tracking resource mobilization pipeline and performance

• Monitor pipeline programmes and projects and resource mobilization performance, aiming to build on lessons learnt for future resource mobilization efforts ensuring regular exchange and communications between RISE and PSR.

Active member of the FAO Resource Mobilization Network

• Act as a key player in FAO’s resource mobilization network, linking countries, regions and headquarters around priority areas for outreach and resource mobilization, as well as share experiences and lessons learned.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in international relations, sustainable development, communications or related field.
• At least five year of work experience relevant to Resource Mobilization, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Partnerships, Advocacy, Communication and knowledge sharing.
• Working knowledge of English, and limited knowledge of Arabic, French, Chinese, Russian or Spanish.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• 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 in institutional development and strengthening of producer organizations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in rural services and pluralistic service systems, agribusiness and rural advisory services, including policy and institutional aspects influencing access of small producers to rural services and markets.
• Extent and relevance of experience in rural/territorial development analysis and implementation.
• Extent and relevance of work in strategies and programmes to support family farmers.
• Systems thinking with excellent analytical and writing skills in English.
• Familiarity with FAO’s work and field programme is an asset.

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

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