Programme Assistant Child labour in Agriculture

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates, therefore, will 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

Organizational Settings

The global mandate of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is to improve nutrition, increase agricultural productivity, raise the standard of living in rural populations and contribute to global economic growth. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts – to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. The Food and Agriculture of the United Nations (FAO) acknowledges that child labour violates children’s rights and the prevalence of child labour in agriculture undermines the principles of decent work as well as the efforts to eradicate hunger, malnutrition in all its forms and poverty of present and future generations. Eliminating child labour is a global priority, embedded in.1 The world will not be able to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.7, which provides for the elimination of child labour in all its forms by 2025, without the elimination of child labour in the sector of agriculture. To contribute to Uganda’s efforts as a pathfinder country, to fast-track progress towards the elimination of all forms of child labour by 2025, FAO Representation in Uganda needs to fill the position of Programme Assistant/National Consultant Child Labour in Agriculture to support the implementation of national activities of the MDF-funded project ‘Supporting Governments in addressing child labour for sustainable agricultural transformation in COVID-19 economic recovery’.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Uganda, and the direct technical supervision of the Assistant FAOR Programmes, supported by the National Project Coordinator, and in close collaboration with the Programme Officer, in the technical unit working on Child Labour in Agriculture at, FAO Headquarters in Rome, the Programme Assistant Child Labour in Agriculture will contribute to the implementation of national activities of the MDF-funded project: ‘Supporting Governments in addressing child labour for sustainable agricultural transformation in COVID-19 economic recovery’.

Technical Focus

The national child labour consultant will support FAO’s Uganda on child labour elimination in agriculture.

o Technical support to knowledge generation and dissemination initiatives to expand the evidence on the prevalence of child labour in agriculture subsectors, with a focus on the 14-17 age group
o Support to the coordination of capacity building activities to strengthen institutional engagement on child labour in agriculture.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Programme Assistant Child labour in Agriculture will work in close collaboration with FAO Uganda, the technical team in FAO HQ and will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Work closely to monitor implementation of activities under the FMM FAO Multi-Partner Programme Support Mechanism (FMM) and the MDF-funded project, along with the FMM National Coordinator.
• Support the dissemination of the visual facilitators guide ‘Protect Children from Pesticides’ and e-learning course on ending child labour in agriculture.
• Support the publication, printing and dissemination of the visual facilitators’ guide: ‘Protect young people from exposure to occupational safety and health risks in agriculture’.
• Support the organization, the running and the follow-up of a national workshop on the role of agriculture stakeholders in ending child labour in agriculture.
• Work closely with relevant service provider to monitor and support the piloting of Income Generating Activities (IGAs) in Karamoja region.
• Support the finalization of the legal study report and policy brief.
• Support FAO presence in the Alliance 8.7 meetings in Uganda, pathfinder country, to give visibility to the issues of child labour in agriculture and the nexus with food security.
• In coordination with the FRUGA FMM National Coordinator and the RAF regional child labour consultant, support FAO’ inputs, participation and visibility into national events, and contribution to the regional process for the observance of the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour.
• Contribute, as required, to FAO Uganda Programme and participate in relevant meetings and activities.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University Degree relevant in agricultural discipline, economics or related social sciences relevant to rural development
• At least 2 years relevant experience in agriculture/rural development programmes in Uganda;
• National of Uganda or resident with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of social protection, youth employment and child labour issues;
• Work experience in administration, organization and management of agriculture/food security programmes/projects integrating social dimensions;
• Good understanding of the principles of results-based management and capacity to develop plans, organize resources and take actions to ensure objectives achieved within realistic time lines;
• Good understanding of the government structure and the international stakeholders present in Uganda, and experience in working with the government agencies;
• Excellent knowledge of oral and written English;
• Team player.

Selection Criteria:

• Relevant academic background;
• Relevant knowledge and experience in on agriculture/rural development/employment and child labour;
• Extent of experience administration and management of agriculture/food security;
• Knowledge and experience in capacity building initiatives;
• English skills

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