Resource Mobilization and Agreement Specialist

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• 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 Setting
Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSR) leads and coordinates the mobilization of voluntary contributions (currently 70 percent of FAO’s budget) in support of the organization’s strategic priorities. PSR manages FAO’s relations with resource partners, strategically matching partners’ interests to those of the organization, and supports the negotiation of agreements. It mounts marketing analysis and campaigns around global development opportunities, provides market and business intelligence and positioning services to management as well as resource mobilization capacity development to decentralized and headquarter offices. PSR also oversees global programme and project reporting to resource partners. It strives to assure the highest quality of development results, through providing project cycle oversight and support, and policy design for operational modalities and outsourcing.

The consultancy position is in the Resource Partnership Management Unit (PSRP) within PSR. The Unit is divided into 4 groups dealing respectively with European Union (EU), European Bilateral Partners, Pacific Rim and Non state Partners and Emerging Partners and International Financial and Climate Institutions. The Unit is strategically positioned with a dynamic and diverse work environment and it provides possibilities for professional growth through interactions with many different FAO offices, including FAO’s decentralized offices and external stakeholders and partners.

Reporting Lines
Under the general guidance of the Head of Unit for PSRP and the supervision of the relevant Group coordinator, the Consultant will provide expertise and support to partner relations, resource mobilization, grant and partnership management as well as partner compliance of voluntary contributions within FAO’s Strategic Framework. In doing this, the Consultant will contribute to the achievement of the Unit’s goals as per the corporate Resource Mobilization and Management Strategy (RMMS).

Technical Focus
Resource mobilization
Agreement negotiation
Compliance support
Partnership and grant management

Tasks and responsibilities
The incumbent will be responsible for partner relations, resource mobilization and partnership/grant management with resource partners within an assigned portfolio:

• Manage a portfolio of partnerships, providing partner stewardship and negotiating agreements to maximise resources raised;
• Conduct negotiations for contributions and partnership agreements, in line with internal policies and external regulations, with the objective of ensuring more flexibility and predictability of FAO voluntary contributions;
• Liaise with resource partners (governments, international organizations, UN, foundations, private sector, international financing institutions or climate financing entities) from assigned portfolio to facilitate partner-compliance-related issues throughout the project life cycle (funding, administrative, financial, legal, partner and technical requirements);
• Build and maintain effective relationships with representatives of partners through appropriate channels;
• Organise and facilitate informal and formal meetings with resource partners;
• Act as focal point and provide advice and briefs to strategic programmes, technical divisions and decentralized offices of FAO to assist them to effectively mobilise resources;
• Identify and share with relevant offices of FAO, thematic and geographic priorities and new funding opportunities with resource partners;
• Prepare briefing documents and talking points for senior level management meetings with resource partners;
• Liaise with resource partners and technical units and decentralized offices to stay abreast of progress and bottlenecks of interventions and provide advice to ensure effective and timely implementation of projects;
• Negotiate and clear funding agreements to be signed by FAO for partner and FAO compliance;
• Review and clear progress and terminal reports against partner and FAO compliance criteria;
• Coordinate work with other Officers in the Unit as well as in the Division and beyond to ensure adequate flow of information and to align activities. Support the Organization efforts to ensure partner visibility.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• University degree in political science, international development, development economics, business and administration, law or other relevant field
• 3 or more years of relevant experience in grant negotiation or partnership management
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese or Russian

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

Technical/Functional Skills
• Extent and relevance of experience in conducting negotiations within an international context (bilateral partners, UN agencies, IFIs, multilateral organizations such as EU or international NGOs)
• Demonstrated experience in developing productive relationships with resource partners (be they governments, foundations, private sector entities, IFIs, multilateral organizations such as EU or other UN agencies)

Additional selection criteria
• Previous experience in bilateral and multilateral cooperation will be an asset
• Familiarity with FAO areas of work (agricultural development, food security, nutrition, climate change etc.)
• Demonstrated capacity to work under time pressure and prioritise tasks
• Strong interpersonal skills to relate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders

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