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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 Members 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 FAO's values
- FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
- All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
- All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
Organizational Setting
Under the 2014-2020 Multi-annual Financial Framework, the European Commission (EC) engaged in a partnership with FAO to strengthen countries’ capacities and the policy and institutional environment for investments geared towards improving food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (SDG2) to be more effective and impactful.
Following the 2019-20 independent evaluation, the FIRST Programme was extended until end of 2022 with the intention to develop a successor programme in the framework of the new EU Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF 2021-2027), whereby the country work will become largely funded from country-level resources.
In Palestine, In the past 5 years, the Government undertook a strategic thinking process that led to the formulation of the National Policy Agenda 2017-2022 (NPA) and a series of related sectoral and cross-sectoral strategies, such as the National Agriculture Sector Strategy and related six Agriculture Cluster Development Plans for its activation. Within this drive, the MoA led the formulation of the National Food and Nutrition Security Policy in Palestine 2030 (NFNSP) and of the National Investment Plan for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture 2020-2022 (NIP), to address the dispersed, imbalanced and uncoordinated policy response of the sector. The NFNSP and the NIP were formulated counting on the services of the FAO-EU Food and nutrition security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation (FIRST) Programme.
On 7 October 2020, the Government of Palestine endorsed the NFNSP and the NIP.
The formulation and endorsement of the NFNSP and the NIP are evidence of a policy shift towards an SDG-based multi-sectoral approach to planning and implementation of interventions for the transformation of the food system to be more inclusive, sustainable and resilient. This matches and complements the efforts made in parallel by the European Development Partners (EDPs) that issued the European Joint Strategy in Support of Palestine. With the European Joint Strategy, the EDPs committed to having a common reference ground when addressing (individually or as a group) Palestinian development priorities and needs.
Reporting Lines
The Policy Adviser (FIRST Programme) reports to the Head of Office, works in close liaison with and guidance from the Head of Programme and receives guidance on technical issues from FIRST Management (FAO HQ).
Technical Focus
Provides leadership, guidance and operational support for results-based policy assistance, governance, capacity development and facilitates policy dialogue around food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
Tasks and responsibilities
- Provide leadership, guidance and operational support for results-based policy assistance, governance, capacity development and facilitation of policy dialogue around food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (FNSSA).
- Develop and implement coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work for FNSSA.
- Plan, organize and participate in capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance, and oversee the development of related materials
- Advocate strategic partnerships, best practices, and policy dialogue and support resource mobilization, formulation and implementation of programmes and initiatives within a Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus approach.
- Prepare reports to FAO, the European Union and the Government on progress achievement and issues related to FIRST implementation
In the specifics and in close liaison with and guidance from the Head of Programme of the FAO Office for West Bank and Gaza Strip, the Policy Adviser will:
- Enhance MoA capacity to perform as leader of SDG2 Governance System supporting:
- the preparation of the NIP Report for 2021;
- the initiation of the NIP revision for NIP 2024-2028.
- Support MoA and the EU in their respective strategic efforts in the field, including updates and reviews of the National Agriculture Sector Strategy and of European Partners Joint Strategy, as and when needed.
- Prepare/support/distribute analyses/studies/situation reports for evidence-based decision making including:
- Supporting the establishment and implementation of a quantitative based methodology to monitor the impact of shocks and stressors on the agri-food system);
- Overseeing the preparation of an The Exploratory Study of the Feasibility of Food Reserves in Palestine
- Supporting the definition of the Road Map for investment on the solar electrification of the agriculture sector along the agri-food value chain in Gaza.
- Facilitate/foster Policy dialogue around SDG2, through:
- Ensuring the active participation of the MoA Planning and Policy DG and SDG2 Working Group in the NIP reporting and revision exercises mentioned above;
- Providing advisory oversight to the Food Security Sector Coordination Team;
- Participating and/or contributing to UN coordination activities over SDGs, fostering an HDP nexus approach;
- Formulate a county level project to build and support governance capacities for Agri-food System Transformation to Achieve SDG2 in Palestine, Enabling the Policy and Investment Environment.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- University degree in agricultural economics, development economics, public policy or closely related fields;
- Seven years of experience in economic analysis, formulation and monitoring of FNSSA policy, delivering policy assistance and institutional capacity development related to FNSSA;
- Working knowledge of English Language and limited knowledge of one of the other languages of the organization (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Russian). For PSA.SBS the working knowledge of only one language is required.
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, particularly in field positions in Oriental Near East is desirable
- Extent and relevance of experience in facilitating multi-stakeholders policy dialogue on Food Security, Nutrition and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA) policies
- Extent and relevance of experience in identifying and prioritizing investment projects and programs in the area of FNSSA and rural development including command of Project Cycle Management is desirable
- Working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency