Hand-in-Hand Latin America and the Caribbean Support 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 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

The Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis to support the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. ESA provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analyzing food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation and poverty, food security and nutrition information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy, and climate-smart agriculture. The division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI).

The FAO Director-General’s flagship Hand-in-Hand Initiative (HIHI) supports nationally owned and led agri-food systems transformation programmes in LDCs, low income LLDCs and SIDs, countries in food crisis, and large countries with large poor populations. The Initiative uses data and advanced analytics to identify subnational territories where agri-food value chain upgrading can raise incomes of the poor sufficiently to eradicate poverty and ensure access to healthy diets – levels that are more than three times the extreme poverty line. The HIHI also adopts a needs-based and demand-driven “matchmaking” approach to deliver partnerships to supply means of implementation, promotes scaled-up public and private investment and provides state of the art monitoring and evaluation platforms to ensure partner alignment, agility and effectiveness through the 6-8 year life of the supported programme.

The Initiative uses a market-oriented agri-food systems lens to identify important opportunities to unlock investment opportunities to achieve sustainable development objectives and targets, including SDGs 1, 2 and 10.
Fighting hunger requires the best and most innovative analysts, committed to change the world for the most vulnerable people. The consultant has to be comfortable working under high pressure in a rapid-changing environment, being a self-learner and independent person.

FAO International Consultants and Call purpose

The Organization frequently engages experts to work on short-term activities and projects as international consultants or under personal service agreements (PSA.SBS) at various levels of experience (see minimum requirement below). The assignments may involve full-time or part-time functions, with duration ranging from 1 month up to 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and dependent on the availability of resources and the needs of the Organization. Assignments can require travel, mission and/or appointment to field locations. Individuals who meet or exceed the requirements of the Call determined through an interview process will be included in the ESA divisional roster that will be used to resource future vacancies within the technical requirements covered by the Call.

The role will be located within the Sustainable markets, agribusiness and rural transformations (SMART) team in the Agrifood Economics Division (ESA)

Reporting Lines

Under the overall guidance of the Director, ESA, and the direct supervision of a Senior Economist, the consultant/PSA will be asked to support Hand-in-Hand related activities in Latin America and the Caribbean and/or carry out tasks related to the provision of food and agricultural strategy support to governments. When activities are carried out in member countries, applicants will be required to work in close collaboration with the FAO Representation in the relevant country of assignment, as well as the relevant FAO regional and/or sub-regional office.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will support activities in the framework of the Hand-in-Hand Initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean. The ideal candidate has experience in communications and providing strategy and coordination support for the implementation of regional initiatives focused on sustainable development and policy design. She/he is able to work closely with country offices and donor, private sector or government agencies working actively to strengthen their international relations and negotiations. She/he is able to manage and keep updated the communications between different stakeholders, as well as analytical skills for moderating consultations at a regional and national level. The coordination support provided by the incumbent will feed into the preparation of a wide range of events and meetings, so excellent communications skills are relevant assets.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide coordination advise to Hand-in-Hand countries to strengthen their negotiations with relevant stakeholders
• Organize recurring meetings with Country Offices, the Regional Office and HQ divisions, including preparing an agenda and sending a minute after each meeting
• Keep Task Forces updated on activities, bilateral meetings and coordination elements in order to achieve the milestones established in the framework of HiH
• Participate in, organize, or facilitate high-level policy meetings, roundtables or other events related to food and agricultural policy reform in developing countries.
• Support capacity development activities benefitting government counterparts and other selected national partners.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in economics, agricultural economics, development economics, political science, public policy, international development or any related field;
• At least one year of relevant experience;
• Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian (for Consultants). Working knowledge of English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian (for PSAs).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in one or more developing countries preferably in Latin America
• Familiarity providing communication and organizative advice to public and private sector
• Capacity to interact with government officials and private sector on key issues affecting sustainable development
• Experience in communicating with government officials and ability to present the key results in concise and effective manner.

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