Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator

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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

Since its endorsement by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) in December 2010 and its functional set-up in April 2011, the global Food Security Cluster (gFSC) has been successful in creating a conducive environment for global partners to discuss food security operational and policy matters. It has been instrumental in developing tools and providing guidance and support to countries affected by humanitarian crisis.

The gFSC is led by FAO and WFP. Over 40 international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the international Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are active members at global level. The cluster focuses on coordination of food assistance and livelihood humanitarian interventions.

Overall, food security is the largest sector in humanitarian response, as it represents 35% of funding requirements through the global humanitarian appeal. The average profile of a country food security cluster is a group of 68 partners targeting two million food insecure people and managing a sector appeal of US$ 250 million yearly.

This VA is to be included officially in the Food Security Cluster roster. Successful candidates will be eligible to be selected for deployment in various countries.

Reporting lines

The FSC-CC reports jointly and equally to the FAO Representative and WFP Country Director.

Technical Focus

The Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator (CC) is one of the core Food Security Cluster (FSC) Coordination team members and plays a vital role in ensuring timely, coherent and effective food security interventions by mobilizing stakeholders to respond in a coordinated and strategic manner to a humanitarian crisis. The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference and the main core functions, is to lead food security coordination along with the support team (includes an Information Management Officer (IMO), but may vary according to country specific situation) and a wide range of stakeholders in:

• Supporting service delivery
• Informing strategic decisions of the Humanitarian Coordinator (HC) and Humanitarian Country Team (HCT)/Country Management Team (CMT)
• Coordinating, Planning, and implementing Cluster strategies, including contingency planning and preparedness
• Monitoring and Evaluating Cluster/Sector performance
• Building national and FSC members capacity in preparedness and contingency planning
• Advocacy
• Accountability to affected people

The Food Security Cluster/Sector Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the FSC and represents the group as a whole, and not a specific agency. S/he will work closely with the UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator and the Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) or their designated official as required.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the HNO and lead the process for the FSC through identification of needs, severity, geographical scope, and Persons in Need, with the support of the IMO and in consultation with the cluster partners
• Undertake planning and strategy development by contributing to the HRP and lead the process for the FSC through coordinating the design of the response strategy and logframe, in consultation with the cluster partners.
• Lead the review of FSC partners’ projects submitted on the HPC online system, based on the agreed inclusion criteria (where relevant).
• Establish and maintain appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms: ensure inclusion of key partners at national and sub-national level, organize regular cluster meetings, as required.
• Establish and maintain Technical Working Groups to support partners in key thematic areas (ex: agriculture, livestock, cash, targeting, etc.) or key thematic emergencies (e.g. Cyclone response, besieged areas, etc.)
• Ensure an inclusive governance structure for the FSC (including co-leadership of national authorities where possible, Strategic Advisory Group, NGO co-chairing, etc.)
• Ensure timely, inclusive and regular information sharing and discussion with the cluster partners through various modalities including cluster meetings, email dissemination of cluster products (dashboards, maps, assessments, etc.). Ensure monitoring of the response implementation and reporting (including capitalization documents)
• Facilitate / lead needs assessment & analysis, support in conducting surveys such as EFSA /CFSAM/SMART, secondary data review, and dissemination of available information (inventory / repository) to partners
• Ensure that available information is analysed in a coordinated manner and utilised for decision-making at different levels (e.g. Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) or Cadre Harmonisé (CH) - country specific)
• Ensure mainstreaming of cross-cutting and cross-sectoral issues (e.g. gender, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, disability, environment, early recovery, protection, nutrition) and appropriate participatory and community-based approaches in cluster/inter-cluster needs assessments, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring
• Ensure the use and application of common standards (e.g. SPHERE standards and CHS), and harmonization of programmatic responses (SOPs on modality of delivery, Minimum Expenditure Basket, minimum assistance package)
• Contribute to country level contingency planning and coordinate cluster/sector-wide emergency preparedness and response
• Ensure the development of regular food security reports (Sitreps, Bulletins, newsletters, etc.)
• Proactively engage in the ICCT especially with relevant clusters WASH, Nutrition and Health on join assessments, monitoring and response planning to address multi-sector needs; Participate in various coordination forums including technical working groups (e.g. Cash WG)
• Undertake advocacy and resource mobilization on behalf of the FSC partners in a neutral and impartial manner. Engage different country based pooled funding schemes processes (identification of needs and required interventions, due diligence, review of projects, monitoring of implementation of project, etc.).
• Identify funding for the FSC team in order to have a running FSC, in close collaboration with the CLAs. Actively track FSC funding status in consultation with CLAs to ensure continuity of operations
• Identify capacity gaps and needs and provide training and capacity building opportunities to FSC partners
• Together with the FSC-IMO, support gFSC initiatives, e.g. CCPM (Cluster Coordination Performance Monitoring), global cluster annual overview, the Global Network Against Food Crises, etc.
• Supervise the IMO and provide guidance to the co-chair and other Cluster team members, and ensure a smooth and inclusive relationship of the Cluster team with all partners and CLAs
• Ensure IM functions are undertaken regularly and timely by the IMO
• Report regularly to CLAs including NGOs co-chair, where existing.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in food security, agriculture, economics, humanitarian affairs or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in humanitarian response at a mid or senior level. Experience in food security related topics is mandatory and experience with inter-agency coordination is desirable
• Working knowledge of English and working knowledge of another FAO language based on country of deployment (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish. Working knowledge of only one language might be required for PSA.SBS.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Ability to work and plan at both operational and strategic level;
• Understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including humanitarian principles, coordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Humanitarian Programme Cycle - HPC, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals, Pooled funds);
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context.
• Ability to express and summarise ideas orally and in writing in a diplomatic and inclusive manner;
• Ability to interact with a number of different stakeholders and represent the FSC in strategic meetings and discussions;
• Ability to lead workshops, meetings and to present outcomes in behalf of a group of stakeholders;
• Good understanding of FS Assessments, Survey, an
• Willingness and ability to work in difficult environments, in often stressful time- critical situations ;
• Formal training in Cluster Coordination or previous Cluster experience is desirable.
• Cultural and Gender awareness and sensitivity
• Knowledge of Portuguese would be an asset.

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