Partnership Officer (UN Collaborations)

1A101A10

• 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 persons 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
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting 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.

Organizational Setting
The Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU) of FAO is responsible for coordinating and overseeing the identification, strengthening and stewardship of strategic partnerships with UN agencies and non-state actors (NSAs) including parliamentarians, civil society, academia and research institutions, family farmers' and Indigenous Peoples' organizations. The Division leads FAO's engagement in the UN Development System repositioning, develops capacities, fosters dialogues, scales up programmes and advocates for FAO's corporate positions in support of FAO's new Strategic Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It ensures that multi-stakeholder processes and strategic interventions globally and locally are an integral part of FAO's work and provides targeted support for successful collaboration with NSAs and UN agencies.
The Division has the lead responsibility for the promotion of the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS RAI) and the implementation of the Food Coalition, the UN Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028), and the FAO Policy on Indigenous Peoples. It is also in charge of FAO's e-learning programmes and access to scientific and technical data through knowledge platforms and enhanced information policies and standards, to promote and facilitate knowledge sharing on sustainable food security and nutrition among various stakeholders.
Within PSU, the UN Collaboration Unit (PSUU) ensures and advances FAO's implementation of the UN Development System (UNDS) repositioning at headquarters, regional and country levels' with its support to the 1) participation in the UN coordination and collaboration mechanisms at HQ levels and at regional level, 2) adherence to UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks, 3) participation in the UN country teams in the areas of planning, programming and business operations, 4) effective engagement with the UN Sustainable Development Group and 5) transformative UN partnerships at HQ, Regional and country levels.

The post of Partnership Officer (UN Collaborations) is located in the UN Collaboration Unit (PSUUD) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Partnership Officer (UN Collaborations) reports to the senior Partnerships Officers, Head of the UN Collaboration in the the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division. He/she will be required to work with the FAO Liaison offices, FAO Regional offices and representations in relevant countries.

Technical Focus
• Strengthen and foster partnerships with UN entities in support of FAO's new Strategic Framework 2021-2030;
• Advocate for FAO's priorities in the UN Sustainable Development Group and its subsidiary mechanisms;
• Disseminate key policies, share good practices and success stories on UN collaboration and UN reform across the FAO;
• Track UN partnerships at all levels and report to key internal and external stakeholders on results;

Key Results
Comprehensive services on networking and partnerships; increase and strengthen partnerships and knowledge networks within and outside the Organization, with national, regional and international development partners, NGOs and private sector to support country-level actions guided by FAO’s Country Programme Framework (CPF) as well as increasing South-South and triangular cooperation.

Key Functions
• Assists with the development and implementation of the FAO Strategy for Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations and the FAO Strategy for Partnerships with the Private Sector at the regional or national level;
• Identifies and analyses inputs to FAO/Decentralized Office global advocacy objectives and strategies on partnerships;
• Supports the identification, promotion and development of strategic linkages and synergies between non-state actors and FAO's Strategic Framework and regional initiatives;
• Identifies and analyses new strategic partnership opportunities and nurtures existing partnerships in the area of food security and nutrition, advocacy, innovation and programme implementation and monitors partnerships activities at the regional and national level;
• Assists with country-level actions guided by FAO's Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), subregional and regional priority frameworks and higher-level strategic frameworks of the Organization in order to transform FAO's knowledge products into country-level results and impacts, ensuring the participation and involvement of non-state actors;
• Contributes to the draft of programme/project summary and other documentation to inform partners and create interest to FAO/Decentralized Office's programmes/projects;
• Contributes to preparing briefs and other documents explaining donor policies/trends and alerts senior management on major donor issues with proposals to improve FAO's partnerships at local/regional levels;
• Analyses the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific partnership materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners;
• Contributes to the analysis of existing processes of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing, etc. and proposes improvements;
• Assists with the effective advocacy strategy and activities in support of global and country level fundraising, and to the promotion of donor contributions.

Specific Functions
• Assists with the development and implementation of the FAO Roadmap for transformative UN Partnerships at headquarters, regional or national levels including contributing to the analysis of existing processes of working collaboratively with UN partners, including joint projects, information sharing, etc. and proposes improvements;
• Supports the identification, promotion and development of strategic linkages and synergies with UN agencies in support of the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework;
• Identifies and analyses new strategic partnership opportunities and nurtures existing partnerships with UN agencies in the areas of FAO's mandate at headquarters, regional and country levels;
• Analyses the quality, consistency and relevance of partnership materials, reports, activities, processes and messages shared with partners;
• Supports the organization of events with the Regional offices on UNDS reform and UN Partnerships;
• Contributes to the content on the FAO Intranet page on UN Collaboration;
• Contributes to the preparation of reports for Governing bodies;
• Prepares speaking points for senior managers on matters relevant to the unit;
• Supports the adoption of the UNDS repositioning reforms within FAO including but not limited to administrative support of events, webinars, and workshops.
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
Advanced university degree in international relations, public relations, political science, international cooperation for development, development economics or any field related to FAO's mandate;
Three years of relevant experience in international cooperation for development, donor aid programmes, government, fundraising, negotiations and/or public relations/advocacy or related areas.
Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Team Work
• 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.
• Extent and relevance of experience in partnership building, fundraising, negotiations and public relations/advocacy, preferably in the areas of food, social and economic development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in partnership building, networks and multi-stakeholder platforms, and identifying synergies and opportunities.
• Familiarity with UN system-wide processes, initiatives and policies and their application in a UN agency.
• Extent and relevance of experience in effectively supporting decentralized offices to develop partnerships with other UN entities and to implement UNDS repositioning reforms.
• Ability to operate effectively in a team, contributing positively to team operations and working relationships.
• Excellent analytical and conceptual skills, as well as gender sensitive and cross-cultural competency.
• Excellent writing skills.