Social Inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and Land Tenure Specialist(s)

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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 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the 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.

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Offices and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

International Consultants and Personal Service Providers (PSAs) represent an important source of expertise for FAO, making their specialist contributions in the achievement of the Organization’s strategic objectives and regional initiatives. For FAO to be able to attract and employ the best possible experts in a wide range of technical areas, a competitive selection process was introduced in November 2022. This process will create a roster of candidates with necessary criteria, which can be called upon when their expertise is required for activities at country, regional or global level. This pool of experts will support activities related to social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and land tenure issues in the countries covered by RAP.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) the social inclusion, land tenure and Indigenous Peoples specialist(s) will work under the overall supervision of the Assistant Director General of RAP and the direct supervision of the Land Tenure Officer of RAP. The specialist(s) will collaborate with other FAO consultants, officers and administrative staff in RAP Office and FAO Headquarters, as well as FAO staff in country offices of the region.

Technical Focus

The FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) is implementing the Asia and Pacific Tenure Security Programme, which aims to improve natural resources governance and tenure security in the Asia and Pacific Region, as a pathway for sustainable livelihoods among rural people and inclusive rural transformation that leaves no one behind. The programme places a special focus on vulnerable groups including Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities, women, youth and people affected by conflict and natural resources. Its specific components include i) generating knowledge at country and regional levels, ii) developing capacities and promoting advocacy at country and regional levels, iii) providing policy support to countries and iv) supporting programme development and implementation at country level.

The International Consultant(s) or PSA subscribers will work as part of a team to support the implementation of Asia and Pacific Tenure Security Programme. More specifically, they will contribute to policy support, technical assistance including capacity-building activities that lead to improvements in relation to social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and land tenure issues. That includes contributing to project implementation, reporting, capacity development, preparation of technical documents and concept notes, guidelines and recommendations.

Tasks and responsibilities

Terms of reference for specific assignments based on the needs of RAP and the qualifications of individual candidates will be prepared for the international consultants or PSA subscribers selected for the roster, whenever a concrete job opportunity arises.

In general, designated tasks and responsibilities may include a number of the following elements:

• Research and analyze technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional, and technology related information, data and statistics and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme, projects, products and services pertinent to social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and land tenure related issues;
• Produce a variety of technical information, data, statistics and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages;
• Provide technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives;
• Provide support to field projects related to social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and land tenure issues;
• Collaborate in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases related to social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and land tenure issues;
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teams, and/or support working groups/teams working in the development of integrated and coherent approaches to social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and land tenure issues, drawing on FAO corporate approaches and frameworks such as the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security and the FAO Policy on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples;
• Collaborate in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality / effectiveness of capacity development activities within member countries such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools that support social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples and land tenure issues, including access to resources by vulnerable populations and family farmers in the region;
• Perform other related duties as and when required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Law, Social Sciences, International Development or any other relevant field;
• 5 years of relevant experience in the fields of social inclusion, Indigenous Peoples, land tenure, policy advise, programme development and implementation, capacity development or any other relevant field;
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). For PSA only one language level C is required.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Policy analysis and planning, project management
• Communication skills
• Data and information triangulation and validation skills

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