National Professional Officer (Programme)

1A021A02

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The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments

• 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 member nations 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 our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, 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
• The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization.

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.

Organizational Setting

FAO Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security, (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food, (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support, and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF.

The post is located in the FAO Representation in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Reporting Lines

The National Professional Officer (Programme) reports to the Deputy FAO Representative under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Afghanistan to coordinate FAO's work in the Eastern Region. The National Professional Officer (Programme) coordinates closely with FAO staff in Kabul and other Country Offices and seeks technical and operational support and oversight from the respective responsible units.

Technical Focus

Programme coordination; oversees FAO programme implementation within its geographical areas of responsibility; acts as focal points for liaison with local stakeholders and provides operational assistance based on the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, language and institutions of the provinces of assignment.

Key Results

Effective and efficient coordination and provision of the technical and operational support of the programme and project activities of the FAO Representation.

Key Functions

• Liaises and assists various pertinent local, national and international partners in the areas of FAO's activities in the country and with other UN agencies. He/she may represent FAO at inter-agency meetings as required.
• Promotes the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization's mandate, programmes, national priorities and activities, including development and maintenance of communication tools such as website, press releases and publications, and supports the implementation of FAO's regulatory framework (Codex Alimentarius, Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Safe Use of Pesticides, etc.) in the country.
• Coordinates the collection, consolidation and maintenance of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries including information on external aid in FAO's corporate systems and monitor changes in national policies affecting the agricultural sector.
• Participates in producing technical, economic and policy studies as required and developing country level development frameworks such as the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF).
• Participates in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals and monitor and review the status of programme/project implementation to ensure that all operational activities are carried out in line with the work plan and the project document; identifies inconsistencies and delays and, when necessary, proposes corrective measures to overcome operational constraints.
• Briefs, trains and supervises lower-grade level programme staff regarding all aspects of the job. Ensures adherence to procedures and work requirements and accuracy and diligence of the work provided.
• Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions

• Represents FAO at regional Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) meeting on humanitarian coordination activity, meeting with NGOs and civil society at regional level.
• Participates in needs assessment missions particularly pertaining to humanitarian needs and resilience of livelihood to threat and crisis in provincial and district levels.
• Assures the efficient management of the FAO Country Office, including overseeing the security and safety of FAO staff at provincial and district levels, and informs the FAO Representative and the Security Unit of any incident and any situation requiring their attention.
• Coordinates with local stakeholder to define local needs and FAO's contribution to emergency response, resilience building and rehabilitation and sustainable development of the agricultural sector, in liaison with concerned partners at national, provincial and local level, with a view to enhancing the overall coherence and synergy of humanitarian and development activities related to food security, nutrition, agriculture and livelihoods and natural resources management (NRM).
• Oversees the implementation of FAO's emergency and resilience projects in the area, ensures timely delivery of inputs and services, reports delays and bottlenecks and identifies solutions in collaboration with the relevant teams in the FAO Representation in Afghanistan.
• Leads the organization of technical training in collaboration with FAO national and international technical experts for farmers, agriculture cooperatives, common-interest groups and producer groups.
• Performs other duties, as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of Afghanistan
• Advanced university degree agriculture, agronomy, food security, nutrition, management, or closely related field, with two years of relevant experience in resilience and emergency, livelihood assistance, project management and/or coordination in the rural and drought affected areas, agriculture, food security and nutrition, or related disciplines with a INGOs or UN Organization in a multi-cultural offices environment required; or university degree in agriculture, agronomy, food security, nutrition, management, or closely related field and three additional years of experience in the coordination of humanitarian assistance within the food security and agriculture sector.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and of local languages (Pashto and Dari).

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in resilience and emergency support, project design, coordination, Monitoring-Evaluation, value chain, humanitarian coordination, agriculture food security and nutrition, livelihoods, and NRM, management and implementation.
• Excellent interpersonal communications and coordination skills, and proven ability to work constructively with a variety of stake holders to achieve common goals.
• Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of the technical programme, operational guidelines and project/programme management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the field of humanitarian assistance relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the collection of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals as well as programme/project implementation, monitoring and review.