Partnerships Officer

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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 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 organizations, 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 multistakeholder 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 position of Partnerships Officer is located in the UN Collaboration Unit of the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines
The Partnerships Officer reports to the Senior Liaison Officer, Head of the UN Collaboration Unit within PSU under the overall guidance of the Director, PSU. He/she will be required to work with the FAO Liaison Offices, FAO Regional Offices and Representations in Member countries.

Technical Focus
Contribute to the development and strengthening of partnerships, UN collaboration and key initiatives to accomplish FAO's mandate.

Key Results
Comprehensive services and advice on networking and partnerships; increase and strengthen partnerships and knowledge networks within and outside the Organization to support country-level actions guided by FAO's Country Programming Framework (CPF).

Key Functions
• Identifies, with the appropriate technical divisions, possible collaborations and partnerships for the fulfilment of the FAO Strategic Framework, both at headquarters and decentralized levels.
• Builds and maintains relations with a diverse set of partners relevant to FAO's work in order to enhance and upscale the results contemplated in the FAO Strategic Framework at local, national, regional and global levels.
• Provides guidance and advice to staff at headquarters and in Decentralized Offices (DOs) on the corporate requirements related to partnerships with key stakeholders.
• Develops tools for capacity building among staff at headquarters and DOs to strengthen FAO’s capacity of partnering with various stakeholders and partners at global, regional and country levels.
• Elaborates an annual work plan with the priorities and main activities for bilateral and multi-stakeholder partnerships, which will be aligned with the FAO Strategic Framework and programmes.
• Advises on and promotes the participation of partners in different FAO fora and policy discussions, the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and other relevant discussions at regional and national levels.
• Advises on the participation and involvement of partners in the development and implementation of FAO's CPFs.
• Identifies opportunities for mobilizing resources to strengthen FAO’s capacity in engaging with partners and develops relevant funding proposals.
• Fosters, strengthens and manages strategic and transformative partnerships to encourage and promote the involvement of various stakeholders in FAO’s technical and advocacy work on relevant issues for these stakeholders.
• Contributes to the elaboration and execution of the Monitoring and Evaluation system of FAO’s partnerships.
•Collaborates in capacity development activities involving knowledge sharing, the organization of training workshops, seminars and meetings as well as the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Performs any other related duties as required.

Specific Functions
Partnership Development and Facilitation
• Identifies and analyses new strategic partnership opportunities and nurtures existing partnerships with other UN agencies and UN multistakeholder coalitions in support of the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Supervises the preparation of reports, briefing notes and position papers for FAO Governing bodies and senior managers on UN matters.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation 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 partners.
Policy Support on UN Development System (UNDS) Repositioning
• Provides guidance and advice on the application of corporate requirements and policies related to UNDS repositioning at headquarters, regional and country levels.
• Provides guidance for FAO's Decentralized Offices to better reap the benefits of UN Repositioning.
• Provides strategic guidance on FAO's participation in high level UN fora to influence UN system-wide processes, initiatives and policies, including the UN Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), Our Common Agenda, Chief Executive Board (CEB), Quadriennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR), United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Coordination.
• Provides leadership and support to enhance Rome-based Agencies (RBA) collaboration, monitors progress, contributes to the yearly report to the governing bodies and supports FAO's participation in the Senior Consultative Group.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in international relations, social sciences, economics, agricultural sciences or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization.
• Seven years of relevant experience in partnerships, international cooperation for development, government, UN reform implementation, negotiations and/or public relations/advocacy or related field.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• 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, networks and multistakeholder 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.