IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
- 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 (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses on 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 ES stream is organized into several divisions and units, including the Agrifood Economics Division (ESA), the Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality (ESP), the Food Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF), the Statistics Division (ESS), Food and Nutrition Division (ESN), and the Markets and Trade Division (EST). These divisions and units work together to provide technical expertise and support to member countries in achieving their economic and social development goals, with a particular focus on accelerating agrifood systems transformation to eradicate poverty, end hunger and all forms of malnutrition and reduce inequalities.
FAO is actively engaging in UN country level repositioning for SDG achievement, participating in the negotiation and formulation, as well as in the annual updates, of Common Country Assessments (CCA) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF). In this context, the Organization, under the technical leadership of the ES stream and in close coordination with other headquarters technical units and regional offices, is implementing a mechanism for scaling up the needed human resource analytical and technical expertise in support of the CCA/UNSDCF process at country level. The mechanism will leverage ongoing processes and initiatives already identified within the Organization and draw upon the most sophisticated tools available, including advanced geo-spatial modeling and analytics. The effort will draw upon FAO’s specialized tools and analytical methodologies, including sectoral, to propose specific solutions tailored to the country needs and potentials, to ensure a robust UNSDCF Theory of Change that positions FAO as the premier agrifood systems player in the UN system.
Reporting lines
Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Chief Economist, he/she will support the Chief Economist in providing technical leadership and coordination for the work of the ES stream, and overall coordination for the CCA/UNSDCF analytical support mechanism, in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders from Headquarters technical units and decentralized (Regional, Subregional and Country Offices) offices.
Technical focus
High-level technical coordination and strategic leadership.
Tasks and responsibilities
• Support the Chief Economist in exercising overall technical leadership and coordination responsibility for the CCA/UNSDCF analytical support mechanism, including strategic vision, planning, advice, quality control and implementation, including the cost-effective use of human and financial resources;
• Support the Chief Economist in ensuring effective and timely delivery of ES Divisions’ contributions to the planning and implementation of the CCA/UNSDCF technical support mechanism;
• Ensure an effective “OneFAO” approach by supporting collaboration across ES units; between ES as well as other Headquarters technical units, and regional and country technical teams; across regions for sharing successes and challenges; and with other partners inside and outside the Organization;
• Assist to identify and bring to bear a robust multidisciplinary expertise drawing on the relevant areas of FAO’s multidisciplinary technical competence and working with technical unit heads and designated focal points;
• Ensure a motivated and effective work force by contributing actively to the recruitment of highly qualified staff, mentoring, coaching and supporting career development and staff capacity development;
• Perform other duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree (PhD, MS or equivalent) in Economics, Agricultural Economics or related field;
• At least 12 years of extensive professional experience (15 years for PSA category), including in leadership positions, in the analysis of economic development issues relevant to FAO’s mandate with emphasis on policies for sustainable agriculture, rural development or food security, including working experience in a developing country context;
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) for Consultants; for PSA, working knowledge of English.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Partnering and advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Well-acquainted with FAO’s work as an Organization;
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, and demonstrated senior management and leadership track records;
• Extent and relevance of experience in undertaking analysis and assessments, using benchmarked approaches of agrifood systems;
• Depth of experience of social, economic and political issues related to agrifood systems, sustainable agriculture, rural development or food security;
• Extent and relevance of experience and knowledge of FAO’s specialized tools and socioeconomic analytical methodologies,
• Sound technical and political judgement and capacity to work well with a range of actors including technical teams and decentralized country teams from other UN entities;
• Ability to represent the Organization and to provide high-profile (both policy and technical) advice and guidance;
• Familiarity with the UN Development System repositioning strategy as mandated by the UNGA resolution 72/2792;
• Demonstrated experience leading and working effectively with a diverse team of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international setting;
• Analytical skills and ability to express and synthesize ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, and demonstrated communication skills;
• Demonstrated skills and experience in leading/coordinating large programmes or processes, providing budgetary oversight for programme delivery, supervising and networking;
• High quality communications and analytical skills.
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency