Senior Programme Officer

The Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) is responsible for ensuring FAO’s efforts to support countries and partners in preparing for and effectively responding to food and agricultural threats and crises by i) increasing the numbers of people reached in Integrated Phase Classification (IPC) 3 and above; and ii) increasing the numbers of people supported to move out of IPC 3 and above from a humanitarian caseload onto pathways of resilience and development. FAO has mainstreamed a humanitarian, development, peace nexus approach and a localization agenda throughout its strategic positioning and programmatic design and implementation at country and regional levels. In this organizational setting, OER is responsible for coordinating the development and maintenance of corporate tools and standards to enable Decentralized Offices (DOs) to assist Members to prepare for, and respond to emergencies as well as strengthen capacities of national and subnational institutions and partners for resilience and risk-informed development. OER ensures humanitarian policy coordination and knowledge, liaison with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee as well as with humanitarian resource partners, co-leadership with World Food Programme of the global Food Security Cluster, organizational preparedness, surge capacity and response to large-scale emergencies. OER supports food and nutrition security and sectoral/systems assessments, early warning activities related to emergency and humanitarian analysis and responses. OER plays a major role in the development and leadership of the Organization’s programme to increase the resilience of livelihoods to food and agriculture threats and crises of the Organization’s programme in areas such as risk governance and coordination, anticipatory actions, disaster risk reduction, early warning and response in agriculture and food chain crises.

The post is located in the Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Programme Officer reports to the Senior Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer/Team Leader of the Management, Support and Compliance Team, OER.

Technical Focus

Support to implementation of FAO’s resilience agenda at global, regional, subregional and/or country level.

Key Results

Leadership and technical expertise for the planning, development and implementation of programmes of work, projects, related products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions;
• Coordinates programmes and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies;
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications;
• Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations;
• Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops and seminars, and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities;
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties;
• Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.

Specific Functions

• Oversees day-to-day operational aspects of emergency response and resilience projects and programmes in accordance with the project management cycle from initiation phase to operational and financial closure;
• Leads the preparation of the office budget, monitors and manages the funds available to OER;
• Leads strengthening of FAO Emergency and Resilience programme Financial Business model;
• Elaborates and produces key trend analysis with performance monitoring at portfolio as well as at project level (KPIs), operational dashboard, projects delivery, closures;
• Leads Decentralized Offices’ support with guidance and expertise in areas of Funding Liaison functions of emergency projects;
• Leads the development and delivery of trainings related to the project operations and corporate project management systems;
• Coordinates and monitors Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation (SFERA) requests, prepares monitoring tables and leads the preparation and finalization of the SFERA annual report;
• Provides strategic guidance related to the human resources falling under the funds available to OER;
• Provides strategic guidance related to the cost recovery compliance clearance of FAO emergency projects;
• Performs other duties as required.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in economics, business administration, management or related fields.
• Ten years of relevant experience in project/programme planning and appraisal, as well as in the development of results-based management/monitoring systems.
• 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
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Extent and relevance of experience and skills in project identification, programme and project formulation, analysis, planning and implementation;
• Extent and relevance of experience in accounting and in managing accounting functions, budget management and reporting;
• Demonstrated results-based management capabilities with an ability to manage programmes, budgets and human resources efficiently under shifting priorities;
• Extent of knowledge of planning and budgetary processes and associated tools;
• Demonstrated ability to analyse problems, make appropriate recommendations, effective decisions, including in emergency settings;
• Ability to mobilize resources.

Job Posting

01/Dec/2023

Closure Date

23/Dec/2023, 12:59:00 AM

Organizational Unit

OERDM

Job Type

Staff position

Type of Requisition

Professional Project

Grade Level

P-5

Primary Location

Italy-Rome

Duration

Fixed-term: 1 year with possibility of extension

Post Number

2009664

CCOG Code

1A02

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

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 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 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.