Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Professional
Vacancy Announcement No: IRC3096
Issued
on: 23
December 2015
Position
Title: Senior
Policy Officer (FIRST Programme)
Grade
Level: P-5
Duty
Station: Nairobi,
Kenya
Organizational
Unit: FAO
Representation in Kenya
Duration
*: Fixed-term:
One year (with possibility of extension)
Post
Number: unidentified
CCOG Code: 1.L.09b * The length
of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance
with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments
Qualified
female applicants and qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member
countries are encouraged to apply.
Persons
with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
All
applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
The
incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations
depending on the evolving needs of the Organization.
Organizational
Setting: Food
and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation
(FIRST) is a FAO and the European Union partnership programme with the purpose
of providing a policy assistance mechanism for improved food security and
nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
FIRST
is designed to strengthen the enabling environment for food security and
nutrition and sustainable agriculture in a number of selected priority
countries.
FIRST
will be embedded within the FAO’s programme management and coordination
structure.
It
will contribute directly to the food security, nutrition and sustainable
agriculture policy and governance related results envisioned under FAO
Strategic Objectives 1 and 2.
The Senior Policy Officer works under the overall technical guidance of FIRST Senior Technical Adviser (ESA) and works in close collaboration with EU Delegation and relevant government ministries/institutions.
He/she
will also coordinate with the Transformation Initiative of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MoALF) and related structures
(Transformation Secretariat and Inter-Governmental Secretariat), and with the
nutrition related coordination ones (e.g. SUN).
Reporting
Lines: The
Senior Policy Officer reports to the FAO Representative and on technical issues
to FIRST Senior Technical Adviser (ES).
Technical
Focus: Provide
leadership, guidance and operational support for results-based policy
assistance, capacity development and facilitate policy dialogue around food and
nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.
Strengthen
the enabling environment for food security and nutrition and sustainable
agriculture in Kenya with a particular focus on:
- Promoting
multi-sectoral and inter-governmental dialogue and coordination to develop
and implement an agreed agenda and work plan linking sustainable
agriculture with food security and nutrition;
- Strengthening
national and county governments’ capacities to develop and implement
policies, legislation, programmes and investments related to agriculture,
food security and nutrition in Kenya;
- Build
strategic partnerships with relevant stakeholders at national, regional
and global level and support donors’ coordination and alignment to
national and county level priorities.
Key Results: Development
and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and
governance work supporting member states at country level.
Key
Functions
- Analyzes
global and country specific requirements, support the Transformation
Initiative (TI) and the Inter-Governmental Secretariat (IGS) in an
in-depth assessment of the policy and institutional framework of Food and
Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Kenya, and identify areas
for improvements;
- Proposes
an action plan of suggested improvements to address identified gaps;
- Leads
the preparation of reports to FAO, European Union and Government on
progress achieved and issues related to FIRST implementation;
- Advocates
strategic partnerships, best practices, and increased policy dialogue;
- Develops
and negotiate effective working relationships/consensus and agreements
with international and national partners;
- Provides
short-term policy and technical assistance in other countries in the
region as part of the FIRST policy network;
- Leads
and/or participate in resource mobilization activities;
- Leads
the process of economic analysis to show the effects that different
existing policy decisions have had on food and nutrition security and sustainable
agriculture;
- Leads
the process of economic analysis to show the effects that potential policy
decisions could have on food and nutrition security and sustainable
agriculture;
- Assesses
the existing human and organizational capacities of national and county
governments and develop tailored capacity development plans using
appropriate approaches and tools;
- Strengthens
FSN information and mapping systems by promoting rationalized and
standardized data collection approaches;
- Prepares
a detailed plan for assistance in support of policy processes:
- at
national level, in support of the analysis, formulation, review and
implementation of agriculture and food security and nutrition policies and
programmes
- at
country level, in order to support the domestication of national policies
and strategies and the implementation of County Integrated Development
Plans (CIDPs)
- Manages
and supervises the provision of technical and policy assistance at
national and country level;
- Supports
the establishment of a high level multi sectoral coordination structure in
order to provide leadership for decision making on the implementation of
county and national policies which relate to food security and nutrition;
- Collaborates
with the MAFAP initiative in promoting evidence-based policy
decision-making;
- Performs
other duties as required.
Candidates will be assessed against the following
Minimum
Requirements
- Advanced
university degree in agricultural economics, development economics, food
security and nutrition and/or sustainable agriculture or related area
- Ten
years of relevant experience in the economic analysis of policies and
advice related to food and nutrition security and/or sustainable
agriculture policy
- Working
knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the other FAO
languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish)
Competencies
- Results
Focus
- Leading,
Engaging and Empowering
- Strong
Communications Skills
- 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 in economic analysis of policies and advice in
the area of food and nutrition security and/or sustainable agriculture
policy within the East African Region
- Extent
and relevance of experience in resources mobilization
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of
Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
Additional Information
- All
candidates should possess computer/word processing skills. • Evaluation of
qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be
followed by a competency-based interview.
- Your
application will be screened based on the information provided in your
iRecruitment online profile (see “How to Apply”). We strongly recommend
that you ensure that the information is accurate and complete including
employment record, academic qualifications and language skills.
- Candidates
may be requested to provide performance assessments.
Remuneration
A
competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.
For
information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following
link:http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm
How
to Apply
To
apply, visit the iRecruitment website athttp://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/ and complete carefully your online
profile (PPF).
Only
applications received through iRecruitment will be considered.
Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile.
Vacancies will be removed from iRecruitment at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date.
We
encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: iRecruitment@fao.org
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