Job Details:

• Organization: FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• Location: Afghanistan
• Grade: Junior level – NO-B, National Professional Officer – Locally recruited position
• Occupational Groups:
• Project and Programme Management
• Closing Date: 2024-01-23

Important Notice – Please note that the Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on the date and time settings of your device

The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established under applicable policies on 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 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 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 position is located within the FAO Representation and is based in Bamyan, Afghanistan.

Reporting Lines

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

Technical Focus

Program coordination; oversees FAO program implementation within its geographical areas of responsibility; acts as a focal point 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 program and project activities.

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, programs, 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 monitors 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 program and project proposals and monitors and reviews the status of program/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 program 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 the regional level.
• Participates in needs assessment missions, particularly about humanitarian needs and resilience of livelihood to threats and crises at provincial and district levels.
• Assures the efficient management of the FAO Field 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 stakeholders 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 levels, to enhance 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 Kabul.
• 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 (Master’s) university degree in agriculture, agronomy, food & security, nutrition, management, or closely related field, or University (Bachelor’s) 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.
• Two years of relevant experience in resilience and emergency, livelihood assistance, project management and/or coordination in rural and drought-affected areas, agriculture, food security, and nutrition, or related disciplines with an INGO or UN Organization in a multicultural office environment required.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and 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, M&E, value chain, humanitarian coordination, agriculture food security, and nutrition, livelihoods, NRM, management, and implementation.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and coordination skills, and proven ability to work constructively with a variety of stakeholders to achieve common goals.
• Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of the technical program, operational guidelines, and project/program 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 program and project proposals as well as program/project implementation, monitoring, and review.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All, and Integrity and Transparency.

GENERAL INFORMATION

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