Development Specialist

The Rural Development Specialist (Entrepreneurship, Institutions, Services and Employment) will work under the general supervision of the Senior Programme Officer/Lead of RP1 on Rural Transformation in collaboration with relevant technical colleagues in the Regional Office and HQ Technical Divisions including the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality (ESP) division. 

The position entails support to the implementation of the RP1 programme of work in the NENA region as well as relevant field projects on the thematic areas of rural entrepreneurship, institutions, services and employment.

Responsibilities:

• Contribute to programme development and design of relevant activities at regional and country levels including the development of relevant project documents, workplans and concept notes
• Contribute to the development and review of relevant regional publications and knowledge products such as fact sheets, technical reports, policy briefs.
• Participate in the organization, implementation and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences including the drafting of relevant documents (concept notes, workshop reports, background documents, etc.)
• Liaise with relevant units in Headquarters and contribute to corporate programmes in the related areas of work; ensure effective communication with Sub-regional and country Offices on related activities and programme

Responsibilities: 

• Rural institutions and rural advisory services:
• Support the expansion and institutionalization of the Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services
• Support the establishment of national-level professional and technical networks on rural advisory services in at least 3 countries
• Support resource mobilization efforts including through resource mapping, partner outreach and proposal development

Entrepreneurship and decent employment:

• Develop a grants operational manual in line with FAO regulations for a grant programme for youth-led agribusiness startups
• Disperse and track at least 40 grants to youth-led agribusiness startups

Minimum Requirements:

• University degree in social sciences, agriculture sciences or economics
• At least 2 years of relevant experience (for category C), 5 years (for category B), 10 years (for category A) of relevant experience in data collection and analysis
• Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of French or Arabic

Technical/Functional Skills  :

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Work experience in rural development, agriculture and/or advisory services in the Near East and North Africa
• Previous experience working with the UN is a plus
• Experience establishing and coordinating regional networks
• Strong report writing skills

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500164