Livelihood and Resilience Specialist

The Livelihood and Resilience Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative of FAO Turkiye (AFAOR) and the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative in Türkiye, and under the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officers of FAO Sub-regional Office for Central Asia and in collaboration with FAO Türkiye team led by AFAOR.

The Livelihood and Resilience Specialist will focus on designing and implementing strategies to enhance the livelihoods and resilience of vulnerable populations, including smallholder farmers, refugees, and host communities. This includes conducting needs assessments, strengthening agricultural value chains, and improving market access through support for cooperatives and producer associations. The role emphasizes fostering social cohesion, delivering inclusive skills development programs, and promoting gender-sensitive approaches.

Responsibilities:

• Support the development of needs assessments and response strategies from a livelihood and resilience perspective.
• Assist in the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of livelihoods and resilience activities, ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Assist the identification and support of rural initiatives, cooperatives, and producer associations to strengthen the agricultural and food value chains and market access for smallholder farmers
• Support the design and facilitation of social cohesion workshops and community activities aimed at fostering mutual understanding and promoting coexistence among refugee and host communities.
• Provide support to  FAO’s presence in relevant working groups focused on food security, agriculture, livelihoods, resilience, and inclusion issues.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of skills development training programs, incorporating gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches.
• Assist in to facilitate communication and collaboration among central and local government stakeholders, civil society organizations, and private sector actors engaged in agricultural livelihoods and resilience for vulnerable groups, including women, migrants, refugees, and rural communities.
• Assist in preparing regular monitoring and evaluation reports for livelihood and resilience projects, adhering to agreed schedules and reporting requirements.
• Support the Communication Team in developing project briefs, brochures, infographics, case studies, and other communication materials, ensuring they meet donor and internal standards.
• Support the dissemination of FAO’s work and best practices on livelihoods and resilience to internal stakeholders, key partners, and the broader community.

Minimum Requirements:   

• University degree in agriculture, veterinary, rural development, economics, social sciences, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in livelihoods, rural development, resilience, or related fields, preferably within international organizations or NGOs.
• Working knowledge of English (Level C) and Turkish.
• National of Türkiye or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Experience in planning, implementing, and monitoring projects focused on livelihoods and resilience, particularly in agricultural or rural settings.
• Experience in coordination of food and agriculture-related skills development training programs, including gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches.
• Familiarity with agricultural and food value chains and strategies for improving market access for smallholder farmers.
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration, including engagement with government entities, civil society organizations, and private sector actors.
• Strong knowledge of livelihoods and resilience concepts, particularly within the context of rural development and food systems.
• Familiarity with agricultural and food value chains and strategies for improving market access for smallholder farmers.
• Communication and organization skills in facilitating workshops and community activities.
• Proficiency in developing and utilizing monitoring and evaluation tools for tracking project progress and impact.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality visibility and outreach materials.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2403807