Senior Policy Officer

Development and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work supporting Member  Nations at regional and country level: (i) in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework, in alignment with the Organization’s Gender Policy, and its delivery mechanisms; and (ii) in response to new policy assistance requests.

Key Functions:

• Manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams and provides technical leadership in high-level policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies.
• Leads the work carried out by technical or Policy Officers at headquarters or out posted staff in the Decentralized Offices in relation to policy and governance work under the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and food systems.
• Interacts with UN Regional and Country teams to improve cross sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food security and nutrition  and sustainable development.
• Analyses regional and country level issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements.
• Designs, implements and monitors regional and subregional policy work programmes and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
• Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance and oversees the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Represents the Organization at international/intergovernmental meetings and conferences.

Specific Functions:

• Contributes, from the perspective of land, soils and water management, to the regional strategic planning and programme development and implementation, based on country demands, ensuring provision of support, learning and reporting on innovative approaches and results.
• Works with national, subregional and regional public, private and academic institutions, networks, country offices and UN agencies, through Regional Initiatives, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF) and Country Programming Frameworks, to support improved governance and strategic actions for the design, implementation and evaluation of national land, soil and water policies, programmes, institutions and investments that contribute, at a large scale, to the SDGs’ targets related to food, the environment and climate change.
• Leads the preparation of state-of-the-art analyses, assessments, databases, knowledge products and tools, managing and sharing knowledge and data to ensure that policies and programmes are forward looking, aligned with the FAO global strategies and other current positions, regularly updated with lessons and good practices from the field and adopted by stakeholders within and among countries.
• Mobilizes, maintains and expands strategic alliances, cooperation, partnerships (including with the private sector), communities of practice and resources to catalyse policy change and digital innovation, and build and enhance the portfolio of the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environmental Facility, the Climate Adaptation Fund and other environmental and land and water related programmes in the region, to support the implementation of land, soils and water policies, programmes and investments that contribute at a large scale to the achievement of SDG targets, in particular under SDGs 1, 2, 6, 12, 13 and 15.
• Contributes to and/or serves as secretariat to regional and subregional policy bodies and technical networks (e.g. Soil Partnership for Latin America and the Caribbean (ASLAC), One UN Initiatives), organizes and participates in subregional and regional workshops, seminars, conferences and meetings, builds capacities and awareness of FAO instruments/guidelines, innovative technologies and approaches, extension and training delivery.
• Represents FAO in diverse fora and in the media.

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in agricultural science, land or water policy, natural resource economics, agricultural engineering, soil science, natural resources management, environment, hydrology or related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in developing policies, programmes, institutions and investments related to land, soil and water resources management, development and use and agricultural and terrestrial ecosystem management and restoration.
• Working knowledge ( proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Prior experience in Latin America and the Caribbean is an asset.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing, supporting and/or evaluating complex national land, soil and water policies, programmes, institutions and investments towards national and international commitments. A range of experience with diverse terrestrial and hydrological ecosystems, including on strategies to promote sustainable land, soil and water management and restoration, natural resources/ecosystem conservation, monitoring and assessment, geospatial analysis, land planning, and irrigation development, technological innovations and digital solutions is an asset.
• Demonstrated capacity to analyse complex landscape and ecosystem interactions from social, economic and environmental perspectives and to identify strategic entry points for promoting intersectoral approaches and investments to achieve sustainable management systems.
• Extent and relevance of experience in policy analysis and advice relating to food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in dealing, establishing and maintaining partnerships with senior government officials, development partners, intergovernmental bodies, expert groups and other stakeholders to design, plan and implement relevant policies, programmes and projects, taking into account gender and indigenous peoples’ issues.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully mobilizing resources and investments and formulating programmes from and/or working with major multilateral and bilateral funding sources and environmental resource partners and donors.
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing, working with and managing complex international interdisciplinary and multisectorial teams, meetings, seminars and capacity development courses using innovative technologies, approaches and extension methods, including digital tools.
• Knowledge of relevant international instruments, policies and targets, including those related to UN climate and environmental commitments.
• Intermediate proficiency (level B) of Spanish and a high level of computer literacy are assets.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2403455