ABOUT THE COMPANY:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With over 194 member states, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide. We believe that everyone can play a part in ending hunger.

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region.

It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with Divisions/Offices/Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities.

RLC also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RLC develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).
The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.
The post is located in the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) in Santiago, Chile.

Reporting Lines
The Senior Programme Officer reports to the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative (ADG/RR) for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Technical Focus
Support the Regional Office with particular focus on programme development, resource mobilization and programme implementation.

Key Results
Provides leadership and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of divisional programmes of work, projects, products and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and in alignment with the Organization’s Gender Policy.

Key Functions
• Plans, manages or leads highly-specialized or multidisciplinary teams of assigned programmes/projects.
• Leads the preparation and/or review of Country Programming Framework (CPF) and its operationalization and work plans and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
• Coordinates programme/project formulation activities.
• Leads resource mobilization activities; establishes partnerships to explore funding opportunities, leads negotiations of funding agreements and project relationships with key stakeholders throughout the project cycle, including to support implementation, facilitates monitoring and compliance issues and ensures submission of reports.
• Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc.
• Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities within the country, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning, on-line tools.
• Monitors programme/project activities in the country.

Specific Functions
• Coordinates the identification of policy implications and monitors relevant policy environment issues for the implementation of FAO’s agricultural disaster preparedness, response, transition and development strategies.
• Leads national policy dialogue and aid coordination mechanisms on food security, agriculture and rural development matters through preparation and participation in relevant technical working groups and other meetings.
• Leads the preparation of annual reports and relevant documentation.
• Advocates for the interests of the agricultural sector, ensuring it is accorded due priority on the agenda of the host government, donors and other development partners.
• Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial reports, etc.).
• Provides advice to project formulators and budget holders of FAO-funded projects during formulation and implementation.
• Monitors key deliverables, project results and main targets to ensure timely, results-based deliverables of FAO projects and programmes in the country.

Ensure targeted and effective representation and positioning of RLC Office:
• Develops and maintains relations with government representatives, Regional Intergovernmental Organizations and non-governmental organizations for discussions to reach consensus and make decisions on FAO priorities; supports main stakeholders’ programming and institutional liaison.
• Coordinates inputs for reports and other sensitive and confidential communication regarding government decisions, provides assistance and support to other substantive matters with relevant national and international stakeholders.
• Leads to the development and adaptation of corporate communication and information strategies to the region/subregion to strengthen the position and relationships with the media and targeted audiences.
• Provides strategic guidance to ensure adherence to policies and FAO procedures and its Strategic Framework.

Resource Mobilization:
• Develops and maintains a resource mobilization strategy taking into account the RLC’s current one and adapting it to broaden the donor portfolio and investment initiatives.
• Coordinates with regional, subregional and national officers and consultants in order to keep a strong resource mobilization team to implement the strategy.
• Advises the ADG/RR on actions that should be taken in order to improve the resources mobilization at different levels (structural, technical and operative) and implements the decisions taken in consultation with the Regional Leadership Team and in coordination with the others FAO units in the region.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in an area related to the activities of the Organization, i.e.

agriculture, forestry, fishery, economics, social science, business administration, political science or closely related field.
• Ten years of experience in project or programme design and management, including planning both at national and international levels, interacting with social partners, governments, international organizations, research institutions, civil society and the private sector.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies
• Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• 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 the field of developing and managing country field programme from design to delivery (programme/project identification formulation, analysis, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation).
• Extent and relevance of experience in the management of technical cooperation projects and programmes, including the management of emergency, recovery and rehabilitation related programmes.
• Proven track record in resource mobilization.
• Extent and relevance of experience in and ability to negotiate with senior officials in national governments, inter-governmental organizations and other institutions and in designing collaborative networks and joint programmes.
• Familiarity with UN system-wide policies and processes applying to decentralized locations is desirable.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of Spanish is desirable.