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 2024, FAO will contribute to the humanitarian components of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025 through 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. FAO will also contribute towards resilience building activities and longer-term transformational processes as part of the implementation of the UN Strategic Framework 2023-2025.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Strategic Communications and Partnership Advisor / reports to the FAOR, and will work in close coordination with Deputy FAOR and Head s of Filed Programme and Operations Teams.

Technical Focus

The Incumbent will support engagement and strengthening of relationships with key partners; leading on strategic communications and outreach on overall sectoral needs; FAO’s programme and impact of FAO’s interventions, in close collaboration with OCC branches and focal points.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Lead and manage the Strategy, Communications and Resource Mobilization Unit;
•    Manage sub-unit teams covering Communications, Outreach, Visibility, Partnerships and Donor Reporting;
•    Lead donor outreach, through proactive communication on the analysis, needs and priorities underpinning the country office Programme, with a focus on results, value for money, lessons learned and FAO’s comparative advantage;
•    Lead the drafting of FAO response plans/appeals and nexus programming that clearly articulate needs, priorities, expected results, cost effectiveness and the centrality of agriculture in close collaboration with the Field Programme Unit and based on inputs from technical teams;
•    Lead the design, editing and finalization of strategic communications products;
•    Manage visibility component of the country office projects, ensure compliance with resource partner requirements, including quality review and timely reporting;
•    Oversee the formulation of strategic communication and information products, distilling key information and messages on FAO Afghanistan for internal and external; national and international audiences;
•    Liaise closely with the Resource Mobilization and Communication team (OER) and the Office of Corporate Communications (OCC) at headquarters, regional and subregional levels;
•    Prepare presentations, key messages and talking points for high level meetings;
•    Oversee/support the preparations of donor meetings and field visits;
•    Liaison with the Office of Communication (OCC) will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes.
•    Perform other duties as required.
•    All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
•    FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf; French: https://www.fao.org/3/AC339FR/ac339fr.pdf; Spanish: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339s/ac339s.pdf; Arabic: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339a/ac339a.pdf; Chinese: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339c/ac339c.pdf);
•    FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm;
•    FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en;
•    Story guidelines http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/UPDATED-Digital-Storytelling-Guide-EN-FINAL.pdf;
•    Story template http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/FAO-Stories-Template-UPDATED.pdf;
•    UN map standards (available to staff);
•    FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff).

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in a subject related to the work of the Organization.
•    At least 12 years (COF.REG Category A)/15 years (PSA Category A) of experience in resource mobilization, programme management, partnerships, communication and advocacy, solid understanding of the humanitarian context;
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of any other official language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese French, Spanish and Russian). For PSA, working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable;
•    Experience in the field of resource mobilization and programme management, preferably in humanitarian settings;
•    Work experience in the areas of advocacy and communication;
•    Knowledge of UN or standard operational rules and procedures and project/programme administrative management procedures is considered an asset;
•    Ability to work independently, under time pressure and meet deadlines;
•    Thoroughness and reliability, sense of diplomacy and tact.