Urban Agrifood Systems Coordinator

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The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments.

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• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO’s values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

Organizational Setting
The position is located at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, in the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF) of the Economic and Social Development Stream. The Division provides strategic leadership for FAO’s support to Member Nations in the development of more sustainable agrifood systems. Working in close coordination with other technical units at headquarters and the Decentralized Offices, the Division is tasked with integrating FAO’s scientific and economic analyses to provide improved policy guidance and targeted investment in agrifood systems. Bringing together FAO’s longstanding experience and capacities in strengthening food safety systems and quality control with its technical support to Member Nations in the areas of value chain development, agroindustry and agribusiness enterprise development, urban food systems and food loss and waste, the Division integrates and extends food systems support across the Organization.
ESF leads “Achieving Sustainable Urban Food Systems”, one of the FAO’s 20 Programme Priority Areas (PPAs) of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, which involves multidisciplinary collaboration across headquarters units, FAO Regional and Country Offices. In collaboration with external partners, the programme aims to empower national and local governments and partners to deliver transformative change in agrifood systems along the rural-urban continuum, leading to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban and peri-urban agrifood systems. This programme addresses urban poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition, while promoting healthy diets and fostering inclusive and sustainable rural transformation, promoted through the adoption of supportive policies and programmes, and the initiation and scaling-up of actions and investments by national and local stakeholders.

Reporting Lines
The Urban Agrifood Systems Coordinator reports to the Director, Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division (ESF).

Technical Focus
The Urban Agrifood Systems Coordinator supports the delivery of the FAO Programme Priority Area “Achieving Sustainable Urban Food Systems”, under the overall leadership of the Director, ESF. He/she promotes coordinated, aligned and efficient efforts on urban agrifood systems work across FAO aligned with the Director-General’s priority for a “One FAO”, builds strong partnerships through stakeholder engagement and advocates for urban agrifood systems transformation as a lever of transformative change.
The incumbent brings expertise in urban agrifood systems and experience of taking a systematic approach to address urban agrifood challenges with awareness of the broad range of technical issues relevant to urban and/or through the urban rural continuum, such as urban agriculture, urban forestry, waste management and ecosystem services, food supply resilience, agrocommodity packing and processing in urban catchment areas, public sector procurement, territorial markets and/or access to affordable, safe and nutritious foods.

Key Results
Comprehensive technical and policy expertise and advice to support the planning, development and implementation of programmes, projects, products and services.

Key Functions
• Provides policy expertise and advice to support the planning, development and implementation of Divisional programmes, projects, products and services.
• Provides technical and programmatic support on the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties.
• Coordinates and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Leads the preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contributes to consultations, meetings and conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participates and/or leads training workshops and seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Provides guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provides advice on the development of policies and strategies, as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to FAO’s work.

Specific Functions
• Leads the Core Team of the Programme Priority Area (PPA) on Urban Agrifood Systems, in support of the overall leadership by the Director, ESF.
• Manages internal coordination, including supporting the development, alignment and delivery of FAO projects on urban agrifood systems; provides uniform guidance to all projects on learning and evaluation of impact; brings together and aligns technical expertise and normative tools and methods from across FAO in support of field projects and normative work; coordinates support provided to FAO Regional and Country Offices; and internal advocacy to integrate urban issues into FAO’s work.
• Manages external partnerships and stakeholder engagement, including with cities and national governments, and through building strong relationships with strategic partners in coordination with the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU) and convening events.
• Represents the Division at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences.
• Supports the development of learning processes, including peer-to-peer learning across cities, bringing together evidence of good practice and learnings from all projects into internal guidance and normative recommendations, knowledge products and capacity development materials and implementing learning by doing processes to enhance the skills of FAO staff and Member Nations.
• Supports resource mobilization.
• Liaises with leadership of the Green Cities Initiative, contributes to the Green Cities Initiative task force and supports ESF.
• Performs other duties, as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in relevant subject, including but not limited to urban planning, urban studies, geography, agricultural sciences, food security, agribusiness, global development, public health, systems dynamics, nutrition, sociology or economics.
• Seven years of relevant experience leading, managing or coordinating initiatives, programmes, policies or projects in urban agrifood system, including experience of direct engagement with city governments and development of partnership.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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.
• Extent and relevance of experience in leading, managing or coordinating initiatives, programmes, policies or projects in urban agrifood systems.
• Extent and relevance of experience in engaging with municipal governments.
• Extent and relevance of experience of building internal and external partnerships and engaging stakeholders.
• Experience in designing and leading advocacy-related activities in the field of urban agrifood systems.
• Extent and relevance of experience in resource mobilization.
• Experience of working within or engaging with United Nations (UN) agencies.

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FAO staff are expected to adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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• Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

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