JOB DESCRIPTION

Organizational Setting

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The Country Offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

(i) advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate.

(ii) provide technical assistance and deliver core services.

(iii) assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation.

(iv) position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and

(v) ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Damascus, Syria.

Reporting Lines

The Project Officer (Building Local Resilience In Syria (BLRS)) will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Syria, and under the technical guidance of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of the Building Local Resilience in Syria (BLRS) project.

Technical Focus

The Project Officer (Building Local Resilience In Syria (BLRS)) will manage the BLRS project and provide comprehensive programmatic, technical and policy expertise and leadership to support the planning, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the BLRS project in close collaboration with the BLRS CTA and BLRS Lead Technical Officer (LTO). The BLRS Project Officer will provide human and financial managerial responsibility and programmatic support contributing to the implementation of FAO Syria Emergency and Early Recovery Action Plan 2025 – 2028.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of’ projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Provides technical leadership assistance on the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned projects; assists in the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties.
• Coordinates projects and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of’ projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participates in activities such as structuring training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of 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

• Manages human and financial resources of the BLRS project team, in coordination with the chief technical advisor (CTA) of the project and with guidance from the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Syria.
• Coordinates and manages the FCDO supported BLRS project and supports FAO Syria country office in the implementation of similar projects designed to scale-up project activities in other locations, including providing guidance and technical supervision.
• Liaises with the host government, development partners, multilateral agencies and national and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) as well as the private sector in all matters related to the implementation of the BLRS project in close collaboration with the CTA and guidance from FAO Representative.
• Informs the FAOR on BLRS project matters in order to facilitate higher level advocacy for scale-up while applying a integrated and coherent model of project and programme delivery at country level.
• Informs the government on any technical matter related to the BLRS project through guidance from the CTA and from the FAOR.
• Ensures systematic integration of the BLRS project activities and staff into the programmatic and administrative operations of the FAO Representation in Syria; and contributes towards the development and implementation of the FAO country programme especially in leading the scale-up of the BLRS components in the FAO Emergency and Early Recovery Plan 2025-2028.
• Consults with line Ministry or Governorate level on issues related to BLRS project management, including the identification of partners and role of the private sector.
• Ensures and maintains a regular coordination mechanism of the project, providing managerial, technical and operational assistance including immediate response required to address the challenges emanating from implementation in line with FAO policy and government requirements and priorities and contributes to resource mobilization efforts, leveraging existing funds, to expand the BLRS project outcomes to other areas including on related projects identified as priorities by the National Government and Performs other duties as required.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political sciences, business administration, agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable, or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in technical cooperation’s related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and projects.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of one of the other FAO official languages (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.
• Proven experience in project management in conflict and post-conflict countries
• Relevance and extent of experience in establishing and maintaining partnerships with UN agencies, NGOs as well as donors and government institutions and agencies in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience in rural livelihoods development would be an asset, including field work and data collection.
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Good interpersonal, collaboration and networking skills.
• Good communication, analytical, presentation and reporting skills and an excellent team player.