Job Description
Organizational Setting
Food and Nutrition Security Impact, Resilience, Sustainability and Transformation (FIRST) is a FAO and the European Union partnership programme with the purpose of providing a policy assistance mechanism for improved food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture. FIRST is designed to strengthen the enabling environment for food security and nutrition and sustainable agriculture in a number of selected priority countries. FIRST will be embedded within the FAO’s programme management and coordination structure. It will contribute directly to the food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture policy and governance related results envisioned under FAO Strategic Objectives 1 and 2.
The Senior Policy Officer works under the overall technical guidance of FIRST Senior Technical Adviser (ESA) and works in close collaboration with the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) and the Technical Working Group on Social Protection, Food Security and Nutrition (TWG-SP & FSN), the EU Delegation and other relevant stakeholders in the country.
Reporting Lines
The Senior Policy Officer reports to the FAO Representative and on technical issues to FIRST Senior Technical Adviser (ESA).
Technical Focus
Provide guidance on policy assistance, capacity development and facilitate policy dialogue around food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.
Key Results
Development and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance, capacity development and governance for achieving food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework and in response to policy assistance needs and demands at country level.
Key Functions
- Coordinates very closely with CARD on policy and technical assistance for food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture , and participates in any meetings, workshops and seminars related to food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture in the country;
- Analyses and reviews the capacity on policy analysis and development of CARD and other relevant ministries, and leads formulation of the capacity development plans for the Government within the food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture domains;
- Organizes and prepares reports to FAO and CARD on progress achieved and issues related to FIRST implementation in the country;
- Represents the organization at meetings and conferences around food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture
- Advocates and promotes evidence-based policy dialogue and develop effective working relationships/consensus with international and national partners;
- Leads the resource mobilization activities for policy implementation and capacity development within the country.
- Advises the Government on technical and policy issues for the development and implementation of their strategies and policies including the Zero Hunger Challenge National Action Plans and the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, and other programmes in ways that will accelerate and maximize their impact on food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture;
- Leads and organizes in-depth assessments of the policy and institutional framework, intervention mapping and information management for food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture in Cambodia;
- Leads an in-depth assessment exercise in order to analyse country specific requirements, human resource and organizational capacity gaps and identify areas for improvements;
- Advises CARD in overseeing the development of related capacity development materials, on-line tools and information kit; and promotes synergy among the existing food security and nutrition information management system in Cambodia
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- Advanced university degree in agricultural economics, development economics, food security and nutrition and/or sustainable agriculture or a related field;
- Ten years of relevant experience in food security and nutrition and/or agriculture and rural development policy analysis, including policy assistance and capacity development;
- Working knowledge of English.
Competencies
- Results Focus
- Leading, Engaging and Empowering
- Strong Communications Skills
- Partnering and Advocating
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
- Strategic Thinking
Technical/Functional Skills
- Work experience in more than one location or areas of work, particularly in field positions is essential;
- Extent and relevance of experience in providing policy assistance and technical guidance in the context of food security, nutrition and/or sustainable agriculture programmes;
- Extent and relevance of experience in facilitating policy dialogue and capacity development around food security, nutrition and/or sustainable agriculture among a wide variety of stakeholders;
- Extent and relevance of experience in resource mobilization.
About the Organization
An intergovernmental organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has 194 Member Nations, two associate members and one member organization, the European Union. Achieving food security for all is at the heart of FAO's efforts - to make sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity, better the lives of rural populations and contribute to the growth of the world economy.
