FAO
Deadline to apply: 3 December 2024
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 and Offices 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 regionwide 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, provides strategic technical support 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 Policy Officer (Agricultural Systems, Land and Water) reports to the Regional Programme Leader and maintains regular contact with the Land and Water Division (NSL) at FAO headquarters in Rome for technical guidance on matters related to international processes, standards and partnerships regarding land and water resources policies, management and development, inter alia the environmental conventions on desertification and degradation, such as the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), wetlands (The Convention on Wetlands – RAMSAR), the Global Framework on Water Scarcity (WASAG), the Global Soil Partnership (GSP) and the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, amongst others. The Senior Policy Officer (Agricultural Systems, Land and Water) has regional responsibilities and coordinates regularly with other Land and Water Officers in the region and beyond, as well as with other regional initiatives and clusters, to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of regional priorities in response to country demands.
Technical Focus
Policies, governance and institutional mechanisms for sustainable management of land, soils and water resources, contributing to the countries’ achievement of related targets under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 6, 12, 13 and 15. More specifically, the Senior Policy Officer (Agricultural Systems, Land and Water) will focus her/his work on (i) supporting policies and institutional improvements (including in governance systems) affecting land, soils and water resources, including technical, socio-economic and political aspects of such transformations; (ii) developing and guiding the use of innovative and integrative approaches to land, soils and water management, including in its relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation (e.g. soil recarbonization), biodiversity conservation, landscape and ecosystem restoration, land and water tenure arrangements, as well as on digital solutions for sustainable agriculture; (iii) supporting the design and implementation of FAO initiatives (normative work, policy dialogue and assistance, field projects) in areas related to the sustainable management of land, soils and water resources in the region, building synergies across agricultural, socio-economic and environmental processes.
Key Results
Development and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work supporting Member Nations at regional and country level: (i) in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework, in alignment with the Organization’s Gender Policy, and its delivery mechanisms; and (ii) in response to new policy assistance requests.
Key Functions
• Manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams and provides technical leadership in high-level policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies.
• Leads the work carried out by technical or Policy Officers at headquarters or out posted staff in the Decentralized Offices in relation to policy and governance work under the FAO Strategic Framework.
• Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and food systems.
• Interacts with UN Regional and Country teams to improve cross sectoral policies and strategies concerning agriculture, food security and nutrition and sustainable development.
• Analyses regional and country level issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements.
• Designs, implements and monitors regional and subregional policy work programmes and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
• Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance and oversees the development of related materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Represents the Organization at international/intergovernmental meetings and conferences.
Specific Functions
• Contributes, from the perspective of land, soils and water management, to the regional strategic planning and programme development and implementation, based on country demands, ensuring provision of support, learning and reporting on innovative approaches and results.
• Works with national, subregional and regional public, private and academic institutions, networks, country offices and UN agencies, through Regional Initiatives, UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCF) and Country Programming Frameworks, to support improved governance and strategic actions for the design, implementation and evaluation of national land, soil and water policies, programmes, institutions and investments that contribute, at a large scale, to the SDGs’ targets related to food, the environment and climate change.
• Leads the preparation of state-of-the-art analyses, assessments, databases, knowledge products and tools, managing and sharing knowledge and data to ensure that policies and programmes are forward looking, aligned with the FAO global strategies and other current positions, regularly updated with lessons and good practices from the field and adopted by stakeholders within and among countries.
• Mobilizes, maintains and expands strategic alliances, cooperation, partnerships (including with the private sector), communities of practice and resources to catalyse policy change and digital innovation, and build and enhance the portfolio of the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environmental Facility, the Climate Adaptation Fund and other environmental and land and water related programmes in the region, to support the implementation of land, soils and water policies, programmes and investments that contribute at a large scale to the achievement of SDG targets, in particular under SDGs 1, 2, 6, 12, 13 and 15.
• Contributes to and/or serves as secretariat to regional and subregional policy bodies and technical networks (e.g. Soil Partnership for Latin America and the Caribbean (ASLAC), One UN Initiatives), organizes and participates in subregional and regional workshops, seminars, conferences and meetings, builds capacities and awareness of FAO instruments/guidelines, innovative technologies and approaches, extension and training delivery.
• Represents FAO in diverse fora and in the media.
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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in agricultural science, land or water policy, natural resource economics, agricultural engineering, soil science, natural resources management, environment, hydrology or related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in developing policies, programmes, institutions and investments related to land, soil and water resources management, development and use and agricultural and terrestrial ecosystem management and restoration.
• Working knowledge ( proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – 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
h and a high level of computer literacy are assets.
To apply for this job please visit jobs.fao.org.