Advocacy Officer

This opening expired 1 year ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Open positions at FAO
Logo of FAO

Application deadline 1 year ago: Wednesday 31 Aug 2022 at 21:59 UTC

Open application form

Organizational Setting The Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division's mandate is coordinating and overseeing the identification, strengthening and stewardship of strategic partnerships with non-state actors in support of FAO's Objectives and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including parliamentarians, civil society, private sector, academia, research institutions, family farmers and Indigenous Peoples, through developing capacities, fostering dialogues, sharing knowledge, scaling up programmes and advocating for FAO's corporate positions. It ensures that multi-stakeholder processes and engagements at global, regional and country level are an integral part of FAO's work and provides targeted support to ensure secure tenure rights and capacity development (including through e-learning programmes) to contribute to the SDGs. Within the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU), the Indigenous Peoples Unit (PSUI) provides technical support on Indigenous Peoples within FAO and ensures the implementation of the FAO Policy on Indigenous Peoples at corporate level by liaising with regional and country focal points as well as with other technical divisions in FAO. The Indigenous Peoples Unit has three main objectives: 1. Implement the FAO Policy on Indigenous Peoples; 2. Provide technical advice to other FAO technical divisions in integrating Indigenous Peoples into their work; 3. Advocate, Influence key policy processes and open spaces of dialogue between decision makers and Indigenous Peoples within FAO's mandate. Indigenous Peoples' food systems is one of the seven pillars of work of the Unit, for which activities have intensified over the years. One of the outputs of the United Nations Food Systems Summit in 2021 was the creation of a Coalition on Indigenous Peoples' food systems joined by FAO members, Indigenous Peoples and Rome-based agencies. The main objective of the coalition is to ensure the understanding, respect, recognition, inclusion and protection of Indigenous Peoples' food systems and to provide evidence on their 'game-changing and systemic' aspects. To support the work of the coalition, the Indigenous Peoples' Unit hosts the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples' food systems. The Global-Hub is a platform of knowledge that brings together Universities, research centers, Indigenous Peoples and UN organizations to co-create knowledge from scientific and traditional knowledge systems, considered at the same level of respect. FAO Members endorsed the Global-Hub in 2020, and its overall objective is to generate evidence that can inform the debate on sustainable food systems.

The position is located in PSUI at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines The Advocacy Officer reports to the Senior Advocacy Officer, Head, Indigenous Peoples Unit (PSUI).

Technical Focus Contributes to the development and strengthening of advocacy activities to promote family farming and right to food policies and partnerships and initiatives with all the different actors to accomplish FAO's mandate.

Key Results Comprehensive services on advocacy-related initiatives; increase and strengthen advocacy within and outside the Organization, with national, regional and international development partners, NGOs, and private sector to support the implementation of FAO Strategic Objectives and regional initiatives.

Key Functions • Processes, coordinates arrangements, and delivers services. • Researches and analyses advocacy-related policy and service delivery issues, maintains operational statistics, and prepares related reports. • Contributes to the development of information and training materials and coordinates and assists in the presentation of information/training sessions to management and staff. • Provides information and advice to management and staff. • Participates on project teams and work groups.

Specific Functions • Supports the overall activities of the Secretariat of the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples food systems. • Prepares Advocacy materials and develops narratives in support of the work of the Coalition. • Assists with the overseeing and updating of the implementation of the work plan of the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems. • Supports the linkage between the Secretariat of the Coalition of Indigenous Peoples food systems and the Global-Hub on Indigenous Peoples food systems. • Organizes events and conferences in which the Coalition participates. • Drafts, compiles and disseminates all relevant background documentation to support the activities of the Coalition on Indigenous Peoples' Food Systems. • Supports the Coordination of PSUI's pillar of work on Advocacy developing materials, content and narratives. • Contributes to the development and coordination of advocacy campaigns on Indigenous Peoples and related to FAO's mandate. • Assists with the implementation and overseeing of PSUI's publications and the development of different knowledge products. • Supports the review of publications issued in the framework of the Unit's work. • Supports the coordination of PSUI's pillar of work on Climate change and Indigenous traditional knowledge. • Supports the implementation of actions and field activities within PSUI's pillar of work on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples Traditional knowledge working with other UN agencies, Indigenous Peoples' organizations and other stakeholders. • Supports the implementation and overseeing of the implementation of the Indigenous Peoples' biocentric restoration programme. • Organizes knowledge exchanges and dialogues to develop the advocacy narrative to increase understanding of Indigenous Peoples' biocentric restoration and its contribution to the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration and climate action. • Contributes to drafting agreements with Indigenous Peoples' organizations (drafting Letters of Agreement - LOAs, organizing meetings with the service provider, etc.) and follows up on the implementation of the LOAs. • Performs other related tasks as required.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in agricultural sciences, social sciences, or any field related to FAO's mandate. • Three years of relevant experience in advocacy activities related to indigenous peoples, human rights based development cooperation. • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official 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. • Previous working experience in context where Indigenous Peoples live is considered a strong asset. • Knowledge of the UN Food Systems Summit and Indigenous Peoples work during the summit. • Extent and relevance of knowledge on Indigenous Peoples advocacy and political incidence processes. • Extent and relevance of experience with advocacy campaigns and content development on Indigenous Peoples is a strong asset. • Extent and knowledge in supporting content and materials to develop advocacy narratives on Indigenous Peoples. • Extend and relevance of experience on Indigenous Peoples' biocentric restoration. • Extent and relevance of experience in supporting networks on Indigenous Peoples' Knowledge of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset. • Extent and relevance of experience in supporting advocacy activities, partnerships and networks (civil society organizations, academia and research centres, intergovernmental bodies, parliaments) for the promotion of Indigenous Peoples farming, food security and right to food policies. • Quality of both oral and written communications skills and ability to write and/or edit technical documents clearly and concisely in English and in another official FAO language is considered a strong asset. • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of French or Spanish is considered a strong asset.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org