Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer (Operations)

Organizational Setting FAO in Afghanistan is investing, across all 34 provinces, in resilience reinforcing actions that focus on protecting agriculture livelihoods and local ecosystems, boosting local production of nutritious foods and cash-incomes, and safeguarding critical agriculture sectoral development gains achieved over the past couple of decades through revitalizing rural markets and economy. In 2022-2023, FAO will, under the life-saving assistance Outcome (1) of the UN Transitional Engagement Framework (TEF), focus on the following four priority actions: (i) Safeguarding Wheat Seed Security; (ii) Enhancing Local Production of Nutritious Food; (iii) Livestock Protection and Dairy Sector Support; and (iv) Restoring Irrigation Structures to Boost Cash Incomes. Additionally, FAO will contribute towards resilience building activities under Outcome 2 of the TEF.

Reporting Lines The Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer (Operations) reports to the Senior Emergency and Rehabilitation Officer (Head of the Operations Unit) under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative (FAOR) and the day-to-day guidance of the Deputy FAOR.

Technical Focus Support the implementation of FAO’s emergency and resilience programme in Afghanistan.

Key Results Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programmes, projects, products and services.

Key Functions • Researches and analyses technical, food security and nutrition assessments, emergency response funding/project related data and information to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services; • Produces various reports, proposals, programme/project documents, position papers, policy briefs, financial/donor reports as well as critical information for inclusion in governing body reports, etc.; • Participates in project teams, collaborates in project and programme formulation and provides technical and/or administrative support to ongoing operational emergency and recovery projects; • Liaises with FAO technical and administrative Offices, Centres and Divisions at headquarters as well as other UN Organizations to obtain and/or exchange information regarding food and nutrition security assessments, emergency and recovery activities and other related issues; • Provides technical/administrative support and promotes best practices to Decentralized Offices; • Monitors and provides support to resource mobilization activities including annual appeals, donor macrogrants, maintains information and prepares related reports; • Maintains and updates information systems, databases and web pages; • Performs other duties.

Specific Functions • Leads the Project Support Team in all day-to-day operations on matters relating to the implementation of FAO field programme in Afghanistan, including emergency, resilience and development projects, in close collaboration with the Operations Management Team in accordance with the agreed division of duties and responsibilities; • Leads the Project Support Team in the operational support to FAO Afghanistan donor portfolio and the establishment of a system for planning, monitoring and reporting of expenditures in line with donor requirements; • Coordinates and develops project budget preparation and implementation, financial control and financial planning for human resources, travel/logistics, missions and operations backstopping to field offices, general operating costs, and non-expendable equipment; • Ensures and monitors the timely provision of project inputs (personnel, technical support services, subcontracts, training, equipment and supplies) directly by the Organization or, when appropriate, through contractors, and by liaising with other support units; • Participates in the formulation of project proposals and budget preparation; ensures quality assurance under different donor funding arrangements and corporate cost recovery policies; • Guides and trains relevant FAO team/personnel in the country on project implementation in accordance with the project cycle, including compliance with project objectives, donor regulations, budgetary management and monitoring of the approved field expenditures; • Ensures appropriate budgeting and prepares expenditure forecasts for human resources, travel, procurement, contracts and general operating expenditures; • Manages the expenditure mapping and budget monitoring; • Supports the implementation of workplans, monitors progress and identifies corrective measures to overcome operational constraints; • Coordinates action concerning the completion of field projects and arranges for timely and adequate reporting, including identification of project follow-up requirements; • Supports the preparation of interim and final donor reports; • Supports the preparation/review of the Invitation To Bid (ITB), Request For Quotation (RFQ), Request For Proposal (RFP) and Letters of Agreement (LoA) in collaboration with the Programme and Procurement Teams; • Performs other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in political sciences, agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries) or related field. • Five years of relevant experience in public and/or private sectors related to programming, planning and technical cooperation in food and agriculture, including experience in developing countries, especially in countries that are vulnerable to disaster or other emergency risks. • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

* If a candidate fails to meet the minimum requirement of (intermediate) limited knowledge of the second language, they may be still considered in the selection process on the condition that if they are subsequently appointed to the post they will undergo obligatory language training until the required level is reached.

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. • Extent and relevance of experience at international level in project formulation, implementation and managing field operations. • Extent and relevance of experience in supporting the implementation of complex multi-stakeholder projects in emergency contexts. • Ability to develop plans for project implementation and coordination of operations in emergency contexts. • Familiarity with UN administrative, operational and financial procedures and understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset. • Previous experience in Level 3 emergency context is considered an asset.