International Legal Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations develops a project for improving animal identification and traceability in the Caribbean Region. This project is in alignment with the strategic Objectives 4 (Enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems) and Strategic Objective 2 (Make Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries more productive and sustainable). The strategic objectives here cited are framed under the Regional Initiative 3 (Sustainable and Resilient Agriculture). The project will be implemented in Guyana, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The international consultant will be responsible to coordinate the work of a number of national consultants and guide them through the development of national legal reports and their presentation to the national counterparts.

Reporting Lines

Under the technical supervision of the Legal Officer, Development Law branch, in close coordination with the project coordinator, the technical officers in the sub-regional and regional office and other members of the project team, the international consultant will:

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Get familiar with FAO publications on AIT, with a focus on the legal issues, as well as with OIE standards relevant for AIT and AIT legislation;
• Prepare a short research paper focusing on data protection and data-sharing in relation to the development of AIT databases. This research paper should include comparative examples from selected jurisdictions;
• Support the recruitment and the briefing of the national legal consultants. Liaise with them and support their work as necessary until the delivery or national legal reports. Supplement and improve the national legal reports as necessary to meet FAO standards;
• Produce dedicated sections for the national legal reports, on AIT data protection, as well as with key conclusions and recommendations to set up and regulate functioning AIT systems;
• Participate (virtually) in the meetings and workshops to introduce, discuss and validate the conclusions of the national legal report at the national level;
• Support the drafting of national legislation for each country;
• Based on the national legal reports available, prepare a regional legal report analyzing the regional-level information, including potential regional model legislation and options to strengthen the legal environment for AIT at the national and the regional levels. Prepare a comparative analysis and a matrix comparing the situation of the participating countries. The report should contain the elements that could be incorporated into a regional-level model legal instrument or guidance document;
• Participate (virtually or in person) in a meeting/workshop to present the results of the regional report and matrix to the national/regional authorities. Based on the results of the workshop, update the report and, if so required, prepare a draft model legal instrument based on the discussions hold. Prepare a short report of the workshop;
• Prepare a final report including: the comparative legal analysis and comparative matrix, a commented version of the regional level legal instrument/guidance document.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Legislation and/or related field (Masters/PhD is advantage);
• At least 5 years of relevant practical experience in agriculture legislation and/or veterinary legislation;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the FAO official languages (French, Spanish Arabic, Chinese, Russian). Working knowledge of English for PSA.SBS.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Legal drafting experience will be considered as advantage;
• Experience in managing teams of consultants;
• Experience in capacity development activities;
• Computer literacy is required;
• Quality of both oral and written communication skills.