International Social Protection Consultant

Organizational Setting

The key mission of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the FAO Representatives, is to assist and support national governments to develop policies, strategies and programmes and projects to accelerate the implementation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. More specifically, FAO’s response aims at addressing national needs and priorities through FAO’s Strategic Framework in support of the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, agri-food systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. FAO’s normative work will contribute to the articulation of FAO’s comparative value-added at country level, including through better integration of normative and operational work into the UN Common Country Analyses (CCA), the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs) and the derived FAO Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs. The objective is to help Countries in developing the agricultural, fisheries, livestock and forestry sectors, and to using their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner, in line with FAO’s mandate and Strategic Objectives.

Social protection is an instrument for eradicating poverty and supporting the productive potential of the poor, including households involved in fisheries. Despite this proven potential, the coverage and adequacy of social protection in Kenya and Malawi is below needs, including across fishers and pastoralists who are among the most vulnerable households. With funding from the Flexible Multi-Partner (FMM) Mechanism, in Kenya and Malawi, FAO is implementing a project “Boosting Livelihoods Resilience, Response and Recovery from COVID-19 challenges”. This project seeks to develop the capacities of community-based organizations to provide access to social protection to households involved in fisheries.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Kenya, technical supervision of the Senior Policy Officer Regional Programme Lead for Social Protection in Africa, the Senior Social Protection Officer (ESP) and in close consultation and the national social protection expert in FAO Kenya and FAO Malawi, Social Protection Specialists at the Sub-regional offices ( SFE and SFS); the specialist/ consultant shall undertake the following duties

Technical Focus

Supports Social protection policy, programming and analytical work in Kenya and Malawi, including coordination of ongoing One UN joint project funded through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) fund, FMM project and for strengthening the contribution of social protection in agricultural development, and emergency interventions to sustainable poverty reduction, food security and nutrition.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Coordinate the implementation of project activities regionaly and in Kenya, including the development of annual work plans, monitoring the implementation of project activities and preparation of annual progress reports • Provide regular technical support to the national social protection expert in Malawi • Review literature and conduct key informant interviews to identify experiences in the region in expanding access to social protection through community based organizations • Organise national and regional level consultations to identify lessons learnt in providing access to social protection through community based organizations in rural areas • Write up a report of lessons learnt in the region in expanding access to social protection through community based organizations Oversee the design and implementation of a campaign in rural areas of to increase community-based organizations’ awareness, especially women groups/associations, of available social protection programmes and associated entitlements, registration procedures, referral mechanisms etc.: • Design and conduct participatory needs assessments to identify social protection needs of vulnerable groups, including women, involved in pastoralism and write up findings in a summary report • Design and conduct an assessment of the capacity development needs of community based organizations in providing access to social protection and complementary services to people involved in pastoralism and write up a summary report of findings • Design gender-responsive social protections services, targeting women and youth in particular. • Formulate an action plan for developing the capacities of informal social protection mechanisms to provide access to social protection to people involved in pastoralism • Initiate dialogues on gender-responsive social protection and pastoralism policies across community-based organizations (CBOs) and between CBOs and government agencies at sub-national and national levels • Technically backstop the design and implementation of national and county policies/strategies on social and/or pastoralism services • Initiate dialogues that support the development of sector-specific gender-responsive social protection policy instruments

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Development studies, Agricultural Economics, Sociology, rural development, or related fields • At least five years relevant experience of relevant in rural development programmes, Social Protection Safety nets at national and international levels, project monitoring and evaluation, impact assessment, project formulation for fund raising, social protection delivery services and policy maker and donor/development partner engagement and development of policy papers, formulation and implementation of social protection programmes. • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian if required by the assignment (for consultants); Working Knowledge of English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic or Chinese (for PSA)

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extensive and relevance of experience in implementing and coordinating international programmes • Experience in engaging communities, opinion leaders, sub-national and national policy makers. • Proven familiarity with social protection landscapes. • Excellent strategic visioning, creative thinking and problem solving skills; • High level of integrity and accountability, commitment, and flexible approaches to work; • Ability to work under pressure and within multidisciplinary teams and professional backgrounds • Experience in leading inter-national and multi-cultural meetings, including training sessions • Knowledge and experience of FAO systems and databases and corporate applications is considered an asset • Working experience with UN and/or international organizations will be an asset