National Legal Specialist – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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 national/regional legal consultant will be responsible to prepare the analysis of national legislation that will serve as basis for the proposals for legal reform, for their presentation to the national counterparts and to prepare new legislation.

Reporting Lines

Under the technical supervision of the Legal Officer, Development Law branch, and the overall supervision of the FAO Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean, 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 national consultant will:

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Get familiar with FAO publications on AIT, with a focus on the legal issues as well as with other key documents produced or provided under the project as well as with the OIE standards relevant for AIT;
• Collect all national and regional legislation relevant for AIT, with a focus on the legislation relevant for data protection and data access. Analyse the legislation and prepare a national legal report following the models provided by the Legal office. This report will explain the national legal system and tradition, the institutional framework for AIT, and all the legislation relevant for AIT, including data protection. It will identify gaps and weak areas and provide recommendations for legal reform;
• Correct and amend the report as necessary and introduce the comments of the international legal consultant, the national counterparts and other members of the project team;
• Present the report to the national counterparts, discuss and validate the report and guide a discussion on next steps. Prepare a short report of the meetings/workshop;
• Based on the results of the discussion, prepare new draft legislation in close collaboration with the national counterparts and the international consultant;
• Present, discuss and validate the draft legislation with the national counterparts and the project team. Prepare a short report of the meetings;
• Prepare a final report explaining the legal approval procedure required for the draft legislation;
• Support the drafting of regional-level legislation, as needed;
• Prepare a final report including: the updated legal analysis, a commented version of the draft legislation and recommendations for its approval and implementation.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in legislation and/or related field;
• At least 5 years of relevant practical experience in agriculture legislation and/or veterinary legislation;
• Working knowledge of English;
• National of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines or resident in the country with a regular work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Legal drafting experience will be considered an asset;
• Experience in managing teams of consultants;
• Experience in capacity development activities;
• Computer literacy is required;
• Quality of both oral and written communication skills;
• Limited knowledge of Spanish or French may be considered an asset.