National Policy Specialist

Overview

Coordinate policy development for agrobiodiversity conservation in Tajikistan.

You have:

• Master's or Bachelor's degree(s) in policy development and governance linked with sustainable agriculture development, agrobiodiversity and endemic genetic resources conservation, natural resources management, or related fields.
• A minimum of 5 years work experience in planning, coordination and development of national policy and legislative frameworks, making policy change and amendments, that is aligned with ABD conservation, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; experience in conducting policy gap analysis and development of key recommendations for policy/ legislative frameworks improvement on agrobiodiversity (ABD), including on-farm landrace (LR), crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic reserves.
• Working knowledge of Tajik and Russian, English is an asset.
• National or Resident of Tajikistan.

Organizational Setting

FAO is implementing a Global Environmental Facility project, jointly with IOM, UNICEF and UN Women, titled “Facilitating agrobiodiversity (ABD) conservation and sustainable use to promote food and nutritional resilience in Tajikistan”. The project objective is the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Securing of the national and globally significant agrobiodiversity and the associated knowledge and cultural aspects of traditional agro-ecosystems of Tajikistan. This encompasses the valuation and maintenance crop landraces, crop wild relatives and their associated knowledge and cultural methods within the traditional agro-ecosystems of Tajikistan.

The project supports building an evidence-based conservation planning approach that includes the production of inventories of diversity; mapping hotspots; the identification of stakeholders and the fostering of linkages between them. The project is organized into 3 components:

Component 1: Agrobiodiversity conservation and policy enhancement to benefit local communities; Component 2: Strengthening local community and breeding sector’s capacity to use the breadth of indigenous agrobiodiversity and ensure climate resilience; Component 3: Support policy development, knowledge management, improved financing and monitoring and evaluation.

The project is built on current initiatives and processes and involves several stakeholders, including farmers, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to assure its sustainability after the project is over. Furthermore, the project promotes gender equality and women’s empowerment by supporting women’s participation and decision-making capabilities; improving access to resources and technologies; and, creating financial opportunities for income-generating activities.

Reporting Lines

The National Policy Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAOR in Tajikistan, and under the technical guidance and supervision of the Project Lead Technical Officer (LTO) and National Technical Officer and/ or National Project Coordinator, and relevant technical and programme units in FAO Representation Office in Tajikistan, Sub-regional Office (SEC) and Regional (REU) and at Headquarters in Rome. He/She will co-operate closely with national counterparts, including local authorities (Hukumat/ Jamoat), local farmers and national consultants, as well as with local/ regional branches of Ministry of Agriculture, CoEP, Forest Agency, Protected Areas, and the joint PUNOs implemented this project.

Technical Focus

• Coordinated with national project consultants and collected data on policy gap analysis and recommendations generated for policy and legislative frameworks change and improvement in the area of ABD, on-farm LRs and CWR genetic reserves, including: • Study of weaknesses and strengths of existing national policy and legal frameworks for the conservation and development of valuable local agrobiodiversity in the face of climate change, identification of gaps in legislation. • Led, and provided technical support and expert inputs for preparation of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Conservation and Use of Agrobiodiversity (NSAP-CUA), including: • Expected contribution to economic well-being from the sustainable use of valuable agrobiodiversity, taking into account climate change. • A list of operational and long-term measures for the conservation and sustainable development of agrobiodiversity. • Possible types of products represented by agrobiodiversity resources. • Coordinated all the activities related to the establishment/ endorsement of the NSAP-CUA. Sustainable function of the NSAP-CUA assured/ maintained. • In close cooperation and guidelines of National Gender Specialist number of consultations organized with key policy makers and stakeholders on recommendations of NSAP-CUA with gender perspective; • Conducted assessment on the level of awareness on agrobiodiversity among 50 Tajikistan policy makers. Assessment report developed and submitted. • The amendment of at least 5 existing policies/ legislations drafted and presented. • Conducted monitoring at on-farm level. Final Report with all annexes developed and submitted to FAO through NC IEPA.

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Policy Specialist will be responsible for the below mentioned:

• Coordinate and network with national project consultants and data collection on policy gap analysis and recommendations for policy and legislative frameworks change and improvement in the area of ABD, on-farm LRs and CWR genetic reserves; • Leading, and provide technical support and expert inputs for preparation of the National Strategy and Action Plan for Conservation and Use of Agrobiodiversity (NSAP-CUA). • Coordinate all the activities related to the establishment/ endorsement of the NSAP-CUA. Assure the sustainable function of the NSAP-CUA. • In close cooperation and guidelines of National Gender Specialist organize consultation on recommendations of NSAP-CUA with gender perspective; • Conduct assessment on the level of awareness on agrobiodiversity among Tajikistan policy makers. • Draft the amendment of at least 5 existing policies/ legislations. • Facilitate communication between FAO and government, resource partners, partners from/into local languages; • Prepare an end of assignment report for approval by the FAOR and LTO. • Perform other duties within the National Project Coordinator’s technical competence as required by the FAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements

• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree(s) in policy development and governance linked with sustainable agriculture development, agrobiodiversity and endemic genetic resources conservation, natural resources management, or related fields. • A minimum of 5 years work experience in planning, coordination and development of national policy and legislative frameworks, making policy change and amendments, that is aligned with ABD conservation, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; experience in conducting policy gap analysis and development of key recommendations for policy/ legislative frameworks improvement on agrobiodiversity (ABD), including on-farm landrace (LR), crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic reserves; • Working knowledge knowledge of Tajik and Russian, English is an asset; • National or Resident of Tajikistan.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in the gap analysis, assessment, formulation, analysis, planning, coordination and development of national policy and legislative frameworks, making policy change and amendments, that is aligned with ABD conservation, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; experience on conducting policy gap analysis and development of key recommendations for policy/ legislative frameworks improvement on agrobiodiversity (ABD), including on-farm landrace (LR), crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic reserves; • Relevance of knowledge and experience in climate reliance and natural resources management (land, water, forest, pasture); and breeding and production of agrobiodiversity crop products/ food crops, on-farm and in wild landscapes. • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions within Tajikistan. • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered an asset; • Proficiency in Tajik is a strong asset and an advantage.

Selection Criteria

• Prove professional education degree on in policy development and governance linked with sustainable agriculture development, agrobiodiversity and endemic genetic resources conservation, natural resources management, or related fields. • Demonstratable experience (5 years) in the planning, coordination and development of national policy and legislative frameworks, making policy change and amendments, that is aligned with ABD conservation, including on-farm landrace and CWR genetic resources & reserves; experience on conducting policy gap analysis and development of key recommendations for policy/ legislative frameworks improvement on agrobiodiversity (ABD), including on-farm landrace (LR), crop wild relatives (CWR) genetic reserves; • Skills such as preparation of policy gap analysis, analytical and evidence-based reports/ technical assessment/ survey; • Knowledge on the project areas of intervention; • Excellent ability for networking, communication and advocacy of national policy change / development; • Excellent working knowledge of Excel/ Word and other software (PowerPoint, etc.). • Capacity for data collection and for information management/ exchange; • Analytical and policy briefs writing skills; • Excellent ability for networking, communication and advocacy of national policy change / development;

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: fao.org