Programme Coordinator (Disaster Risk Management and Resilience) - Barbados

Organizational Setting

The FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) was established in 1996 and is based in Barbados. It is headed by a Sub-Regional Representative/Coordinator and is staffed by a Multidisciplinary Team and an Administrative Unit. The FAO Caribbean Sub-Regional Office is supporting 13 member countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, The Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Moreover, FAO Representations are present in Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname; Jamaica, Belize and the Bahamas; and Guyana.

FAO, together with UN, government and regional partners, is implementing a portfolio of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Resilience projects across the Caribbean. Some of these include: capacity building on and institutionalization of innovative DRM/Resilience tools; support to Agriculture Disaster Risk Management Planning and hazard-specific preparedness and response; and enhancing the availability, quality and ease-of-access to agro-meteorological data and climate risk information. Upcoming programmes and projects include promoting resilient livelihoods and food security through data, digitalization and sectoral linkages (Joint Programme); and building resilience to multiple shocks and stresses in the response and recovery from COVID-19 impacts.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, the technical supervision of the FAO Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Specialist and Emergency Focal Point, and in close coordination with programme/project partners.

Technical Focus

The objective of the assignment is to provide technical and coordination support to FAO’s programmes and projects on Disaster Risk Management and Resilience including an upcoming UN Joint Programme to be implemented in Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The programme coordinator will also be supporting other DRM and Resilience projects and initiatives that are being implemented in other countries covered by the FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide coordination and technical support to the upcoming Joint Programme on resilient livelihoods and food security in Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This will include (but not be limited to) the following programme outputs:

- Improvement of early warning, risk and vulnerability data, related systems, and geospatial information systems

- More responsive, adaptive and scalable digital data systems, assessments and national registries on farmers, fishers, and vulnerable households

- Improved linkages between agricultural and social protection sectors to include expanded market and climate information services, improved farm/fisher data, more inclusive risk management practices and expanded and effective extension and advisory services

• Provide programmatic and operational support to the SLC Disaster Risk Management/Resilience Portfolio.
• Render technical support to other current and emerging SLC DRM/Resilience workstreams including Early Warning Early Action (EWEA)/Anticipatory Action (AA), Linking EWEA/AA to Social Protection, Digital Agriculture/Innovation/E-Agriculture for DRM/Resilience, multi-level DRM planning and Disaster Impact Needs Assessments.
• Perform any other duties as required

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Agricultural/Environmental Economics, Governance/Public Policy and other relevant fields
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in Agriculture Development, Resilience, Disaster Risk Management (including emergency response), Climate Change Adaptation, Climate-smart Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Data Science, Geographic Information Systems and closely related fields
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of one of the following: Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish for Consultants; Working knowledge of English is sufficient for PSA Subscribers;

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in the Caribbean would be an advantage
• Experience working with Ministries of Agriculture and/or Environment, extension officers and farming/fishing communities is desirable
• Experience in geospatial analysis and data science (e.g. collection, analysis, modelling) for the agriculture and/or environment sectors would be an advantage
• Familiarity with the interface of policy and technical work
• Programme/project development and management