Programme Design Specialist (International Consultant Agroecology)

Contract

This is a PSA contract. More about PSA contracts.

Organizational Setting

FAO's Sub-regional Office for Western Africa is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing subregional food, agriculture and rural development priorities. It develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). It assists the FAO Representations (FAORs) in the subregion with addressing subregional food security, agriculture and rural development issues at country level. The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Africa.

Reporting Lines

The International Consultant will report to the Sub Regional Coordinator for West Africa (SFW), through the Lead Technical Officer of the Project.

Technical Focus

Programme design and development, Stakeholders Relations, Donor Relations, Grant negotiation, Capacity Development and programing support in the areas of Agroecology and Food systems.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Guide and coordinate the overall preparation process of the 10 years agroecology programme for West Africa, including following up closely the work being done by the10 national consultants in connection with data collection and analysis on agroecology related issues in West Africa, in connection with natural resources management, food systems including nutrition, climate change issues and investment for agroecological transitions;

• Support national consultants in drafting the list of stakeholders to be consulted during the consultation workshops, including public institutions, international organizations, donors, civil society organizations, private sector, academia and research organizations, cooperatives and producer’ organizations;(in accordance with FAO guidelines for balanced representation of Non-State Actors in FAO processes);

• In collaboration with the project task Force and facilitation by the LTO, enable constant articulation and interaction with Agroecology Team in NSP Division and the PSUL Unit in FAO Headquarters in order to ensure alignment with FAO’s framework on Agroecology and FAO regulations on partnering with Non-State Actors in the facilitation of participatory processes;
• Liaise and work closely with all stakeholders inside and outside of FAO, in order to collect relevant information and inputs for the development of the 10 years agroecology programme, in particular: FAO’s Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB); NSL, NSA, NFO and NSP within the Natural Resources and Sustainable Production Stream; Scaling Up Agro ecology Initiative Secretariat; Food Systems Division (ESN); ECOWAS member states and other sub-regional economic organizations and producers’ organizations; West African Agricultural and Environmental Research Institutions; Donors Institutions operating in West Africa and UN Agencies;
• Review local experts reports, collect inputs and baseline information provided by the programme development team and incorporate them in a justified detailed design of programme components;
• Ensure smooth organization of national multi-stakeholder workshops with technical and capacity assessments for programme development;
• Ensure a successful organization of a sub-regional multi-stakeholder workshop and donor’s meeting for the formulation and funding of the 10 years regional agroecology programme.
• Facilitate discussions and consultations with FAO and ECOWAS representatives to review and finalize the Program;
• Perform other related duties as required by the Budget Holder, especially on the Fall Army Worm program.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced University degree in food and agriculture, food systems and nutrition, agro ecology, agricultural economics, natural resources management, environment or natural resource economics, or related disciplines;
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in programme and project development, conducting agricultural/ food systems and agroecology sectoral analytical studies, and/or in planning, design, supervision of climate resilient agricultural, food systems and agro ecological development and implementation, including elaboration of feasibility studies and implementation of climate resilient agricultural and food systems in developing countries and/or countries in transition, especially in West Africa;
• Working knowledge of English and French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Large experience in working in West Africa and closely with West African Organizations, ECOWAS in particular
• Experience and thorough familiarity with project preparation procedures
• Proven experience writing successful programme and project proposals;
• Fluency in English and French language and strong writing skills in both languages.