Programme Officer (Child Labour in Agrifood Systems)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) coordinates FAO's work on social protection, gender equality, decent rural employment, rural institutions and people's empowerment, and the right to food. It is responsible for working with member countries and other partners to reduce rural poverty through strengthening social protection systems, diversifying rural employment opportunities, reducing gender gaps and other social inequalities in agriculture, strengthening producer organizations, improving the rural poor's access to productive resources and rural services, and achieving the overall goal of realizing the human right to adequate food for all.

The position is located in the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) and based at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Programme Officer (Child Labour in Agrifood Systems) reports to the Senior Officer (Rural Poverty Alleviation) leading work related to decent rural employment in ESP.

Technical Focus

Support the implementation of ESP's portfolio of programmes and projects related to child labour elimination in agrifood systems. One of the main projects is about addressing child labour in the coffee supply chain with area-based intervention models in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and in close collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC). The knowledge and model interventions generated during implementation will inform and strengthen global partnerships and will support the dissemination and replication of intervention strategies in other agrifood supply chains. In this regard, the Programme Officer (Child Labour in Agrifood Systems) will assist in formulating, managing, and implementing assigned programmes, projects, activities and initiatives designed to address child labour in agrifood systems.

Key Results

Develops, implements, evaluates, effective leadership and management of major projects and teams in accordance with Divisional/Office objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Develops, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective action; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up action;

• Performs specific assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change;

• Researches, analyses and presents information gathered from diverse sources;

• Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies;

• Generates survey initiatives; reviews, analyses and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions;

• Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications;

• Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings and conferences to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations;

• Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops and seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities;

• Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries;

• Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).

Specific Functions

• Monitors, coordinates and analyses programme/project development and implementation in close coordination with the relevant United Nations (UN) specialized agencies (ILO and UNICEF);

• Supports the provision of policy and technical assistance to selected Members as well as FAO's technical and decentralized units on child labour elimination in agrifood systems;

• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices on promotion of rural livlihoods and decent rural employment, with particular focus on child labour in agrifood systems;

• Participates in multidisciplinary teams fostering the FAO internal uptake of child labour elimination priorities and contributes to develop and expand partnerships on child labour elimination with UN and other development partners at the global, regional and national level;

• Leads technical implementation of programmes and projects focused on child labour elimination, while ensuring effective communication with the FAO Representatives and their teams in the respective countries, FAO Regional Offices and ESP at FAO headquarters;

• Supports the selection of national non-staff human resources/partners, in close collaboration with the FAO Country Offices in the programme and project countries and ESP at FAO headquarters;

• Provides technical inputs for ESP advocacy, resource mobilization and strategic positioning on child labour elimination and inclusive rural transformation;

• Supports capacity development activities involving the development of tools and guidance materials, including related to safeguards on child labour in agrifood systems, with a particular focus on global commodities and value chains;

• Plays a leading role in planning and organizing of seminars and training workshops at global, regional and national level, in collaboration with Decentralized Offices, and the preparation of related information materials, including online tools;

• Effectively manages personnel and financial resources.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in business administration or public administration, law, social science, political science or a related field;

• Seven years of relevant experience in project or programme management, administration or related area;

• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus

• Team Work

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions;

• Extent and relevance of experience in designing, coordinating and implementing development programmes and projects on decent rural employment, with particular focus on child labour in agrifood value chains;

• Extent and relevance of experience in coordinating and liaising with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, national authorities, donors and stakeholders;

• Extent of knowledge of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset;

• Ability to organize and coordinate meetings and training activities;

• Demonstrated ability to mobilize resources;

• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of French and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of Spanish is considered a strong asset.