Project Officer (Agriculture Climate Services)

Organizational Setting The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Timor-Leste aims to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

FAO Timor-Leste participates in a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-led project, titled 'Enhancing Early Warning Systems (EWS) to build greater resilience to hydro-meteorological hazards in Timor-Leste' with funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) (here after referred as the GCF/UNEP Umbrella project). This project aims to achieve: 1) Strengthened delivery model and legislation for climate information and multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS); 2) Strengthened observation, monitoring, analysis and forecasting of climate and its impacts; 3) Improved dissemination and communication of risk information and early warning; and 4) Enhanced climate risk management capacity. These results will lead to enhanced climate resilience of the entire population of Timor-Leste, including 1.03 million people as direct beneficiaries (i.e. 80 percent of the population).

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Dili, Timor-Leste.

Reporting Lines The Project Officer (Agriculture Climate Services) reports to the FAO Representative in Timor-Leste.

Technical Focus The Project Officer (Agriculture Climate Services) will lead the implementation of FAO projects, in synergy and close coordination with the GCF/UNEP Umbrella Project. S/he will also support the development and implementation of the FAO broader programme in Timor-Leste including liaising with the Government and partners in the country.

Key Results Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

Key Functions • Researches and analyses technical-related issues on the development, the implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; assists in the review of relevant documents and reports; • Produces a variety of technical information, data, statistics and documents as well as technical input for reports and web pages; • Provides technical support/analysis to various assessments, studies and projects and provides technical backstopping to field projects; • Collaborates in the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes and databases; • Oversees the updating of databases and web pages; • Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams collaborates with other divisions and agencies on work groups and committees and promotes best practices; • Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools; • Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations; • Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions • Contributes to the development of detailed project implementation plan and result-based annual work plan and budget, aligned with the GCF/UNEP Umbrella Project and in harmony with other technical partners' work plans; • Manages a multidisciplinary team of international and national consultants to deliver the assigned project including supporting the FAO Representative/project Budget Holder in developing Terms of References (TOR), selection and recruitment of the consultants; • Sets up and implements the project governance and implementation arrangements ensuring fruitful participation of Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) and other concerned Government agencies: National Directorate Meteorology and Geophysics (NDMG), Civil Protection Authority/National Disaster Management Directorate (NDMD). Ensure FAO's effective participation in the GCF/UNEP Umbrella Project's coordination including the Project Steering Committee; • Prepares TOR, with inputs from and in consultation with technical experts, and support in the issuance of Letters of Agreement (LOA) and/or contracts to obtain technical inputs and services for the project; • Supports the design and implementation, in synergy with the GCF/UNEP Umbrella project, project baseline, of the mid and end-line assessment for the FAO activities, ensuring its robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) and contribution to the GCF/UNEP Umbrella project outcome monitoring and reporting; • Contributes to the detailed design and implementation of activities related to agriculture climate information services (Output 1) and early warning (for Output 3); • Works with other technical experts to design and implement capacity development activities such as policy support, organizational development and learning events including drafting policy briefs, preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools; • Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices in the field of climate information services, early warning, anticipatory action and Disaster Risk Management (DRM)/Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) in the country and at international meetings and conferences, representing FAO when appropriate and influencing partners; • Supports FAO programme development, implementation and resource mobilization, including identifying opportunities, drafting concept notes, obtaining support from the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and headquarters and reaching out to donors; • Contributes to the coherence and synergy of FAO activities in the country, contributing to the FAO Strategic Framework, FAO Country Programming Framework in Timor-Leste; and • Performs other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements • Advanced university degree in political sciences, business administration, agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), or related field; • Five years of relevant experience in technical cooperation's related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, fishery, forestry, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes; • Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies • Results Focus • Team Work • Communication • Building effective relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions. • Relevance and extent of experience in in technical cooperation's related activities, policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes; • Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams; • Relevance and extent of experience in developing climate information and early warning systems, particularly in the agriculture sectors, agro-meteorological services, and other technical cooperation's related activities; • Relevance and extent of experience working with a range of agencies - government agencies at all levels, scientific/research organizations, development partners and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)/Civil Society Organizations (CSOs); • Understanding of and experience working with governments of developing countries in Asia-Pacific is considered an advantage.