Project Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Sub-regional Resilience Team for Southern Africa (SFS-REOSA), based in Johannesburg, is a key part of SFS. Its main goal is to reduce vulnerability and the risk of food and nutrition insecurity in southern Africa. The team accomplishes this by strengthening the productive capacity and livelihoods of vulnerable groups in the region. They aid regional bodies, governments, and country offices in developing and coordinating emergency and resilience policies, programmes, and projects. The aim is to achieve food and nutrition security, reduce hunger and malnutrition, and contribute to the sustainable development of the agricultural, fisheries, and forestry sectors. A major current focus is on mitigating the impact of climate-induced shocks or hazards on food and nutrition security, as well as the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations in southern Africa. To achieve this, the team is developing the Anticipatory Actions lessons learned framework, building capacity, and creating protocols for priority hazards. FAO's anticipatory action programme offers an opportunity to enhance collaboration among agencies and promote complementary efforts. It entails creating a repository of actions for both fast-onset and slow-onset hazards, establishing coordination frameworks, harmonizing financing mechanisms and triggers, and strengthening advocacy towards a shift from reaction to anticipation. Additionally, FAO's Anticipatory Action Programme enables the use of cash as a social protection mechanism to safeguard livelihoods from the impact of hazards. The lessons learned from this project's implementation will contribute to the development of strategic documents and foster learning.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa (SRC/SFS), the direct supervision of the Resilience Team Leader Southern Africa, the Project Officer will support the coordination of the regional anticipatory action programme.

Technical Focus

Assist in the coordination and implementation of the regional anticipatory action programme together with country offices, the Regional Office for Africa (RAF) and partners.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Assist in the coordination and implementation of the regional anticipatory action programme, including monitoring of the workplan, developing terms of reference (TORs) and concept notes for activities and outputs of the programme.

• Assist in the planning and coordination of interagency activities, including missions, trainings and workshops.

• Monitor program implementation and progress across all levels, providing guidance to FAO country offices and partners on necessary management actions.

• Assist in the consolidation of inputs from countries and partners, preparing periodic program updates and final reports.

• Participate in relevant meetings, including those of the Regional Anticipatory Action Working Group, SADC Disaster Risk Reduction Technical Working Group, and forums such as the SADC Seasonal Preparedness Workshop and CUERE meetings.

• Support the development of country-specific coordination frameworks, roadmaps, anticipatory action financing guidelines, including simulation exercises at the country level.

• Support research studies including return-on-investment and evaluation studies and linking anticipatory action to social protection mechanisms with sustainable financing where feasible.

• Perform other duties as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in disaster management, climate change, food Security, nutrition, agricultural Economics, or sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry, and fisheries), or related field.

• At least 5 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.

• For Consultants: working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). For PSAs: working knowledge (level C) of English.

Competencies

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building effective relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location/country or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.

• Relevance and extent of experience 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 multi-disciplinary teams.

Selection Criteria

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative research design, data collection and analysis. Ability to develop research reports, baseline and endline studies at community level.

• Extent and relevance of experience (at least 5 years’ experience) in evidence-based resilience and humanitarian programming, in humanitarian information management in Zimbabwe and/or Mozambique.

• Demonstrated ability to liaise and build partnerships with UN agencies, NGO, and government institutions on drought, floods, and cyclones trigger development.