Partnership Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Partnership and Liaison Office (FAO PLO) in the Republic of Korea (ROK) was officially open on 13 May 2019. The FAO PLO provides its full commitment and support for stronger country participation in FAO’s framework and programme and enhancement of partnership and cooperation at primarily national, and also regional, interregional and global levels.

The FAO PLO in the Republic of Korea communicates and cooperates with all FAO HQs divisions/offices and RAP teams, the Government agencies and all other partners in the Republic of Korea, including the UN agencies, academies, and institutions, the private sector, and others in the service of FAO’s framework. 

FAO PLO in ROK is looking for a Partnership Specialist to support developing, managing and implementing effective and efficient partnership with key stakeholders in order to ensure greater impact of the FAO Mission, “Achieving Food Security for All and Enhancing Access to Sustainable Food for All”. He or she will assist in developing and implementing the PLO’s partnership strategy and resource mobilization action plan that is aligned with the FAO Strategic Framework (SF) and Partnership Strategy.

The post is located in the FAO PLO in ROK.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent shall be supervised by the FAO Representative and Head of FAO PLO in ROK. The incumbent shall familiarize him/herself with, and ensure mandatory coherence of, FAO’s guidelines for partnerships and collaboration with stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will assist in strengthening collaboration with FAO stakeholders, including public and private sector partners in the Republic of Korea (ROK), to add the mutual value for both FAO and its Partners. The role will involve supporting the establishment and maintenance of strategic partnerships, as well as providing assistance in resource mobilization efforts to enhance the greater impact and visibility of FAO’s projects and programmes and initiatives. 

Tasks and responsibilities

Following specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: 

•    Support identifying and analysing key stakeholders and partners of FAO PLO in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and develop a comprehensive partnership portfolio;
•    Maintain and manage a stakeholder database and organise internal briefings for FAO country offices to share engagement opportunities and provide strategic guidance;
•    Support formulating and implementing a partnership work plan and action plan in line with FAO’s corporate strategy on partnerships;
•    Support assessing priorities of key counterparts including government, private sector, academia, civil society and NGOs to foster mutually beneficial collaboration;
•    Support coordinating with headquarters, regional and country offices to strengthen partnerships with non-state actors and support identification of stakeholders for joint project development;
•    Contribute to the design of collaborative programmes that align with the priorities of the ROK government and FAO;
•    Support collecting and reviewing information on Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects and resource mobilisation mechanisms of ROK government agencies to identify strategic entry points for FAO;
•    Support the development of proposals and related documents for resource mobilisation in response to partner requests;
•    Support preparing MOUs or equivalent instruments with stakeholders ensuring alignment with FAO rules and procedures;
•    Support the organisation of events with partners to enhance the visibility of FAO and promote its role in the ROK;
•    Support promoting FAO initiatives by participating in relevant events and meetings and engaging key stakeholders;
•    Support preparing briefs and information materials on FAO mandates and initiatives to enhance stakeholder understanding;
•    Support designing and implementing outreach strategies to increase awareness of FAO’s work and conduct due diligence in collaboration with relevant divisions;
•    Support promoting the use of FAO partnership tools including the CONNECT Portal and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and support effective data management and usage;
•    Support drafting reports and donor briefs and ensure timely follow-up on mobilised resources and programme results;
•    Perform other related duties as required and assigned by the supervisor.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  
  
•    Advanced university degree in agriculture, economy, business administration, international relations, international development policy, social sciences, humanitarian, languages, or other fields related to FAO’s mandates.
•    At least five (5) years of work experience in building and managing partnerships or programmes, engaging with stakeholders, managing partnership database, coordinating donor relations. 
•    Working knowledge of English and Korean 
•    National of the Republic of Korea 

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Work experience in the field of partnership development/management with public and private sector, NGO, CSO, etc
•    Familiarity with global food security, sustainable agrifood system, climate resilient, sustainable rural development  
•    Good knowledge of the Republic of Korean government’s Official Development Assistance Policy and flow 
•    Good knowledge of communication and documentation standards with well-constructed reports, knowledge products
•    Substantive experience in project management, event organization, and database management 
•    Good understanding of SDGs, food security and sustainable agrifood system transformation and other key development agenda, including climate change, green transition, gender equality, inclusive development. 
•    Work experience in advocacy, reach-out activities 

Selection Criteria

•    Work experience in mobilizing resources, building strategic partnership with diverse partners including governments, UN entities, private sector, CSO, NGO, and academia and other development organisations. 
•    Strong understanding of the Republic of Korea’s ODA policy, strategies, priorities and knowledge of global food security, agrifood system, rural development, and its challenges and opportunities and key players in the community. 
•    Work experience in UN or International Organizations is desired.
•    Knowledge of another UN official languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) is an asset.