Policy and Programme Support Specialist

Organizational Setting

The FAO Subregional Office for the GCC Countries and Yemen (SNG) supports Member Countries in advancing inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems in line with national priorities, regional strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SNG provides policy and technical assistance, programme development and implementation support, capacity development, knowledge exchange and partnership facilitation across the GCC countries.
The Office plays a key role in supporting evidence-based policy formulation, strategic planning and programme delivery in areas such as food security and nutrition, sustainable agriculture, climate change and natural resource management, agri-food trade and value chains, and rural development. SNG also supports resource mobilization efforts and coordination with regional and national partners, including government institutions and development partners.
Within this context, FAO SNG seeks to establish a roster of qualified Policy and Programme Support Specialists to provide technical and analytical support across priority technical areas aligned with the needs of GCC countries.
 

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will report to the relevant Technical Officers at FAO SNG, under the overall supervision of the Head of the Office.

Technical Focus

The Policy and Programme Support Specialists will provide support to the subregional programme, with specific assignments linked to policy analysis, programme and project design, implementation support and analytical outputs relevant to GCC countries. Assignments may cover one or more of the following technical areas, depending on SNG needs:
•     Food security and nutrition
•     Climate change adaptation and mitigation in agri-food systems
•     Sustainable agriculture and natural resource management
•     Fisheries and aquaculture
•     Agri-food value chains and markets
•     Data and analytics on agrifood systems
•     Agricultural trade and policy analysis

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Support FAO SNG programme and technical teams in policy, strategy and programme-related work relevant to GCC countries.
•     Contribute to research, data collection and analysis related to agriculture, food security, nutrition and agri-food systems, including the review and mapping of national and regional policies.
•     Support the preparation of analytical notes, technical reports, policy briefs and programme documents.
•     Assist in monitoring and reporting on policies, programmes and projects, including the compilation of relevant indicators and background information.
•     Support the organization of technical meetings, workshops, consultations and capacity development activities at subregional and national levels.
•     Contribute to knowledge management activities, including documentation of good practices and lessons learned.
•     Perform any other related duties as required by the supervisor

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in economics, agriculture, development studies, public policy, law, international relations or any other discipline relevant to the work of the Organization. Consultants with bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
•     Experience of at least one year in research, policy analysis, programme or project support in areas related to agriculture, food security, nutrition, rural development, data and analytics or related areas.
•     Working knowledge of English (C1)
•     Limited knowledge of one of the other official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) would be an advantage. Working knowledge of Arabic would be an advantage.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Experience in writing technical reports in English or Arabic. 
•     Proficiency in standard software and digital tools to support programme and policy work.
•     Have a demonstrated and keen interest in the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and have a personal commitment to the ideals of the Charter of the United Nations.
•     Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues and partners from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
•     Experience in policy research and analysis related to agriculture, livestock, climate change, food security or agri-food systems is desirable.
•     Experience in programme or project design, implementation, monitoring or reporting in any of the listed technical areas is an asset.
•     Familiarity with data analysis tools and approaches relevant to economic, social or environmental issues is an advantage.
•     Experience working with the United Nations system, international organizations or development institutions is desirable.