Organizational Setting

FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its global mandate and goals and though its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

The 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 Division structures its work around three core Objectives: 1) Build sustainable and resilient livelihoods for vulnerable people in agrifood systems; 2) Achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems; and 3) Promote equitable, inclusive, and sustainable climate action and natural resource management.

The position is based in the Division’s Social Protection Team, and largely contributes to the Divisional Objective 1 'Build sustainable and resilient livelihoods for vulnerable people in agrifood systems' and 3 'Promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable climate action and natural resource management.

Reporting Lines

Under the general guidance of the Division Director and the lead of the Social Protection Team Leader, directly reports to the Social Policy Officer in charge of Social Protection and Resilience portfolio.

Technical Focus 

Bring technical expertise to FAO's work on i) supporting social protection role in anticipating and managing food crises, build resilient agri-food systems; ii) coordinating and aligning social protection and agricultural policy, programmes and tools with specific refence to linking social registries to farmer registries; iii) promoting inclusive social protection programming with specific refence to indigenous and tribal  peoples; iv) leveraging social protection in the context of humanitarian assistance also in fragile and violence and conflict (FVC) contexts. The role will entail providing programmatic support to country offices, generating evidence, establishing partnerships, engaging in advocacy and policy dialogue and providing institutional and human capacity development support.

Tasks and responsibilities

The specialist will contribute to primarily to the following ESP’s Objectives: (i) “Build sustainable and resilient livelihoods for vulnerable people in agrifood systems”, and (ii) “Promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable climate action and natural resource management”. More specifically, they will contribute to the following outputs: (i) “State and non-state actors working on social protection systems are supported to increase awareness and knowledge  on the status of social protection among rural populations and on options for expanding coverage and enhancing linkages with Disaster Risk Management December 2025”; and (ii) “Member countries are supported with technical guidance to integrate social protection systems into national climate policies and climate financing strategies by December 2025”.

The responsibilities will include some of the following tasks:

•    Provide technical and operational support in the design and delivery of social protection and resilience policies, programmes and projects aiming at reducing the impact of food crisis;
•    Support the development and the implementation of FAO’s workplan on linking social registries to farmer registries;
•    Support FAO’s work on developing and implementing a methodology to assess the barrier to access formal social protection programmes for indigenous and tribal people and the role of community level social safety nets;
•    Contribute to FAO’s work on leveraging social protection systems to deliver pre or post crisis assistance and support national social protection systems strengthening to manage disasters;
•    Work closely with colleagues from the Office of Emergency and Resilience (OER) to support the design and delivery of FAO programming related to disaster risk management, cash, anticipatory action and shock-responsive social protection, ensuring a focus on delivery and quality;
•    Support relevant capacity building training activities at the global, regional and country level to ensure appropriate FAO colleagues possess the necessary knowledge and skills to engage in the topic of social protection within their area of work;
•    Represent FAO in relevant external forums and coordination platforms, as well as at specific workshops and conferences as required;
•    Any other tasks as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in political science, development studies, disaster management, economics, institutional development, or other relevant social sciences
•    At least 12 years (for COF) or 15 years (for PSA) of professional experience for Level A and five years for Level B of relevant experience in social protection, socio-economic analysis, policy assistance, and capacity building in relation to social protection
•    For consultants: Working knowledge of English (C-level) and limited knowledge (В-level) of one of the other official languages of the organization (French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian or Arabic). For PSA: Working knowledge of English (C-level).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Extent and relevance of country-based experience in strengthening national social protection systems and their integration with disaster risk reduction, anticipation and management
•    Extent and relevance of experience supporting the development of social protection management information systems, preferably in terms of supporting their design and delivery at the country level;
•    Experience in working in multidisciplinary and multi-cultural team
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions 
•    Working level of French is desirable