Organizational Setting

The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty (the Alliance) initiated under the G20 Presidency of Brazil aims at providing sustained, high-level political impetus to eradicate poverty, hunger, and malnutrition worldwide. Under the Alliance, a Policy Basket provides a menu of policy instruments proven to have a positive impact on reducing hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty that can be adapted to national or subnational contexts, and whose adaptation and implementation can be supported, upon the request of an Alliance member.

These policy interventions are supported through a combination of three pillars: i) a National Pillar for domestic policy and programme implementation and/or direct country-to-country support and lesson sharing; ii) a Financial support pillar for multilateral and bilateral funding, development finance, innovative financial mechanisms, climate funding, philanthropy and others; and iii) a Knowledge pillar where institutions offer technical assistance and cooperation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. Alliance members can both provide and request support for any of these components.

The Alliance is implemented through a Support Mechanism hosted by FAO to create synergies and leverage technical expertise of the UN Development System and its existing footprint of UN agencies, funds and programmes. The Support Mechanism consists of:
•     a Rome Office based at FAO that focuses on the knowledge and finance pillars;
•     three Global South Offices in Addis Ababa, Bangkok and Brasilia that focus on the national and knowledge pillars; and
•     a Washington Office that focuses on the finance pillar and relevant technical expertise and contributions by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs).

All five offices work under the overall leadership of the Director of the Support Mechanism of the Alliance, who leads the Support Mechanism on delivering the priorities established by the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty in accordance with FAO’s rules and procedures. This Support Mechanism shall remain autonomous from the hosting organization as an independent mechanism that follows the mandate and approach contained in the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty´s Terms of Reference and Governance Framework as well as the guidance from the Board of Champions and Core Group of the Global Alliance.

FAO International Consultant Call purpose

A consultant is engaged by the Organization to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which would be short-term by nature. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions.

The purpose of this Call is to identify suitably qualified and experienced consultants to populate a roster.

Candidates may be involved in more than one area of work and may be invited to undertake short-term assignments ranging in duration from a few days or weeks to a maximum of 11 months. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the resources and needs of the Organization.

The consultant may be based at one of the Support Mechanism’s offices or may undertake home-based assignments. Depending on the specific requirements of the Support Mechanism, the consultant may be required to go on field missions.

Reporting Lines

The consultant reports directly to the responsible officer in the Alliance Support Mechanism.

Technical Focus

The consultant will contribute to the delivery of work and programme of the Alliance’s Support Mechanism.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Support governance processes, including preparation of governance meetings, consolidation of inputs from members and partners, and support to the development and refinement of governance instruments, procedures and decision‑making workflows.
•     Support membership management and engagement, including the review and onboarding of new members, and day‑to‑day liaison with members to ensure timely information flow, clarity of expectations and effective participation in Alliance activities. 
•     Support Alliance members in the development and implementation of national policies and programmes for improved social protection, poverty eradication, food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•     Advanced university degree from an institution recognized on the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO list in international development, political sciences, social sciences, business administration, economics, development economics, sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), social protection, or a related field.
•     At least one year’s relevant experience (Category C), at least five years’ relevant experience (Category B) and at least ten years' relevant experience (Category A) in international development, partnership and resource mobilization; or three years of experience in policy advice and analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, poverty eradication, social protection monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English. Knowledge of a second FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is considered an asset.

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     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, is desirable. 
•     Extent and relevance of experience in working in multidisciplinary teams and with inter-governmental bodies.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in organizing multilateral and multi-stakeholder meetings and workshops.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in drafting concise policy-oriented content, such as plans, briefs and programme profiles, particularly in the field of poverty reduction, social protection, support to smallholder farmers, food security and/or nutrition. 
•     Extent and relevance of experience in negotiating complex or institutional agreements with bilateral and multilateral institutions.
•     Extent and relevance of experience in institutional collaboration and relationships with governments, private sector and regional, national and local development agencies.
•     Familiarity with the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty governance and membership process is desirable.
•     Full proficiency/working knowledge of Portuguese is desirable (as well as of a second or third FAO official language as stated in the Minimum Requirements section).