African SIDS National Technical Coordinator

Organizational Setting

FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31 aims to support the 2030 Agenda by transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable, which will lead to better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life for all, leaving no one behind.   African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have unique environmental, social, and economic vulnerabilities, which cannot be captured by income/GDP indicators alone; a multi-dimensional vulnerability index can better capture the extent of SIDS' vulnerabilities. African SIDS (Cabo Verde, Comoros, Guinea Bissau, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, and Seychelles) are characterized by geographic remoteness, vulnerability to climate change impacts, limited economic diversification, heavy reliance on tourism, and limited human resources.

The FAO African SIDS Programme, launched in December 2022 was conceived as a is a dynamic acceleration initiative designed to strengthen Agrifood systems by tackling the shared challenges and unlocking the opportunities of SIDS in Africa. The core highlights of the FAO African SIDS Programme between 2022 and 2025 are the following:

•     In 2023, the Interregional Technical Network (ITN) was established with over 80 professionals from diverse sectors and domains from all six African SIDS. The ITN connects policymakers, researchers, private sector stakeholders, and civil society across island states to facilitate knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, and joint project implementation. In 2025, over 50 ITN members complied with a Training and Certification Programme designed in partnership with the United Nations University (UNU) to attain a shared knowledge and a unified understanding of the Agrifood landscape across the region.
•     In 2023, the FAO African SIDS Programme collectively defined six priority areas: i) agrifood systems governance and institutional framework to insularity conditions; ii) climate resilience, efficiency and sustainability of agrifood systems; iii) Blue Transformation; iv) market access and support value chain development; v) women and youth in improving nutrition and vi) knowledge sharing, innovation and technology transfer.
•     In 2025, the ITN members prepared and submitted over 40 SIDS Innovative Solutions profiles to the UNU team, and will be focusing on testing, piloting and documenting these profiles. 
•     An extensive mapping of ongoing and recent agrifood related projects where mapped reaching over 170 initiatives that amount to 300 million dollars in investments in the six African SIDS.This mapping enabled the identification of prominent donors investing in African SIDS agrifood systems and the focus of their interventions.

Reporting Lines

The incumbent will perform under strategic leadership and technical guidance of the TCP/MAR/4001 lead technical officer (LTO), thematic specialists, as well as with the everyday coordination of the FAO Mauritius national team.

Technical Focus

Agrifood systems, capacity building and coaching programmes, private sector engagement and partnerships, resource mobilization, investment tracking, vertical funds entities accreditation process, agribusiness value chains, investment notes, reporting and engaging communication.

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Coordinate strategic planning, project-wide coordination, and periodic reporting. 
•     Coordinate the Interregional Technical Network (ITN), including national coordination and capacity development. 
•     Coordinate the Agrifood Public–Private Partnership Coalition (AgriPP) and maintain the investment tracker. 
•     Deliver the Coaching Programme, "Elevating Excellence in National Project Operations," with a results management (RM)-focused approach. 
•     Facilitate synergies between PRESAN and the Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Initiative, including investment facilitation. 
•     Document, manage, and promote SIDS Innovative Solutions through mini grants, the solutions catalogue, and visibility initiatives. 
•     Support project capitalization and ensure continuous project closure readiness throughout implementation and at the end of the assignment.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   

•     Advanced university degree in economics, social sciences, business or related subject;
•     10 years of relevant experience in project monitoring/programme management/policy analysis preferably in the agricultural sector;
•     Working knowledge (level C) of English and French;
•     Nationality of Mauritius

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Strong project management and organizational skills,
•     Computer literacy 
•     Ability to provide team leadership and motivation
•     Ability to work independently, with minimum supervision
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION