Emergency Coordinator

Organizational Setting

The FAO Office in Haiti is responsible for developing, promoting, supervising, and implementing agreed strategies to address national priorities in food security, agriculture, and rural development in Haiti. It develops and maintains relations with the relevant ministries at the national level.
The main objective of FAO country offices, led by an FAO Representative, is to assist governments in developing policies, programs, and projects to achieve food security, reduce hunger and malnutrition, support the development of the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors, and ensure the sustainable use of their environmental and natural resources.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Haiti, the direct supervision of the Head of Programme, and in close consultation with the FAO Haiti technical teams and relevant Units of the Regional Office for Latin America and Caribbean (RLC), the Subregional Office for Central America (SLM) and Headquarters.

Technical Focus

Support to the implementation of FAO’s Emergency response in line with the Emergency Response Priorities of coordination, assessment, and time- critical interventions. Assist in coordinating the implementation and follow-up of FAO’s emergency operations and strategies in the affected country.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Ensure FAO’s active participation in all humanitarian coordination mechanisms (including clusters and/or sectors), with local government authorities, other UN agencies, donors and other partners;
• Ensure the development of an initial anticipatory action and emergency response strategy and lead the programming process from needs assessments through programme development and implementation, while including FAO components of appeals, strategy documents, and project proposals;
• Ensure FAO’s participation in joint needs assessments and (co-)leadership of sector-specific assessments, that the specific needs of vulnerable groups (socio-economic, gender, age and health status) are addressed, and that commitments on accountability to affected populations are met;
• Oversee the development of an initial emergency operations plan, including human and financial resources, and the implementation of all operational activities;
• Assist in setting up emergency assessment and response teams immediately to address new emergencies and provide surge capacity to country offices;
• Coordinate the development of FAO’s contribution to inter-agency Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs) and Flash Appeals and the preparation of project profiles and full-fledged project documents for donor funding;
• Ensure that the required technical assistance from the Technical Focal Point Network is made available to the Emergency Response Team and FAO implementing partners;
• Support sectorial coordination through the FAO-WFP co-led Food Security Cluster/Sector in the country;
• Oversee the development of an advocacy and outreach plan, including key messages, communication material such as Executive and ad-hoc Briefs, Situation Reports, and the authorization of information to external communication sources;
• Establish and maintain regular contacts with donors, and ensure the provision of updated information on FAO assessments, response plans, and activities;
• Coordinate FAO’s contribution to inter-agency Post Disaster Needs Assessments and Post Conflict Needs Assessment;
• Ensure all possible steps are taken to protect the safety and wellbeing of FAO personnel responding to the emergency (in accordance with FAO and UN system safety and security protocols);
• Manage the demobilization of the Emergency Response Team and transition from the temporary emergency response structure to country-led programming;
• Serve as a panel member in Affiliate Workforce interviews as required, ensuring compliance with FAO recruitment standards.
• Supervise project Affiliate Workforce personnel, including consultants, ensuring that all team members clearly understand their roles, responsibilities, and expected deliverables.
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, food security, disaster risk management, humanitarian affairs, international development, or a closely related field. Consultants with a bachelor's degree need two additional years of relevant professional experience.
• At least five years of relevant experience in emergency preparedness and response, humanitarian coordination, or managing food security and agricultural livelihoods programmes in crisis contexts.
• Working knowledge (level C) of French and English

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge of humanitarian coordination mechanisms, including the cluster system and Food Security Cluster/Sector coordination.
• Experience in humanitarian needs assessments and developing anticipatory action strategies and emergency response programmes.
• Experience in emergency operations planning, resource management and supervision of response teams.
• Experience in donor engagement, resource mobilization and preparing funding proposals, Humanitarian Response Plans and Flash Appeals.
• Ability to integrate protection, gender and accountability to affected populations into emergency programming and prepare advocacy materials and situation reports.

Selection Criteria

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in long-term field positions is desirable;
• Experience in humanitarian contexts is required.