Subregional Coordinator

Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger

FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead
active, healthy lives. With 195 Members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.
The Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (RLC) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities
for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority
activities in the region. It oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) -
Bridgetown and the Subregional Office for Mesoamerica (SLM) - Panama City. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to
programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Offices and Divisions
at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the
Organization’s strategies through programmes and projects in the region.

The Regional Office (RLC) supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects including
Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations
Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at country level, advising Decentralized Offices on corporate
priorities as per the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's programme of
work and budget.
The Regional Office (RLC) leads, formulates, implements, monitors and reports on the Organization´s programmes and budget
in the region and draws management attention to problems, deficiencies, and risks.
The Regional Office (RLC) leads the preparation for the Regional Conferences and Statutory Bodies/Regional Commissions in
the region.
The Regional Office (RLC) develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic
Integration Organizations (REIOs) and participates in the United Nations Regional Architecture, such as UN Regional Forums on
Sustainable Development and UN Regional Collaborative Platforms and related mechanisms.
The Regional Office (RLC) delivers an improved, integrated and collaborative business model to enhance
efficiency, effectiveness, consistency, innovation, agility and responsiveness in logistical, operational financial and other support
services at all levels to accelerate the achievement of the Organization´s programme in the region and compliance with the
Internal Control Framework (ICF).

The position is located in the Subregional Office for the Caribbean (SLC) in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Reporting Lines

The Subregional Coordinator (SRC) for the Caribbean works under the guidance of, and reports to the Assistant Director-General /Regional Representative (ADG/RR) for Latin America and the Caribbean, RLC. 

Summary of Duties and Functions

The Subregional Coordinator leads the multidisciplinary technical teams in the designated subregion. He/she leads FAO's response to subregional priorities in line with FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31 and is accountable for FAO activities in the subregion. He/she represents FAO in the country of assignment. He/she supports the FAO Regional Representative in his/her capacity as an accountable member of the regional United Nations Development Group (UNDG) team as defined in the Management and Accountability System of the United Nations Development and the Resident Coordinator System.
The Subregional Coordinator also serves as the FAO Representative to the host country as well as to other countries in the subregion where FAO has no Representatives and/or Representations, to promote FAO's support to the national priorities.
He/she contributes to the preparation of the Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) for the FAO Members in the Subregion, and ensures effective collaboration with subregional economic integration organizations, UN-system entities at the subregional and national levels as well as other subregional institutions and media.

In particular, he/she will be responsible for the following:

Oversight of FAO strategic planning and programme development in the subregion:

• Lead the analysis and dialogue on subregional priorities and the development of subregional strategies.
• Advise and collaborate with internal partners to raise awareness of subregional priorities and needs and ensure that they are reflected in corporate and regional policies.
• Ensure the provision of timely technical support to the FAO components of the United Nations common planning and programming frameworks (e.g. United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP), Flash Appeals, etc.), the Country Programming Framework (CPF) for all countries in the subregion and related FAO programmes, projects and/or other activities.
• Lead subregional mobilization of extrabudgetary resources, making optimum use of the expertise available in the Decentralized Offices.

Programme implementation and monitoring:

• Support Member Nations in the subregion to address food insecurity, malnutrition, hunger and inequalities by working together with institutional partners in the subregion, in accordance with agreed priorities, approved programme/workplans/budgets, strategic objectives and corporate policies.
• Coordinate and ensure timely and appropriate implementation and technical backstopping to FAO programmes and projects in the subregion in close collaboration with FAO technical divisions and units and in line with corporate norms, standards and procedures.
• Undertake regular reporting and monitoring on subregional programmes.

Leadership on knowledge management:

• Support and, where relevant, lead the subregional policy dialogues on areas of FAO's mandate.
• Facilitate timely access by subregional stakeholders to FAO's knowledge resources and global public goods, and knowledge sharing within and beyond the subregion.

Management of human and financial resources:

• Lead and manage the Subregional Office and ensure effective and efficient use of human and financial resources in line with corporate policies and administrative procedures.
• Manage all matters related to the security and safety of FAO personnel and their eligible dependents and ensure full adherence to the UN Security Policy, rules and regulations, as well as to security-related instructions issued by FAO.
• Promotes and leads initiatives under the FAO Corporate Environmental Policy and its Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy 2020-2030 to reduce emissions, increase efficiency and integrate sustainability into the Organization's daily operations.

Contacts/Partnerships:

• Support the effective establishment of partnerships and collaborations with governments, donors, civil society, academia, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UN system organizations and other international organizations.
• Advocate FAO's policy positions in the relevant subregional fora, represent FAO in the media and implement a pro-active communications strategy to raise FAO awareness with the general public.
• Support the UN joint communication efforts at the subregional level and speaking with 'one voice'.
  Perform other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in a technical area related to the work of the Organization.
• Minimum of twelve years of relevant experience in programme development and management in fields related to the mandate of FAO, including at the international level.
• Demonstrated professional competence, proven leadership capability and effective management skills.
• Extensive experience in partnership with inter-governmental and international organizations, national governments, technical and donor partners, private sector, civil society organizations, youth and women organizations, farmer associations, etc.
• Ability to lead and work effectively with a diverse team of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international setting.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish).

Leadership Competencies

Results focus: Takes accountability for the delivery of agreed results in service of the FAO Strategic Framework.
Leading, engaging and empowering others: Coordinates, directs, facilitates and recognizes team efforts; creates an enabling environment and assists others to realize and develop their potential.
Communication: Encourages and contributes to clear and open communication.
Partnering and Advocating: Promotes ideas and develops partnerships to advance the Organization's work.
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement: Continually seeks to improve the knowledge, skills and work processes of oneself and others.
Strategic thinking: Makes informed and coherent decisions aligned with broader goals and strategies.