National Professional Officer

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) 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 ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with Divisions/Offices/Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. 

RNE also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RNE develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs). 

The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

The post is located in RNE and based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The National Professional Officer (Value Chain Development Expert) reports directly to the FAO Programme Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in consultation with the Chief Technical Adviser of the project and in collaboration with the Chief Technical Adviser of the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Programme. 

Programme development and management, coordination and operational support based on the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, language and institutions of Saudi Arabia.

Effective and efficient management and coordination of the technical and operational support of the programme and project.

Key Functions:

• Participates in policy dialogue and advises government authorities, local, national and international institutions in the areas of FAO’s activities and liaises with other UN agencies. Represents FAO at inter-agency meetings.
• Promotes the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization’s mandate, programmes, national priorities and activities including the coordination of development and maintenance of communication tools such as website, press releases and publications, and supports the implementation of FAO’s regulatory frameworks (Codex Alimentarius, Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Safe Use of Pesticides, etc.) in the country.
• Coordinates and manages the maintenance of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries, including information on external aid in FAO’s corporate systems, and monitors and communicates changes in national policies affecting the agricultural sector.
• Takes the lead in producing technical, economic and policy studies as well as developing country level development frameworks, such as the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework).
• Identifies, formulates and coordinates the preparation of programme and project proposals, monitors FAO field programme implementation, ensuring that all operational activities are carried out in line with the work plan and the project document and makes recommendations on how to improve results and increase efficiency.
• Briefs, trains and supervises lower grade level programme staff regarding all aspects of the job. Ensures adherence to procedures and work requirements and accuracy and diligence of the work provided.

Specific Functions:

• Advises and coordinates with the FAO Programme Coordinator; liaises with the Programme Management Unit (PMU) and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MoEWA) to ensure the flow of cooperation and coordination necessary for the appropriate planning and implementation, and monitoring of progress of the project component in accordance with the project document.
• Works in close collaboration with and ensures timely and full coordination with the ‘Project National Focal Points’ to facilitate the implementation of the project; prepares periodical reports for organization of the Regional Steering Committee meetings, acts as reporter during the meetings and ensures timely preparation and distribution of the Committee minutes.
• Co-leads the comprehensive review for the priority commodities of the rural development programme and organizes full value chain analysis and development studies for all priority crops/commodities.
• Contributes to the identification of important local commodities in demand in local markets in each of the target regions and prepares and assists implementation of local commodities’ value addition programme.
• Supports the improvement of value addition/agro-processing physical infrastructure and logistics, including grading facilities and laboratory services, assists the establishment and operation of local agro-processing centres and identifies and promotes access and use of technologies and innovations by small producers and their associations.
• Assists in design and implementation of a programme for value addition innovations and technology promotion in target regions including through pilot demonstration of appropriate technological packages for value addition in small-scale farming communities.
• Assists in design and conduction of a study to compare the value addition potential of traditional versus modern livestock management.
• Reviews and validates the list of identified technical experts for the project component, including their Terms of Reference (ToRs), helps managing their recruitment and supervises component technical team, consultants and the support staff in carrying out their duties.
• Co-leads the preparation and dissemination of various written project component outputs, e.g. background papers, sector reviews, technical reports, sections of reports and studies, manuals, guidelines and checklists as well as knowledge products.
• Co-leads the preparation of quarterly and semi-annual project component progress reports and terminal report, identifies lessons learned, constraints and issues that require timely resolution and corrective actions and presents recommendations for improving performance.
• Co-leads development of demand-driven and responsive partnerships to benefit Saudi Arabia from proven innovation and good practices in the south and north for value addition and marketing.
• Coordinates with Southern Region Agricultural Development (SRAD) National Director and national stakeholders to ensure close working relations with MoEWA branches and other local authorities, to ensure timely conducting of country activities, including contractual arrangements, and informs the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of problems and obstacles that need attention and specific assistance.
• Provides support in the design and organization of social, qualitative and quantitative studies including but not limited to gender mainstreaming, productive family issues, entrepreneurship, internal migration and with respect to rural people and youth participation and opinion considerations.
• Ensures that the Southern Region Agricultural Development Project (SRADP) investment and support components including the provision of equipment, construction of extension centers and others include marketing facilities are timely completed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements:

• National of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Advanced University degree in agribusiness, value chain analysis, agricultural economics or any other related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in value chain analysis, agri-business development and/or project implementation in sustainable rural agricultural development
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of Arabic and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of English.

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 value chain development and agri-business.
• Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of the technical programme, operational guidelines and project/programme management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the field of policy analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the collection of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals as well as programme/project implementation, monitoring and reviewed.
• Extent and relevance of experience in Saud Arabia is considered a strong asset

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2402695