Chief, Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia Service, CFIC, FAO Investment Centre

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

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

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.

Organizational Setting

The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) partners with governments, international financing institutions, national and international organizations, the private sector, research institutions, academia and farmer and producer organizations to enhance the quality and quantity of agrifood investment. Working in over 120 countries, CFI provides a full suite of investment and finance support to FAO Members. The Investment Centre’s four main areas of work include support to strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. These are complemented by the knowledge for investment and capacity development for investment programmes that serve to share knowledge more widely and position the Investment Centre as a trusted voice on investment and finance in food and agriculture.

CFI is a multidisciplinary Centre comprising the Director’s office, which leads on strategy and business development, knowledge management, communication and administration, and five regional services\: Asia and the Pacific; East and Southern Africa; Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; and West and Central Africa.

The position is located in the Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia Service (CFIC) of the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Chief, CFIC, reports to the Director, FAO Investment Centre (CFI).

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the overall guidance of the Director, CFI, and as a member of the Management Team, the Chief will liaise with governments, cooperating partners, FAO Decentralized Offices (DOs) and technical units for the planning and implementation of the work programme in the Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia, in line with FAO’s Strategic Framework, Medium-term Plan and biennial Programme of Work and Budget, with particular geographical focus on Least Developed Land-Locked Countries, Least Developed Small Island Developing States, countries in food crisis or highly populated countries with sizable populations living in poverty. Specifically, the incumbent will\:

• Ensure the provision of investment and finance support solutions to Member Nations, including strategic investment planning and policy support, public investments (design and implementation support and evaluation of investment projects and programmes), private investments and innovative finance;
• Be responsible for the operational planning, implementation, technical supervision, output monitoring and quality control of the service work programme;
• Oversee the preparation of policy papers, sector studies, project feasibility studies in collaboration with governments, country stakeholders and financial partners;
• Promote the divisional Knowledge for Investment (K4I) programme aimed at developing knowledge and fostering learning, as well as the Capacity Development for Investment (CD4I) initiative aimed at enhancing the country capacities for investment planning and implementation, through the development and dissemination of guidance materials, formal and on-the-job training, and use of national experts;
• Advocate and promote the work of the Investment Centre with governments and investors including national and international financial institutions and other stakeholders;
• Ensure integration and linkages between the work of the Centre with Decentralized Offices and headquarters units;
• Support FAO Member Nations in mobilizing public and private investments in collaboration with other responsible units of the Organization;
• Manage a multidisciplinary team of professional headquarters-based and outposted staff;
• Ensure the recruitment of qualified experts, mentor, coach and support career development and capacity development of the Service’s staff;
• Represent the Organization in internal and external meetings, and manage day-to-day matters, in the absence of the Director;
• Perform other duties as required.

For further information on the activities of the Centre, please consult\:http\://www.fao.org/support-to-investment/en/

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in economics, agriculture sciences, rural infrastructure engineering, environmental sciences, natural resources management, public management, business administration, public policy and administration or other closely related fields;
• Twelve years of relevant experience in food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management and agrifood value chains, sector studies and reviews, policy and strategy development, identification, formulation, implementation support and evaluation of investment projects and programmes in developing and/or transition countries, including knowledge of policies of major IFIs and other development partners;
• Three years of experience in a management/leadership including management of teams, partnerships, budgets, etc.;
• Extensive professional experience in delivering investment and finance support solutions in a global context;
• Extensive experience in globally decentralized organizations, including field support;
• Proven negotiation skills and diplomacy;
• Analytical skills and ability to express ideas and concepts clearly, both orally and in writing;
• Experience in working in fast-paced working environment with short deadlines;
• Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Leadership Competencies
Results focus\: Takes accountability for the delivery of agreed results in service of FAO’s 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.