Policy Officer

Organizational Setting

The COVID-19 pandemic is, directly and indirectly, affecting health and well-being around the globe. Illness and containment measures are compounding the social and economic disadvantages of the most vulnerable in society. These social and economic impacts stand to cause devastating setbacks to efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Economic recovery programmes that do not address these inequalities and place emphasis on pro-poor recovery plans run the risk of reinforcing inequalities in the future.

Rural livelihoods need immediate support through policies and programmes that promote and protect employment and keep food systems and the rural economy moving, particularly those segments driven by small, informal producers, service providers and downstream value chain actors.

The Support to the recovery and rehabilitation of rural livelihoods affected by Covid-19 (GCP/GAU/042/EC) programme, aims to stimulate an inclusive process of socio-economic recovery of small farmers, organizations of farmers, small and medium enterprises. It focuses on differentiated needs and adequately addresses the constraints that the rural farmers faced to maintain their productive activities and its contribution to food security and nutrition, and sustainable food systems.

The programme promotes participatory mechanisms and capacity building for better territorial governance, as well as knowledge generation and exchanges and learning across local farmers, organizations, small and medium enterprises, and the establishment of policy dialogue with the main national institutions that promote the agricultural sector, economic growth and rural development.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Reporting Lines

The Policy Officer reports to the FAO Representative.

Technical Focus

Provides leadership, guidance and operational support for results-based policy assistance, governance, capacity development and facilitates policy dialogue around agrifood systems, sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition.

Key Results

Development and implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work.

Key Functions

• Provides technical and policy advice and/or support to the Government and relevant stakeholders in the development and implementation of their policies and programmes for improved food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
• Advocates strategic partnerships, best practices, and policy dialogue in support of enhanced policies and governance for food, nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.
• Plans, organizes and participates in capacity development plans and activities involving the provision of technical advice and assistance, and oversees the development of related materials.
• Interacts with UN Regional and Country teams to improve cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture.
• Analyses global and country specific requirements, organizes and leads an in-depth assessment of the policy and institutional framework of food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture and identifies areas for improvements.
• Organizes and participates' relevant meetings, workshops, seminars and conferences, advocates strategic partnerships, best practices, and increases policy dialogue and develop and negotiate effective collaboration.
• Designs and participates in resource mobilization activities.

Specific Functions

Specific functions within the scope of work in Guatemala will include\:

• Provide technical advice to food security and nutrition institutions to strengthen multisectoral coordination mechanisms that contribute to reduce hunger and malnutrition in Guatemala.
• Provide guidance to international cooperation partners in support of national food security and nutrition, and family farming programmes and policies in Guatemala.
• Prepare and refine a Work Plan in collaboration with FAO's Country Office, EU Delegation and national stakeholders in Guatemala.
• Provide advice, technical assistance and organize training workshops around institutional capacity development to strengthen programme implementation, particularly those prioritized by the EU budget support plan.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in political sciences, agricultural economics, development economics, rural sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries), or related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in policy advice and analysis relating to food security, nutrition, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in Latin America, is desirable.
• Extent andrelevance of experience in policy analysis and advice relating to food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of Spanish is highly desirable.