Private Sector Engagement Support Specialist

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• 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 person 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

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 is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure 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.

FAO India has the mandate to support the Government of India through its representation to improve livelihoods of farmers, promote agrifood systems transformation, and respond to the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation, through developing resilient and sustainable agrifood systems

The 1996 World Food Summit (WFS) recognized that the private sector has a large role to play in providing financial investments, new technologies and management systems required to meet food security goals at the national and international levels and in all sectors of the food system.

FAO’s Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2021–2025 seeks to promote a more proactive and catalytic role for the Organization in support of its Membership by setting out a clear path towards more innovative partnerships with the private sector. The Strategy also strives to develop principle-based, purpose driven partnerships that deliver a meaningful impact that leaves no one behind, respecting the Guidelines on a principle-based approach to the cooperation between the United Nations and the business sector.

Recognising the important role of private sector in advancing productivity, income and resilience of farming communities, FAO intends to enhance its engagement with private sector in food and agricultural systems development programmes. In so doing, FAO will act as a facilitator and “honest broker” for mobilizing managerial, technological, scientific, financial and other resources through new alliances with private industry, industry bodies, non-governmental organizations, corporate social responsibility organizations, farmers collectives, philanthropic foundations and educational institutions. FAO India’s intent and approach to engage with private sector is informed, inspired and guided by our global Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2021–2025.

FAO believes that strengthening dialogues with the private sector will be a catalyst in achieving the objectives under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded GEF 6 and GEF 7 projects, which mandates FAO to organize ‘Policy Dialogues’ at national and state levels to inform and facilitate dialogues around key themes identified by FAO’s Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems and FAO’s Strategy on Climate Change.

For this assignment, the incumbent will be engaged in the projects listed below -

Green Ag – GEF 6
The project’s objective is to catalyse transformative change for India’s agricultural sector to support the achievement of national and global environmental benefits and conserve critical biodiversity and forest landscapes. The project is organized around two components. The first component strengthens the enabling framework and institutional structures to mainstream biodiversity (BD), sustainable land management (SLM), climate change mitigation (CCM) and sustainable forest management (SFM) policies, priorities and practices in India’s agricultural sector. The second component demonstrates replicable “Improved agricultural and conservation practices” for sustainable production, resilient livelihood advancements, habitat improvements, and delivery of tangible BD, LD, CCM, and SFM benefits.

The project works at the national, state and pilot site levels. The project’s five demonstration states are\: i) Madhya Pradesh, ii) Mizoram, iii) Odisha, iv) Rajasthan and v) Uttarakhand. Site-level project effort focuses upon high conservation priority landscapes (e.g. protected areas) within each of these states.

FOLUR – GEF 7\:
FAO India is currently implementing the “Promotion of Sustainable Food Systems in India through Transforming Rice-Wheat Systems” Project under the GEF -7 cycle. This five-year project focuses on four states - Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. The project will\: 1) result in major global environmental benefits in terms of reduced land degradation, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions; 2) provide the country with win-win benefits in terms of improvements in the environmental sustainability of food systems and the income and resilience of farmers, and; 3) generate additional benefits for other food system stakeholders such as improved access to safe and healthy food and to employment opportunities.

TCP 4002\: Voluntary Carbon Fund with NABARD
FAO is extending technical cooperation with NABARD for creation and establishment of a carbon fund to serve agriculture and allied sectors in India, with an aim of promoting sustainable agriculture at scale and helping small and marginal farmers accrue the benefits of carbon markets. This initiative is expected to catalyse carbon markets in the agriculture and allied sectors, as well as develop innovative financial products and services for small and marginal producers in India.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in India, Assistant FAO Representative (Program) and Assistant FAO Representative (Administration) and direct reporting to the Sr Specialist, Strategy and Partnerships, the consultant will work in close coordination with the Communications Specialist, Project Managers, Technical Officers, and other team members.

Technical Focus

Private Sector Engagement support to build sustainable collaborations that will explore and open up higher possibilities for enhancing productivity, income and resilience for small and marginal farmers in India, as envisioned in the FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement (2021-2025).

Tasks and responsibilities

Specifically, the incumbent will undertake the following responsibilities and associated tasks.

• Support organising consultations and dialogues with private sector and other stakeholders on agri-food systems transformation with a focus on helping farmers enhance productivity, income and resilience
• Generate lessons, knowledge and policy recommendations from private sector engagement in agrifood systems
• Develop a roster/data base of private sector entities in India that will inform engagement priorities
• Organise and facilitate round tables, dialogues, webinars and exchange visits as required
• Document outcomes of private sector engagement activities to draw key insights and lessons from interactions and dialogues
• Submit monthly progress report and a work completion report.Coordinate with the FAO Country Office, FAO Lead Technical Officers (LTOs), other National Experts.
• Any other duties assigned by the FAOIN leadership.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University Degree in Sustainable Development/Management
• At least 5 years of experience in engaging with private sector as a part of social impact organizations or working in private sector with understanding of sustainable agriculture like CSR or client management
• Working knowledge of English and Hindi.
• National of India or resident in the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience of working with senior level private sector executives and leaders;
• Experience in designing and delivering dialogues, workshops and meetings;
• Knowledge and experience of social impact sector, sustainable agriculture and livelihood sector;
• Good multi-cultural and interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels (Ministries, donors, private sector, NGOs and local community-based organizations);
• Experience working with international and donor organizations (World Bank, IFAD, Asian Development Bank, etc.) on implementation of participatory projects;
• Proven written, analytical, computing, presentation and reporting skills.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

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

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http\://www.whed.net/
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website\: http\://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. Subject to certain exemptions, vaccination against COVID-19 will in principle be required. Vaccination status will be verified as part of the medical clearance process.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance\: https\://fao.service-now.com/csp

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