Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization Specialist

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• 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

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

Organizational Setting

The Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) coordinates FAO’s work on three objectives\: poverty eradication and sustainable livelihoods for the poor and small producers, advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems, and ensuring climate justice for marginalized and vulnerable rural people. Technical areas of focus include social protection, decent rural employment, integrated approaches to gender equality, the right to food and rights-based approaches, rural institutions and collective action, land tenure, and rural finance. The division works in coordination with other offices and divisions to support the cross-cutting themes of gender, youth and inclusion.

Reporting Lines

The Resource Mobilization Specialist will be under the overall supervision of the Deputy Director of ESP, and the direct supervision of another senior member of ESP staff.

Technical Focus

The Resource Mobilization Specialist will expand and strengthen relationships with a portfolio of existing and new resource partners supporting FAO’s Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP). This area of work covers strategic partnership, relationship management, resource mobilization, new business development, and partner intelligence for ESP’s three objectives named above.

Tasks and responsibilities

The responsibilities will include one or more of the following tasks, according to the thematic area(s) of focus and level of the consultant\:

- Alongside ESP Management and technical officers, proactively engage with resource partners, build relationships and generate new funding opportunities.
- Identify potential new resource partners for the ESP funding priorities, including those from philanthropy, the private sector, and consortia as feasible; gather business intelligence; support relationship building with resource partners.
- Develop partner-specific approaches; solicit and lead preparation of funding proposals in line with delivery of ESP objectives, while engaging with relevant technical units and decentralized offices, in particular their resource mobilization focal points.
- Identify key country and / or regional initiatives that coincide with ESP objectives and pursue joint resource mobilization efforts with FAO decentralized offices.
- Be knowledgeable of resource partners’ rules and regulations, strategic and regional/country priorities, funding streams, visibility and reporting requirements and advise ESP on donor requirements for project formulation and implementation. Provide donor-specific guidance throughout the project cycle, including on non-standard financial reporting, where required.
- Track resource mobilization opportunities for the division as a whole in order to increase transparency and synergies.
- Systematically monitor, identify and highlight relevant calls for proposal and support the application process.
- Contribute to and lead the strategy around partnership under selected ESP initiatives, for example, the Commit to Grow Equality initiative or future initiatives, and follow up with existing and potential partners.
- Identify and articulate the added value of private sector (including philanthropic) engagement with ESP; research and prioritize a pipeline of qualified target companies; support outreach to companies and coordinate communication.
- Design and deliver outreach and advocacy material, and shape presentations and speaking points in support of key outreach and advocacy opportunities and resource partner engagements, in close collaboration colleagues working on communications.
- Participate in external working groups, roundtables and sector events as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING\:

Minimum Requirements

- Advanced university degree in rural development, economics, political or social sciences, gender, agriculture or other related field.
- At least 10 years of experience for A-level and 5 years for B-level in resource mobilization, programme management, strategic partnerships, communication and advocacy; solid understanding of the rural development context.
- Working knowledge (level C) of English; limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian) is an asset.

FAO Core 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 developing country settings, is desirable.
- Successful track record of resource mobilization, proposal writing, and strategic partnership portfolio development.
- Demonstrable experience on resource partner relationship management and donor intelligence.
- Experience working with the private sector, multilateral development banks and/or civil society organizations.
- Experience in working in multidisciplinary and multi-cultural team.
- Demonstrable experience on team coordination and/or management is desirable.

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

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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