Emergency and Resilience Specialist (Head of Field Office)

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Organizational Setting

The conflict in Cabo Delgado Province continues to exacerbate the food insecurity crisis in Northern Mozambique. The violent attacks by insurgents continue to increase and expand to new districts, and a deterioration of the conflict since December 2023 has led to more than 100,000 additional displaced people, bringing the total number to 822,000 still displaced in Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Niassa Provinces. Furthermore, more than 630,000 people have returned to their areas of origin in the past year, requiring assistance to rebuild their livelihoods and assets.
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) post-shock assessment crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes are expected to persist through March 2025, particularly in the central region, at least until the next harvest season in April-May. In August, a drought appeal, running from August 2024 to July 2025, was launched, targeting 1.4 million people in the most affected districts to respond to the worst drought in at least 40 years.
In December 2024, tropical cyclone Chido made landfall on the coast of southern Cabo Delgado/norther Nampula provinces, causing widespread damages. According to the National Institute for Natural Disaster (INGD) more than half a million people have been affected in Cabo Delgado, and almost 200,000 in Nampula. Preliminary and further assessments confirmed that the agriculture sector suffered significant damage. Cyclone Chido is the fourth major cyclone to hit Mozambique in five years.
In this context, FAO is implementing and emergency and resilience programme in the northern provinces, with its main focus in Cabo Delgado, but also interventions in Nampula and Niassa provinces. The FAO Field Office for the northern provinces is based in Pemba (Cabo Delgado).

The position is located in Pemba, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique.

Reporting Lines

The Emergency and Resilience Specialist (Head of Field Office) will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, and the direct supervision of the Emergency and Resilience Coordinator.

Technical Focus

The incumbent will lead FAO's emergency response and promote its resilience program in the northern provinces of Mozambique. Their responsibilities include needs assessment, program development and implementation, resource mobilization, and collaboration with various partners, as well as contributing to planning tools and providing technical guidance to field staff.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Emergency and Resilience Specialist (Head of Field Office) will perform the following tasks and responsibilities\:

• Lead FAO's emergency response in the northern provinces, including needs assessment, programme development and implementation, context analysis and resource mobilization in collaboration with the Emergency Unit and technical officers in FAO Mozambique.
• Promote FAO's resilience program in the northern provinces, to build the resilience of agricultural livelihoods of vulnerable communities in cooperation with government counterparts, UN agencies, regional organizations, NGOs and CBOs.
• Support the preparation of advocacy and planning tools and appeals, including the Humanitarian Response Plan, the Food Security Cluster response strategy, Flash Appeals, in collaboration with the Emergency Unit in FAO Mozambique and Food Security Cluster team.
• Effectively supervise Field Office affiliate Workforce ensuring transparent and efficient people management and the development of a cohesive and high performing team.
• Ensure efficient use of financial resources for achievement of objectives.
• Oversee the security of FAO staff, operations, premises and assets in a complex security environment such as Cabo Delgado.
• Ensure that FAO security and safety standards are locally established and followed. Actively contribute to the Area Security Management Team (ASMT) on behalf of FAO,and ensure implementation and adherence to security measures as indicated in the SRM.
• Represent the Country Office and provide effective liaison and coordination with senior government officials (Provincial governors, Provincial Secretaries of State and District Administrators across multiple locations) when required.
• Develop and sustain liaison and effectively coordinate with non-governmental institutions including international and local NGOs, UN agencies, donors, civil society, beneficiaries and other partners and media engaged in the field of food security.
• Oversee Cooperating Partner relations including negotiation of partnership agreements, ensuring proper oversight as regards LoAs implementation, financial and performance reporting for both in-kind and cash programmes.
• Provide technical and operational support and strategic guidance to the FAO team in Pemba;
• Identify and develop project proposals for submission to donors; monitor project activities, identify problems to be resolved and take corrective action; liaise with relevant units and implements corrective actions when needed in collaboration with project managers.
• Support the preparation and implementation of communication activities, donors field visits, visibility actions, in collaboration with the communication and reporting unit in FAO Mozambique.
• Promote best practices and provide support to facilitate emergency and resilience programming, resource mobilization and the integration of a humanitarian, development and peace approach, in a context of conflict-sensitive programming.
• Contribute to the identification of strategic priorities, including relevant workstreams and pillars, for FAO's emergency and resilience work in Cabo Delgado, and contribute to improved preparedness and effective response to food and agricultural emergencies.
• Perform other duties as requested.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Economics, Social Development, Food Security, Environment, Public Health, Community Development, Social Sciences or related fields;
• At least five years of relevant experience at the national and/or international level in emergency programme management, humanitarian coordination, monitoring and reporting economics/management or a related field;
• Full proficiency in English is required.

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 field positions is desirable
• Excellent understanding of the development challenges of Mozambique.
• Extent and relevance of experience in analysing political situations, assessing risk accurately and supporting managers and leaders in decision making.
• Extent and relevance of experience in managing a mid-size financial budgets and balancing priorities effectively.
• Extent and relevance of experience in a government/ partner negotiations within area of focus

Selection Criteria

• Master’s degree in the mentioned fields is an advantage.
• Working knowledge of Portuguese or Spanish is an asset.

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
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• 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.

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