Project Officer

Organizational Setting

The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty (GAAHP) initiated under the G20 Presidency of Brazil aims at providing sustained, high-level political impetus to eradicate poverty, hunger, and malnutrition worldwide. Under the Alliance, a Policy Basket will provide a menu of policy instruments proven to have a positive impact on reducing hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty that can be adapted to national or subnational contexts, and whose adaptation and implementation can be supported, upon the request of a Global Alliance member.

These policy interventions will be supported through a combination of three pillars\: i) a National Pillar for domestic policy and programme implementation and/or direct country-to-country support and lesson sharing; ii) a Financial support pillar for multilateral and bilateral funding, development finance, innovative financial mechanisms, climate funding, philanthropy and others; and iii) a Knowledge pillar where institutions offer technical assistance and cooperation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. Global Alliance members can both provide and request support for any of these components.

The Global Alliance is implemented through a Support Mechanism hosted by FAO to create synergies and leverage technical expertise of the UN Development System and its existing footprint of UN agencies, funds, and programmes. The Support Mechanism will consist of\:

• a Rome Office based at FAO that will focus on the knowledge and finance pillars;
• three Global South Offices in Brasilia, Addis Ababa and Bangkok that will focus on the national and knowledge pillars; and
• a Washington Office that will focus on the finance pillar and relevant technical expertise and contributions by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs).

All five offices will work under the overall leadership of the Director of the Support Mechanism of the Global Alliance, who will lead the Support Mechanism on delivering the priorities established by the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty in accordance with FAO’s rules and procedures. This Support Mechanism shall remain autonomous from the hosting organization as an independent mechanism that will follow the mandate and approach contained in the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty´s Terms of Reference and Governance Framework as well as the guidance from the Board of Champions and Core Group of the Global Alliance.

This position is part of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) and is hosted by the World Bank in Washington, D.C., USA.

Reporting Lines

The Project Officerreports to the Director, Support Mechanism of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.

Technical Focus

Support and capacity building to facilitate country-led matchmaking process between the Global Alliance implementing countries and IFI financial commitments.

Key Results

Comprehensive technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of projects, products and services.

Key Functions

• Provides technical leadership assistance on the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned projects; assists in the review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, liaises with relevant parties.
• Coordinates of projects and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Contributes to consultative and other meetings, conferences, including proposals for agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Participates in activities such as structuring of training workshops, seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties.
• Provides advice on the development of policies and strategies, as well as national protocols and guidelines for projects with specific domains related to the Global Alliance work.

Specific Functions

• Supports country-led matchmaking process between the Global Alliance implementing countries and IFI financial support portfolio.
• Assesses financial support portfolios of IFIs that are members of the Global Alliance.
• Prepares comprehensive strategies and engagement with IFIs that are members of the Global Alliance and represents the GAAHP at inter-institutional meetings.
• Contributes to the identification and analysis of potential transformative collaboration opportunities between IFIs and other Global Alliance members.
• Monitors progress and learning processes by keeping track of engagement, project outcomes and other metrics.
• Provides support for the convening of the GAAHP Board of Champions and Core Group.
• Contributes to the GAAHP’s membership relationship management and expansion and internal communications.
• Coordinates GAAHP relations with other institutions.
• Provides substantive inputs for the preparation of inter-agency and inter-governmental meetings, including concept notes, presentations, strategic analysis, think pieces, briefs and reporting on policy matters.
• Provides strategic advice to the Director of the Support Mechanism.
• Contributes to liaising and coordinating with the UN Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection and with UN Food Systems Summit Hub (UNFSS Hub) to ensure synergy and mutual support in operations at country level.

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in international development, economics, international law, business administration, agriculture, social sciences or related field
• Seven years of relevant experience in international development, partnerships and resource mobilization.
• 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 field positions, is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in assessing stakeholders’ financing and technical assistance support portfolios and connecting these capabilities with country level programmes.
• Extent and relevance of experience in negotiating complex or institutional agreements with bilateral and multilateral institutions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in institutional collaboration and relationships with governments, private sector and development regional, national and local agencies.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing and maintaining collaboration with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, national authorities and other stakeholders.
• Ability to tailor speech and communication to a wide and varied audience, in a simple and concise manner.
• Experience in working in a high-level political and international environment is an asset.
• Experience in multidisciplinary teams.