Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 28 Apr 2017
Tasks and responsibilities: The Agro-pastoralist Officer will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for South Sudan and the direct supervision of the Deputy FAO Representative. The Livelihoods Specialist will collaborate with the Programme, Operations and Administrative Units, and consult with the relevant Technical Units at FAO headquarters, RAF and SFE, and the Lead Technical Officer. Specifically, the incumbent will carry out the following:
Key functions • Lead and be responsible for Agro-pastoral livelihood activities delivery; • Develop FAO South Sudan livestock trade and diversification of livelihoods strategy and program in both rural and urban areas of South Sudan including cross-border areas; • Provide technical and policy expertise to support the planning, development and implementation of projects on livestock trade and diversification of livelihoods; • Provide technical leadership, in collaboration with technical teams, in the development and implementation of livestock market development and livelihood activities, including income generation along the value chain; • Enhance private sector engagement in and support to production, processing and marketing of targeted livestock products; • Oversee delivery of the livestock team in FAO.
Specific functions • Coordinate the overall implementation of Livestock program of the FAO South Sudan Livestock with the aim of enhancing livelihood diversification and cross-border market access across the four cluster areas; and ensure the delivery of resources and results according to planned targets; • Advise FAO South Sudan’s livelihood team comprising of farmer field school, cash-based transfer, urban agriculture, gender officers, among others; • Design activities that increase smallholder agricultural production and market linkages that lead to increased profitability of on-farm enterprises. This includes the development and implementation of upgrading plans in targeted value chains, with a focus on improving smallholder crop, fisheries and livestock productivity and net revenues; • Supervise value chain assessments and oversee the value chain selection process. This includes developing scopes of work for any consultants/volunteers who may be required to help carry out these assessments; • Explore opportunities to facilitate access to rural finance/microfinance services for small-scale livestock, fisheries, farming and off-farm business activities; • Explore opportunities to improve pastoralists and agro-pastoralists access to livestock and meat markets in traditional and non-traditional areas for live animal sales and chilled meat; • Work with the technical team to identify existing institutions and organizations that have a good understanding of the local business and political context, and who could be potential partners in the implementation of FAO South Sudan programme/projects; • Coordinate and collaborate with and provide advisory services to these partners including private enterprises, NGOs and community-based organizations working on agricultural development, business development and microfinance; provide them with technical guidance and capacity building services, establishing favourable business environment, market access and trade; • Provide technical leadership for the design, formalization, and management of private-sector-partnerships (PPPs); identify, assess and recommend potential private-sector partners and partnership opportunities; • Ensure that projects are designed with agricultural technology packages aimed at creating self-sufficiency, as well as enhancing the food security status of farmers’ households/local communities; • Provide input in drafting programme documents, work plans and reports required for the purposes of annual planning, resource mobilization, collaboration with partners, reporting to donors, etc.; • Based on lessons learned and best practices in the implementation of Result 3 of the FAO South Sudan Cross-Border Programme, contribute to develop urban/peri-urban livelihoods strategy; • Liaise and coordinate with other FAO South Sudan field projects, UN agencies, regional institutions, and explore possible synergies and opportunities for joint projects and programmes.
Security: Before starting the mission/travel, the consultant must find out in what security phase the country of assignment is in and what this implies for his/her own security. As soon as he/she arrives at the duty station, through the FAO Representation or directly, he/she must contact the designated UN security officer to be briefed on all the recommended security measures. In case this procedure is not properly applied, the consultant may not be covered under the Malicious Acts Insurance Policy.
Health: All consultants/PSAs, on duty travel, must accept responsibility for their health and well-being as part of their official duties and also on their return.
The following are the main responsibilities of the traveller: • seek health advice, preferably four to six weeks before travel; • comply with recommended vaccinations and other prescribed medication and health measures; • ensure health precautions are taken before, during and after travel; • obtain a physician's letter pertaining to any prescription medicines, syringes, etc. being carried; • precaution to avoid transmitting any infectious disease to others during and after travel; • report any illness on return, including information about all recent travel; and respect the host country and its population.
Key performance indicators Expected Outputs: • Develop FAO South Sudan livestock trade and diversification of livelihoods strategy and program in both rural and urban areas of South Sudan including cross-border areas. • Identify opportunities to facilitate access to rural finance/microfinance services for small-scale livestock, fisheries, farming and off-farm business activities. • Identify opportunities to improve pastoralists and agro-pastoralists access to livestock and meat markets in traditional and non-traditional areas for live animal sales and chilled meat. • Identify, assess and recommend potential private-sector partners and partnership opportunities. • Develop scopes of work for value chain assessment consultants/volunteers who may be required to help carry out these assessments. • Design and implement activities that increase smallholder agricultural production and market linkages that lead to increased profitability of on-farm enterprises. • End of assignment report.
Candidates should meet the following requirements: Minimum Requirements Advanced university degree in Agro pastoralism, Animal production, agricultural economics, rural development, social sciences or related fields. • Seven years of relevant experience in implementation of livelihood programming, value chain analysis or market solutions as a basis for programming, income generation activities and microfinance. • Working knowledge of English (Level C).
Competencies • Results Focused • Teamwork • Communication • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement • Building Effective Relationships
Technical/Functional Skills • Experience with emergencies and development initiatives in the Horn of Africa. • Demonstrated experience in the implementation of activities in collaboration with public and private sectors. • Experience in providing technical assistance to development strategies, policy and national governments and regional bodies. • Experience in project formulation, operation, implementation, budget execution and monitoring. • Demonstrated experience in dealing with senior government officials, development partners and other country stakeholders. • Experience in community based development and participatory approaches and in particular with grassroots associations and farmers groups.
Additional Information
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
All candidates should adhere to FAO values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
How to apply:
All applications are to be made through FAO’s iRecruitment system. Click on the link below to access iRecruitment, complete your online profile and apply for this Call for Expression of Interest.
http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/
In order for your application to be properly evaluated, please ensure that all sections of your iRecruitment account are completed. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: iRecruitment@fao.org