National Professional Officer (Programme)

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Established in 1945, FAO has over 194 member countries and works in more than 130 countries worldwide. The organization aims to achieve security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO's mission is to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable, reduce rural poverty, and enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems. The FAO Representation in China, including the Hainan Programme Cooperation Office, plays a crucial role in facilitating technical cooperation and policy dialogue between FAO and the Chinese government, particularly in the Hainan Province, which is known for its tropical agriculture innovations.

Job Overview:
The National Professional Officer (Programme) position is integral to the FAO Representation in China, specifically located in Beijing, with potential relocation to Sanya, Hainan Province. This role focuses on programme development, coordination, and operational assistance, leveraging knowledge of local conditions, culture, language, and institutions. The officer will be responsible for effective coordination and provision of technical and operational support for various programme and project activities. This includes liaising with government authorities, promoting FAO's image, collecting and maintaining country data on food and agriculture, assisting in the production of technical studies, and supporting the development of country-level frameworks. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying and addressing operational constraints and fostering knowledge exchange and capacity development initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Professional Officer (Programme) include:

• Liaising and cooperating with government authorities and national and international institutions regarding FAO's activities.
• Promoting FAO's image through advocacy and communication tools, ensuring adherence to regulatory frameworks.
• Collecting and maintaining comprehensive data on food, crops, livestock, forestry, and fisheries, and monitoring national policy changes affecting agriculture.
• Assisting in the production of technical, economic, and policy studies, and developing frameworks like the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
• Identifying, formulating, and preparing programme and project proposals, monitoring implementation, and proposing corrective measures as necessary.
• Briefing, training, and supervising lower-grade programme staff, ensuring adherence to procedures and accuracy in work.
• Promoting knowledge exchange and capacity development initiatives in collaboration with research institutions.
• Contributing to resource mobilization and outreach with international organizations and donors.
• Supporting investment opportunities in tropical agriculture innovation and agrifood systems transformation in China. 1
• Maintaining and operating the Programme Cooperation Office (PCO).

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Be a national of China.
• Hold an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in agriculture, agricultural economics, forestry, fisheries, or a related field.
• Have at least one year of relevant experience in agricultural development and/or project implementation in areas related to FAO's activities in China.
• Possess a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of both Chinese and English. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, specifically a Master’s degree or equivalent, in fields related to agriculture, agricultural economics, forestry, fisheries, or other relevant areas. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of agricultural development and the operational frameworks within which FAO operates.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of one year of relevant experience in agricultural development and/or project implementation, particularly in areas aligned with FAO's activities in China. Experience in programme/project development and management, as well as familiarity with the operational guidelines and procedures of the United Nations or FAO, is highly desirable. Additionally, experience in policy analysis related to nutrition" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food and nutrition security, agriculture, and rural development is beneficial.

Languages:
Proficiency in both Chinese and English is mandatory for this position, with a working knowledge (level C) required. This bilingual capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the diverse operational environment of FAO. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is full-time and may involve relocation to Sanya, Hainan Province, depending on organizational decisions. The role is classified at a national level, and candidates must be nationals of China. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with FAO's policies and the specific terms of employment for national professionals.