Partnerships Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (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, and to make agriculture, forestry, and fisheries more productive and sustainable. The organization is committed to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and focuses on transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. FAO operates through various divisions, including the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU), which is responsible for coordinating strategic partnerships with UN agencies and non-state actors.

Job Overview:
The Partnerships Specialist position is integral to the FAO's Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU), which focuses on enhancing collaboration with UN agencies and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-203

• The incumbent will be expected to contribute to at least three of the six focus areas, which include FAO's global positioning in UN inter-agency mechanisms, collaboration with Rome-based Agencies (RBAs), reporting on results, institutional engagement with the UN and the multilateral system, UN joint programming, and communications and knowledge management. The role requires a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for strengthening FAO's partnerships and ensuring that FAO's priorities are effectively integrated into high-level UN forums. The position may involve both full-time and part-time functions, depending on the specific consultancy or personal service agreement (PSA) undertaken.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Partnerships Specialist include analyzing UN reform priorities and strategies to identify opportunities for FAO's positioning, drafting technical briefs and inputs for FAO's engagement in UN coordination mechanisms, coordinating internal consultations to ensure coherent contributions, analyzing joint initiatives and governance processes across RBAs, drafting contributions to joint statements and reports, analyzing programme data for reporting purposes, drafting technical notes and background materials for institutional engagement, analyzing UN joint programming opportunities, and proposing engagement opportunities in communications. The role also involves supporting the preparation of communication products, organizing events, and managing knowledge repositories. The responsibilities are tailored to the level of the position, with B Level specialists taking on more complex tasks and C Level specialists providing support and assistance.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO in relevant fields such as international relations, development studies, social sciences, public administration, business management, law, or communications. For those with a bachelor's degree, two additional years of relevant professional experience are required. The position requires one year of experience for C Level specialists and five years for B Level specialists in areas such as partnership development, programme monitoring, policy research, inter-agency coordination, and digital communications. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the Partnerships Specialist position includes an advanced university degree in fields relevant to the work of the FAO. This may encompass disciplines such as international relations, development studies, social sciences, public administration, business management, law, or communications. Candidates with a bachelor's degree must have additional professional experience to qualify for the role. The emphasis is on obtaining a degree from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO, ensuring that the educational qualifications meet international standards.

Experience:
The level of experience required varies by the position level. For C Level Partnerships Specialists, a minimum of one year of relevant professional experience is necessary, while B Level specialists must have at least five years of experience in relevant fields. This experience should encompass partnership development, programme monitoring and reporting, policy research, inter-agency coordination, and related areas. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong understanding of the multilateral system and the ability to engage effectively with various stakeholders.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, with a working knowledge (level C) required for effective communication. Additionally, candidates should have intermediate knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language, which may include Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish. This bilingual capability is desirable to facilitate communication within the diverse international context of the FAO and its partners.

Additional Notes:
The position is offered as a consultancy or under a personal service agreement (PSA), which may involve both full-time and part-time functions. The duration of the contract is subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of resources. Candidates will be assessed based on their qualifications and experience, and those who meet or exceed the requirements will be included in a roster for future opportunities. The FAO emphasizes a collaborative work environment and seeks individuals who can contribute to its mission of achieving food security and sustainable agrifood systems.