FAO Social Protection 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 a mission to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition. The organization works in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 12,000 employees. FAO's strategic framework is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aims to transform agri-food systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) is a key part of FAO's efforts, focusing on social protection, gender equality, and rural development.

Job Overview:
The FAO Social Protection Specialist position is designed to enhance the organization's capacity to support member countries in developing and implementing effective social protection systems. The role involves contributing to the FAO's mission of reducing rural poverty and promoting gender equality through social protection initiatives. The specialist will be part of the Social Protection Team (SOCPRO) within the ESP Division, which coordinates FAO's work on social protection and related areas. The position requires a deep understanding of social protection systems, their integration with agricultural policies, and the ability to engage with various stakeholders to promote inclusive climate action and disaster risk management. The specialist will be expected to provide technical support, develop training materials, and represent FAO in external forums, thereby playing a crucial role in advancing the organization's objectives in social protection.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The responsibilities of the FAO Social Protection Specialist include a wide range of tasks that are essential for the effective implementation of social protection policies and programs. These tasks may include:

• Developing analytical and guidance products that inform policy decisions and design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design.
• Providing technical and operational support in the design and delivery of social protection policies and programs, ensuring they are tailored to the needs of rural populations.
• Designing and delivering training sessions on social protection to enhance the capacity of stakeholders involved in implementation.
• Representing FAO in relevant external forums, coordination platforms, workshops, and conferences to advocate for social protection initiatives.
• Contributing to or leading the writing of research reports and knowledge products that disseminate best practices and lessons learned.
• Developing proposals and partnership materials to mobilize resources for social protection initiatives.
• Supporting the technical review and quality assurance of project-related materials, including proposals and project formulation documents.
• Performing any other tasks as required to support the objectives of the SOCPRO team.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a relevant technical university degree or certificate for PSAs, or an advanced university degree for Consultants, from an institution recognized by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/UNESCO. The degree should be in fields such as political science, social policy, development studies, disaster management, economics, institutional development, or other relevant social sciences. For consultants with a bachelor's degree, an additional two years of relevant professional experience is required. Candidates must also have a minimum of one year of relevant experience for Category C, five years for Category B, and ten years for Category A in areas such as social protection, socio-economic analysis, policy assistance, and capacity building.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for the FAO Social Protection Specialist position includes a relevant technical university degree or certificate for PSAs, or an advanced university degree for Consultants. The degrees should be from recognized institutions and focus on areas such as political science, social policy, development studies, disaster management, economics, or other relevant social sciences. Additionally, consultants with a bachelor's degree must have two additional years of relevant professional experience to qualify for the position.

Experience:
The level of experience required for the FAO Social Protection Specialist position varies by category. Candidates must have at least one year of relevant experience for Category C, five years for Category B, and ten years for Category A. This experience should be in social protection, socio-economic analysis, policy assistance, and capacity building related to social protection systems. Candidates should demonstrate a strong background in working with rural populations and integrating social protection with agricultural and climate policies.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English at level C is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of a second FAO official language, which includes Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish, is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The FAO Social Protection Specialist position is part of a divisional roster, meaning successful applicants will be included in a pool of specialists who may be called upon for various roles as needed. The position is remote, allowing for flexibility in work location. Candidates will be assessed based on their qualifications and experience, and the role may involve working in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams. The FAO emphasizes core competencies such as results focus, teamwork, communication, building effective relationships, and knowledge sharing.