National Emergency and Resilience Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the UN established to lead international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's mission is 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. With 195 Members, including 194 countries and the European Union, FAO operates in over 130 countries worldwide. The organization provides policy advice and support to countries through its Country Offices, which work in alignment with the FAO Strategic Framework to transform agrifood systems for better production, nutrition, environment, and life, ensuring no one is left behind. FAO's work is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.

Job Overview:
The National Emergency and Resilience Specialist will play a crucial role in leading FAO’s Emergency and Resilience Unit in Bangladesh. This position emphasizes food security, emergency livelihoods assistance, food-system resilience, disaster risk reduction, and anticipatory action. The incumbent will work under the guidance of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh and collaborate closely with various stakeholders, including the International Emergency and Resilience Specialist and other FAO units. The role involves providing strategic direction and coordination to the Emergency and Resilience Unit staff, ensuring that project implementation aligns with FAO’s priorities and national food security needs. The specialist will also contribute to the development of the country’s program and portfolio, focusing on emergency response and resilience programming, and will be responsible for ensuring that interventions are evidence-based and needs-driven.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Emergency and Resilience Specialist include leading and coordinating the Emergency and Resilience Unit at the national level, providing technical leadership on food security, and developing emergency preparedness and response strategies. The specialist will coordinate the implementation of the US Macro Grant project, ensuring compliance with the approved results framework and donor commitments. Responsibilities also include collaborating with various FAO units to ensure coherent approaches to food security and livelihood programming, representing FAO in interagency coordination meetings, and providing technical advice on food security priorities. The specialist will facilitate coordination among ERU staff, promote integration of gender and environmental safeguards in programming, and strengthen the capacity of staff and partners. Additionally, the role involves undertaking field missions to assess implementation progress and contribute to resource mobilization efforts.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Agronomy, Development Studies, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change/Resilience, or a related field. They should have at least 9 years of progressively responsible professional experience in food security, emergency response, humanitarian programming, livelihoods, disaster risk reduction, resilience, and anticipatory action. Significant experience in program coordination and management is also required. Candidates must have a working knowledge of English at level C and be Bangladeshi nationals.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Agronomy, Development Studies, Disaster Risk Reduction, or Climate Change/Resilience. The degree must be obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 9 years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas related to food security, emergency response, humanitarian programming, and resilience. Candidates should have substantial experience in program coordination and management, demonstrating their ability to lead and implement complex projects effectively.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English at level C is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or processing. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. Candidates must be medically fit for appointment and meet any residency or visa requirements. The appointment is subject to security clearances. For additional employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website.