National Programme Specialist – Emergency and Resilience

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) collaborates with various stakeholders including national and provincial government institutions, UN agencies, development partners, research institutions, civil society, and local communities. The organization aims to support national priorities in agriculture, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, nutrition, sustainable natural resource management, and resilient agrifood systems. FAO PNG addresses significant challenges faced by the country, such as high dependence on smallholder agriculture, geographical constraints, and vulnerability to climate-related shocks. The organization has a growing portfolio of initiatives that include climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk reduction, and emergency preparedness, among others. FAO PNG is committed to enhancing agricultural livelihoods and resilience in rural areas, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Job Overview:
The National Programme Specialist – Emergency and Resilience position is integral to the FAO Papua New Guinea Country Office (FAPNG) and is part of the Programme team that focuses on emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, food security, and resilience. The role involves close collaboration with FAO technical teams and national counterparts to ensure that interventions related to emergency response and resilience are effectively coordinated and aligned with FAO’s country programme priorities. The position emphasizes strengthening the resilience of vulnerable agricultural livelihoods, supporting food security, and facilitating coordinated responses to climate-related emergencies. The incumbent will provide operational support across the portfolio, including project formulation, implementation, monitoring, financial follow-up, and reporting, while engaging with government, UN agencies, and development partners.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the National Programme Specialist include supporting FAO's emergency, disaster risk reduction, and resilience programming in PNG. This involves managing the emergency and resilience programme project cycle, including the formulation of concept notes and proposals, delivery of required inputs, financial monitoring, and reporting. The specialist will coordinate multi-hazard emergency responses, provide technical advice to government partners and NGOs, and represent FAO in interagency forums. Additionally, the role includes developing advocacy and crisis communication materials, supporting interventions to protect vulnerable agricultural value chains, and coordinating rapid response efforts across health sectors during disease outbreaks. The specialist will also support the Food Security Cluster secretariat by coordinating meetings, managing a food security database, and conducting field assessments to trigger timely actions.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a university degree (bachelor’s degree) in fields such as agriculture, agricultural economics, development studies, disaster risk management, emergency management, food security, resilience, environmental sciences, veterinary sciences, public health, or a related field. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in areas such as emergency response, disaster risk reduction, resilience programming, food security, and agricultural development is required. Candidates should have a working knowledge of English, and knowledge of Tok Pisin is considered an asset. Additionally, candidates must be nationals of Papua New Guinea or residents with a valid work permit.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a bachelor's degree in relevant fields such as agriculture, agricultural economics, development studies, disaster risk management, emergency management, food security, resilience, environmental sciences, veterinary sciences, public health, or related disciplines. It is essential that the degree is obtained from an institution accredited or recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, resilience programming, food security, agricultural development, or related fields. Experience should include program/project management, coordination, stakeholder engagement, and field monitoring. Familiarity with emergency preparedness and response systems, as well as experience in multi-sectoral emergency coordination, is highly desirable.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English is mandatory for this position. Additionally, knowledge of Tok Pisin is considered an asset, which may enhance communication and engagement with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The FAO does not charge any fees 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. The FAO emphasizes the importance of higher educational qualifications obtained from accredited institutions, as listed in the WHED. For further employment opportunities, candidates can visit the FAO employment website.