National Specialist - Development of LAC Strategic Plan

Job Posting Organization:
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) established to lead international efforts to combat hunger. Founded in 1945, 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 sufficient 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 FAO-Country Office for Lesotho is tasked with developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing strategies and projects aimed at transforming food, agriculture, and rural development in the region. Currently, FAO is collaborating with the Lesotho Agricultural College (LAC) to enhance its capabilities and establish it as a center of excellence for agricultural education and innovation.

Job Overview:
The National Specialist will play a crucial role in leading the development of a comprehensive five-year Strategic Plan for the Lesotho Agricultural College (LAC). This position involves guiding a participatory and evidence-based process that will serve as the core blueprint for the College's growth, research focus, and operational effectiveness. The specialist will be responsible for conducting thorough analyses of existing institutional documents, performing a PESTLE analysis of the higher education sector, and engaging with various stakeholders to gather input and build consensus. The ultimate goal is to create a Strategic Plan that aligns with national and international quality assurance standards, ensuring that LAC is well-positioned for full accreditation and can effectively address the critical strategic issues identified during the planning process.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The primary responsibilities of the National Specialist include:

• Reviewing all relevant institutional documents, including previous strategic plans, financial audits, departmental reports, accreditation reports, and research output data, and submitting a formal Inception Report that outlines the specialist's interpretation of the Terms of Reference, a detailed work plan, and a stakeholder mapping and engagement strategy.
• Conducting a PESTLE analysis of the higher education sector to identify trends, competitive positioning, and future funding and partnership opportunities.
• Performing an internal organizational assessment that covers academic programs, research output, student services, infrastructure, financial resources, and governance.
• Producing a Strategic Audit Report that synthesizes findings into a definitive SWOT analysis and identifies critical strategic issues that the new Plan must address.
• Participating in consultative workshops with Ministry senior management, LAC staff, students, alumni, and key external stakeholders to gather input and build consensus.
• Engaging in goal-setting and strategy-formulation workshops to define and prioritize strategic goals such as excellence in research, student success, employability, and institutional sustainability.
• Preparing a draft Strategic Plan that integrates all agreed goals and strategies, along with a Costed Implementation Plan and a results-based Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework.
• Presenting the draft Strategic Plan to Ministry and College stakeholders for validation and revising it based on their feedback.
• Delivering a professionally formatted Final Strategic Plan for the Governing Council's consideration and approval. 1
• Submitting a Final Consultancy Report that highlights the process followed, methodology applied, and key recommendations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Business Administration, Strategic Management, Organizational Development, Public Policy, or a closely related field. Additionally, they should have a minimum of ten years of demonstrated experience leading and facilitating strategic planning processes, preferably within the higher education or public sector, particularly in the agriculture or agribusiness sector. Candidates must also have a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and Sesotho, and must be nationals of Lesotho or residents of the country with a valid work permit.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced degree, either a Master's or PhD, in fields such as Business Administration, Strategic Management, Organizational Development, Public Policy, or closely related disciplines. This advanced education is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively lead the strategic planning process for the Lesotho Agricultural College.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of ten years of relevant experience, specifically in leading and facilitating strategic planning processes. This experience should preferably be within the higher education or public sector, with a focus on the agriculture or agribusiness sector. The ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder processes is crucial, as is a strong understanding of the national context related to food security, agriculture, and rural development.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and Sesotho is mandatory for this position, with a requirement for candidates to demonstrate a working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of both languages. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication with various stakeholders involved in the strategic planning process.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to be full-time and may involve a contract duration that aligns with the timeline for developing the five-year Strategic Plan. Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications, experience, understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, and cost, in accordance with FAO's standard consultant selection procedures. The role may also involve international collaboration, given FAO's global presence and the nature of the project.