Chief of the Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia Service

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Position Title: Chief of the Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia Service
Location: Rome
Country: Italy
Deadline Date:

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The FAO Investment Centre (CFI) is a specialized unit within the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that partners with various stakeholders including governments, international financing institutions, national and international organizations, the private sector, research institutions, academia, and farmer and producer organizations. The mission of CFI is to enhance the quality and quantity of agrifood investment across the globe. Established to support FAO Members, CFI operates in over 120 countries, providing a comprehensive suite of investment and finance support. The Centre focuses on four main areas: strategic investment planning and policy, public investment, private investment, and innovative finance. Additionally, CFI emphasizes knowledge sharing and capacity development to position itself as a trusted voice on investment and finance in food and agriculture. The Centre comprises the Director's office and five regional services covering various global regions, including Asia and the Pacific, East and Southern Africa, Near East and North Africa, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and West and Central Africa.

Job Overview:
The Chief of the Near East and North Africa, and Europe and Central Asia Service (CFIC) will play a pivotal role in the FAO Investment Centre (CFI) by leading the planning and implementation of the work programme in the specified regions. This position requires close collaboration with governments, cooperating partners, FAO Decentralized Offices, and technical units to ensure alignment with FAO's Strategic Framework, Medium-term Plan, and biennial Programme of Work and Budget. The Chief will focus particularly on supporting Least Developed Land-Locked Countries, Least Developed Small Island Developing States, and countries facing food crises or high poverty levels. The role involves providing investment and finance support solutions, overseeing operational planning, and ensuring quality control of the service work programme. The Chief will also advocate for the Investment Centre's work, manage a multidisciplinary team, and represent the organization in various meetings, ensuring effective communication and collaboration across different stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Chief will be responsible for a comprehensive set of duties including:

• Providing investment and finance support solutions to Member Nations, focusing on strategic investment planning and policy support, public investments, private investments, and innovative finance.
• Overseeing operational planning, implementation, technical supervision, output monitoring, and quality control of the service work programme.
• Preparing policy papers, sector studies, and project feasibility studies in collaboration with governments and financial partners.
• Promoting the Knowledge for Investment (K4I) programme and the Capacity Development for Investment (CD4I) initiative to enhance country capacities for investment planning and implementation.
• Advocating for the Investment Centre's work with governments and investors, ensuring integration with Decentralized Offices and headquarters units.
• Supporting FAO Member Nations in mobilizing public and private investments.
• Managing a multidisciplinary team, including recruitment, mentoring, and career development of staff.
• Representing the organization in internal and external meetings and managing day-to-day matters in the absence of the Director.
• Performing other duties as required to support the Centre's mission and objectives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• An advanced university degree in economics, agricultural sciences, rural infrastructure engineering, environmental sciences, natural resources management, public management, business administration, public policy and administration, or closely related fields.
• A minimum of twelve years of relevant experience in security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, and agrifood value chains, including sector studies, policy development, and investment project evaluation in developing or transition countries.
• At least three years of experience in a management or leadership role, including team management, partnerships, and budget oversight.
• Extensive professional experience in delivering investment and finance support solutions in a global context, particularly in decentralized organizations.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in fields such as economics, agricultural sciences, rural infrastructure engineering, environmental sciences, natural resources management, public management, business administration, public policy and administration, or other closely related disciplines. This advanced degree is essential to ensure that the candidate possesses the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively lead and manage the investment and finance support initiatives of the FAO Investment Centre.

Experience:
Candidates should have a substantial level of experience, specifically a minimum of twelve years in relevant fields such as food security, agriculture, rural development, and natural resource management. This experience should include a strong focus on investment projects and programmes, particularly in developing and transition countries. Additionally, candidates must have at least three years of management or leadership experience, demonstrating their ability to manage teams and partnerships effectively.

Languages:
A working knowledge of English at a proficient level (level C) is mandatory for this position. Additionally, candidates should have a limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) at an intermediate level (level B). This bilingual capability is essential for effective communication and collaboration within the diverse international context of the FAO.

Additional Notes:
The position is based at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, and involves a full-time commitment. The role is senior in nature, requiring a high level of expertise and leadership capabilities. The FAO Investment Centre is committed to recruiting internationally, ensuring a diverse and inclusive workforce. Compensation and benefits will be aligned with FAO's policies and standards, reflecting the seniority and responsibilities of the position.