Organizational Setting

The position is located at the FAO Representation in Georgia under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) IV programme. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. 

 

Reporting Lines

The National Legal Specialist will operate under the overall guidance and responsibility of the FAO Representative in Georgia and the FAO Programme Coordinator and the direct technical supervision of the Legal Officer in LEG. Also, he will work in close cooperation with International Expert on Food Safety and Senior National Policy Advisor. 

 

Technical Focus 

The incumbent will work under the project “Support to the Food Safety and SPS Sector in Georgia under ENPARD IV”. The incumbent will be responsible for the elaboration of the assessment report on the enforcement tools used by the NFA for food safety legislation and provide the recommendations.

 

Tasks and responsibilities

The National Legal Specialist will provide technical support in the process of development of administrative enforcement policy facilitating implementation of SPS regulations. The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

•    Collect and analyse national legislation relevant for SPS, including food safety, animal health, biosafety and plant health. Prepare a national legal report following the advice of the Legal Office. 
In such report: 

        -    Analyse and assess other policies, manuals and documents that regulate the food safety enforcement procedures in Georgia.
        -    Identify gaps and weaknesses on the existing enforcement tools used by the NFA for food safety control, including the adequacy of the measures and powers afforded to official inspectors, coverage of different food sectors and different sections of the food supply chain. 
        -    Compare enforcement tools used by the NFA for food safety legislation with those used by competent authorities in selected EU countries (and where appropriate EU accession countries), identifying areas for improvement in line with best practice (and where appropriate international standards). For this purpose, identify and analyse provisions related to SPS enforcement in EU legislation and in selected EU countries. 
        -    Summare key findings on enforcement tools used by the Competent Authorities for food safety legislation and list key recommendations, including any changes to the Georgian Code on Food/Feed Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection - changes may cover legislative changes and/or non-legal improvements to support compliance (guides, manuals, etc.). 
        -    The strategic analysis and the recommendations should generate strategies or management options for improving enforcement by the competent authorities and penalties in cases of non-compliances with food safety rules. The final goal is the reduction of risks for human health associated a food consumption; what is more, obtain a fair market for all the FBOs
•    Workshop: support the organization and conduct a workshop with key representatives from MEPA & relevant agencies including the Competent Authorities to discuss draft assessment report, validate the findings and agree on the recommendations. 
•    Participate in training courses related to risk based inspections activities, compliance and enforcement.


CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

 

Minimum Requirements

•    Advanced university degree in in law;  
•    Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience;  
•    C level of English and Georgian  
•    National or resident of the country of assignment 

 

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Teamwork
•    Communication
•    Building Effective Relationships
•    Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

 

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Excellent communication (both written and oral) and presentation skills
 

This vacancy is archived.

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