Back Programme Officer (Value Chain)

Organizational Setting

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) is responsible for the economic, social, institutional, governance and policy aspects of FAO's activities related to fisheries and aquaculture and their development, with particular emphasis on human well-being, food security and poverty reduction; post-harvest utilization, marketing and trade with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and well-being of fishing communities; collection, compilation, validation, trend analysis and dissemination of the best available and up-to-date fishery statistics and for the dissemination of FAO's information on all aspects of world fisheries and aquaculture.

The Division is also responsible for FAO's activities related to the management and conservation of the living aquatic resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, including the biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, with particular emphasis on most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with modern management standards and best practices; development of fisheries technology, with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and well-being of fishing communities, including the safety of fishers and fishing vessels.

NFI has been supporting the formulation and development of the New Aquatic Food Value Chains (NAVAC) development for sustainable healthy diets for the most vulnerable in fragile contexts, which aims at developing new and improving existing aquatic food value chains that can contribute to combating acute and chronic malnutrition and find new and innovative ways to improve the utilization of nutritious aquatic food products by vulnerable population.

NAVAC will do this through three specific objectives: i) The development of the knowledge base on aquatic food and their by-products, with a specific focus on the selected value chains; ii) the development of resilient and sustainable aquatic food product value chains to increase the availability and accessibility of nutritious and safe aquatic foods to vulnerable populations; and iii) increased awareness of the nutrition potential of new and/or improved aquatic food products, and their market acceptance.

The position is located in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI) at FAO headquarters, Italy, and will contribute to work under FAO's Better Production and Better Nutrition Programme Priority Areas: BP2 Blue Transformation; BP4 Small-scale producers' equitable access to resources; BN3 Safe Food for Everyone and BN4 Reducing Food Loss and Waste.

Reporting Lines

The Programme Officer (Value Chain) reports to the Chief Technical Adviser, Value Chain Development Team (NFIMV).

Technical Focus

Project cycle management, value chain analysis and development, risk management, capacity development, resource mobilization and human resource management of assigned project activities including the New Aquatic Food Value Chains development for sustainable healthy diets for the most vulnerable in fragile contexts programme (NAVAC) and related activities for the sustainable use of aquatic resources and food security under the FAO Blue Growth Initiative.

Key Results

Develops, implements and evaluates effective leadership and management of major projects and teams in accordance with Divisional/Office/Centre objectives and the FAO Strategic Framework.

Key Functions

• Develops, implements and evaluates assigned programmes/projects; monitors and analyses programme/project development and implementation; reviews relevant documents and reports; identifies problems and issues to be addressed and initiates corrective action; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up action.
• Performs specific assignments, in collaboration with the client, by planning facilitating workshops, through other interactive sessions and assisting in developing the action plan the client will use to manage the change.
• Researches, analyses and presents information gathered from diverse sources.
• Coordinates policy development, including the review and analysis of issues and trends, preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies.
• Generates survey initiatives; reviews, analyses and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Organizes and prepares written outputs, e.g. background papers, analyses, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications.
• Provides substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings and conferences to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations.
• Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops and seminars; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads and/or participates in large, complex field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries.
• Coordinates activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget).

   

  Specific Functions

  • Coordinates the development, funding, formulation and implementation of projects (in particular, the NAVAC and FISH4ACP projects) that are operationally viable and meet the Organization's policy standards and best practices and requirements of participants, through adequate inputs from NFI and other technical divisions, and in appropriate consultation with partners and the Project Support (PSS) and Technical Cooperation Unit.
  • Provides effective support to the implementation of the NAVAC, FISH4ACP and EU projects at all stages, including coordination of logistical and administration arrangements, and monitoring of project resources/progress and resolving outstanding operational problems, advise and/or brief technical officers on operational aspects.
  • Monitors delivery and budget allocations and supports the drafting of annual project work plans, related budgets and budget revisions/adjustments, as well as supporting the Chief Technical Advisors with periodic progress and terminal reports for review by those units having technical, financial and operational responsibility, all for the eventual submission to Project Steering Committee (PSC) meetings and donors, as appropriate.
  • Oversees (with the CTA) the development and implementation of value chain upgrading strategies, providing guidance to value chain development teams (country focal points, senior strategic advisors and national project personnel) ensuring activities developed contribute to the achievement of NAVAC and FISH4ACP strategic objectives.
  • Ensures quality control on NAVAC and FISH4ACP project implementation tools (Letters of Agreement, Terms of Reference, technical specifications, annual work plans, reports, etc.).
  • Develops and adapts the NAVAC value chain analysis and development methodology.
  • Represents the project in international meetings and in high-level regional and national meetings and undertakes missions as appropriate to monitor project progress and take corrective action, as required.
  • Performs other related duties, as required.

     

    CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

     

    Minimum Requirements

    • Advanced university degree in agricultural/fishery economics, food science/technology, business administration or other fields relevant to food value chains
    • Seven years of relevant experience in value chain development programmes or related area.
    • Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

       

      Competencies

      • Results Focus
      • Teamwork
      • Communication
      • Building effective relationships
      • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous

         

        Technical/Functional Skills

        • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in the field of large project/team management.
        • In depth knowledge of value chain development/analysis methodologies in international organizations.
        • Extent and relevance of experience in value chain development programme/project formulation, analysis, planning, monitoring, evaluation and implementation.
        • Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset, particularly in terms of value chain analysis and development.
        • Excellent oral and written communication skills.