Organizational Setting

The post is located in the Programming Unit at the FAO Representation in Ethiopia (FRETH) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Ethiopia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programmes aimed at accelerating the implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, and ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources.

The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Ethiopia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production, to natural resource management, nutrition, value chain, marketing, agri-business and land administration. FAO is also implementing several emergency, Disaster Risks Reduction including resilience-building and development interventions, with the support of its six sub-national offices and in partnership with local Bureaus of Agricultures and Livestock and NGOs.

Reporting Lines

The Disaster Risk Management/Resilience Specialist will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative of Ethiopia and the direct supervision of the Programme Officer – DRR and Resilience and FAO Deputy Representative of Ethiopia, in close collaboration with all office’s units. She/he will coordinate all relevant technical national government institutions and work with FAO headquarters, at regional level (Regional Office for Africa, RAF) and sub-regional level (Subregional Office for Eastern Africa, SFE).

Technical Focus

Disaster risk management and resilience support to the FAO Ethiopia’s programme and projects.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the general and direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Ethiopia, working in close collaboration with FAO Ethiopia Regional and sub-regional Initiative Teams, the DRR and Resilience Officer will undertake the following duties:

•    Lead the planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Disaster Risk Reduction/Management and Resilience building in agriculture activities in liaison with relevant national, federal, regional and field level institutions and partners;
•    Organize regular coordination meetings with partners both at federal and regional level;
•    Initiate and monitor existing Letters of Agreements (LoAs) and contracts with appropriate partners to implement DRR/M resilience building activities;
•    Support the monitoring of the implemented DRR/M and Resilience activities in line with FAO’s relevant Strategic Framework’s PPAs, including annual work plans, as per the Country Programming Framework (CPF) priorities, and update as necessary in consultation with relevant units;
•    Provide strategy development leadership and coordination for in-country activities related to DRR/M and Resilience and the drafting of relevant technical briefs, reports and other relevant documents;
•    Assist the project implementing partners in setting up a monitoring and evaluation system and participate in monitoring and evaluation activities;
•    Conduct field missions, when appropriate, to monitor and evaluate project activities with regional teams and partners;
•    Participate in the relevant Technical working group(s) and Project steering committee(s);
•    Contribute to the preparation of progress and final/terminal reports of DRR/M and Resilience programmes/projects;
•    Support the operational structure of the Country Office to plan, monitor and evaluate as well as provide technical assistance as required in the areas of natural resources management and livelihood resilience, implemented by FAO and other development partners;
•    Work closely with the FRETH Field Offices to understand the needs of the targeted regions; ensure that the identified needs of targeted regions are captured in strategy documents;
•    Liaising closely with the FRETH Field Office Coordinators and other relevant officers, prepare concept notes and proposals, ensuring multi-disciplinary linkages (i.e. Natural Resources, Grassland, Food Security, etc.) at both the federal and regional level, in support of resource mobilization efforts;
•    Contribute to FAO Ethiopia knowledge sharing learning and awareness raising activities and related knowledge products; ensure integration, learning, sharing and adoption of good practices on multi sectoral issues;
•    Support institutional strengthening of the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Agency (EDRMC) for effective and efficient disaster risk reduction and emergency recovery and responses in agriculture;
•    Support the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to mainstreaming DRR in the agriculture sector planning, programming, budgeting..
•    Support the development of concept notes for donor funding and the translation into project documents related to DRR/M and Resilience building in agriculture;
•    AOB

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    Advanced University degree in agro-economy, agro-meteorology, Disaster related, Humanitarian affairs, environmental studies, or closely related fields.
•    A minimum of 5 years of progressive and relevant experience in the field of DRR/Resilience, early warning system, food security analysis, agro-economy, climate, statistics, Humanitarian etc…
•    Working knowledge of English and in the local languages is required.
•    National of Ethiopia.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Extent and relevance of experience in DRR/Resilience applying knowledge in support of agriculture:
•    Ability to plan and organize own work, deliver results and meet deadlines:
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the preparation and revision of technical/scientific documents and in organizing meetings and workshops:
•    Ability to write clear and concise technical documents:
•    Excellent oral and written communication skill in English:
•    Experience of engaging actively with key stakeholders:
•    Excellent communication and presentation skills and working in multicultural environment.

Selection Criteria

•    Experience in DRR/humanitarian affairs for agriculture and food security, particularly in developing countries.
•    Experience of working with state institutions and partners to enhance their capacities in DRR/Resilience
•    Excellent understanding of the linkages among agriculture, climate variability, vulnerability, and climate change adaptation in rural farming communities.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION