Organizational Setting

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) was established under Article XIV of the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and has the purpose of securing common and effective action to prevent the spread and introduction of pests of plants and plant products, and to promote appropriate measures for their control. The contracting parties to the IPPC undertake to adopt the legislative, technical and administrative measures specified in the Convention and in its supplementary agreements. The Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) is the highest Governing Body of the IPPC. Article XII of the IPPC states that “The Secretary of the Commission shall be appointed by the Director-General of FAO.”

The post is located in the IPPC Secretariat within the Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. 

Reporting Lines

The Secretary (IPPC) reports to the Director, NSP under the overall guidance of the responsible Deputy Director-General.

Summary of Duties and Functions

As outlined in the Convention, the Secretary of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) is responsible for managing the IPPC Secretariat, ensuring the implementation of the IPPC work programmes in different areas of activity; supporting the Commission’s sessions, its subsidiary bodies and other working groups and for liaising between FAO and the CPM, IPPC’s highest governing body.

In particular, he/she will:

• Formulate and implement the IPPC strategic framework, work programmes and policies as agreed upon by the CPM in consultation with the CPM Bureau and units concerned in FAO; monitor new issues, concerns and developments in the field of plant health and develop proposals for possible action.
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  Manage the human and financial resources of the Secretariat and the CPM within resources provided by FAO, and any extra-budgetary resources.

• Develop and lead efforts to mobilize resources for the IPPC’s activities and support funding outreach approaches for technical staff in Decentralized Offices (DOs) and headquarters, as appropriate.
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  Manage the preparation and editing of the reports issued by the CPM, its subsidiary bodies and other working groups, as well as other publications produced by the Secretariat in its different areas of activity and ensure the publication and dissemination of the standards, reports and documents adopted by the CPM.

• Promote the IPPC at the international, regional and national levels, especially with regard to attracting financial, staff and/or other contributions to its work programme by providing communication, fundraising and promotion strategies for the IPPC, designing and implementing a publication plan for the IPPC.
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  Further develop the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP) which provides training, collaboration opportunities and digital GIS (Geospatial Information Systems) tools and resources to strengthen Africa’s phytosanitary systems.

• Facilitate the governance and further development of the IPPC electronic certification tool (the ePhyto Solution) and any future collaborative efforts related to electronic certification and/or data.
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  Ensure the development and maintenance of appropriate tools for the exchange of information among Members and between Members and the Secretariat.

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  Monitor the implementation of the IPPC and its International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).

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  Ensure the coordination and delivery of technical assistance for phytosanitary capacity building.

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  Represent the IPPC and liaise with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Biodiversity Liaison Group (BLG), the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) and other international governmental, non-governmental and regional organizations relevant to the goals of the IPPC.

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  Represent the IPPC Secretariat in its relations with the media, non-governmental organizations and private sector.

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  Report on all these matters annually to the CPM.

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  Perform other duties as required.