Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 Members (194 countries and the European Union), FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide.

FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.

The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
(iii)     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The project JobAgri: Shaping better policies and investments based on new evidence on the labour content in the agri-food sector in Africa (JobAgri) is a joint initiative by the International Labour Organization (ILO), FAO, and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (Cirad). The project aims to address the development of agri-food and decent employment in Africa in an integrated manner, and by providing innovative data. In Ghana, the JobAgri project’s start-up phase started in 2024 and will aim at strengthening national statistical and research capacities in the areas of agriculture and employment and support the establishment of multi-stakeholder and ‘tripartite-plus’ policy dialogues.

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Ghana.

Reporting lines

The National Project Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative, as well as the technical supervision of the FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) Social Policy Officer (Youth Employment) and Decent Rural Employment Team (DRET) Youth Employment Specialist. In close collaboration with the colleagues in headquarters and the regional offices, the incumbent will support the implementation of the project: JobAgri: Shaping better policies and investments based on new evidence on the labour content in the agri-food sector in Africa, in Ghana through stakeholder engagement, coordination, and research.

Technical Focus

The National Project Coordinator will provide the technical support related to the multi-stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, dialogues, formulation, and capacity development functions and coordination with project partners of the JobAgri project.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Facilitate the engagement of multi-stakeholders including line ministries, farmers association, trade unions and employers’ organizations by organizing workshops to disseminate new evidence and support its integration into policy dialogues and the policy formulation process.
•    Organize meetings with existing multi-stakeholder platforms in agriculture (e.g., agriculture sector platform and United Nations Country Teams) to ensure alignment of this project with the national stakeholders in agrifood systems.
•    Coordinate a technical workshop with multi-stakeholders on key FAO guides, tools, frameworks relating to decent work in agriculture, as decided by the multi-stakeholders or as appropriate.
•    Conduct a mapping exercise of national agricultural and employment policies, as well as subnational and sectoral policies based on selected region and value chain in Ghana and prepare sections of reports with the results of the mapping.
•    Participate in project workshops and meetings that project partners will organize and report to the FAO country office, the FAO regional office, and headquarters.
•    Provide inputs for ad-hoc research to identify broader policy gaps. If necessary, conduct research in a specific issue as determined by the multi-stakeholders.
•    Facilitate communication between project partners, stakeholders, the FAO country office, the FAO regional office, and headquarters.
•    Support the development of progress reports, the final report, and other technical documents as required for submission to ILO.
•    Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    Advanced university degree in economics, agricultural economics, development economics, political sciences, international relations, international development or a related field.
•    3 years of demonstrated qualified and relevant experience in decent work in agriculture, multi-stakeholder engagement, policy analysis, and research in rural development or livelihoods projects in the NGO and/or international organization/UN context.
•    Working knowledge of English.
•    National of Ghana

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Demonstrated experience in multi-stakeholder engagement in Ghana.
•    Demonstrated knowledge of national agricultural and employment policies, as well as subnational and sectoral policies.
•    Demonstrated understanding of key FAO guides, tools, frameworks relating to decent work in agriculture.
•    Demonstrated research and report writing skills.
•    Excellent communication and network facilitation skills.
•    Experience in working with on employment issues and decent work in agrifood value chains.

Selection Criteria

•    Prior experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in policy analysis.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in facilitating technical workshops.
•    Level of communication skills, good writing skills including ability to write concise technical reports in English is a strong asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION