Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with Centres, Divisions and Offices at headquarters, develops, promotes, and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. RAF also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization’s Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAF develops and maintains relations with regionwide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).

The FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 identified Digital Agriculture as a Programme Priority Area (PPA), which aims to achieve accessible digital technologies to enhance market opportunities, productivity, and resilience integrated into agrifood systems, policies and programmes with a particular focus on ensuring affordable and equitable access of poor and vulnerable rural communities. At the regional level, RAF’s work on digital agriculture is well aligned with FAO’s corporate vision for digital agriculture with key thematic components that include (i) increase the access, amount, timeliness and quality of digital solutions; (ii) promote digital learning and (iii) increase the transformative and innovative use of digital technologies to facilitate access to services and increase resilience, particularly in rural areas.

Digitalization of agrifood systems offers strong potential for driving economic growth and raising incomes among the rural poor through increased efficiency of agricultural production, improved livelihoods and value chain development. It can also play an important role in addressing some of agriculture’s most pressing challenges, which include climate change, loss of biodiversity, drought, desertification, and reducing transaction costs and risks in agricultural supply chains.

The position is located in the FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) in Accra, Ghana.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Digital Agricultural Officer reports to the Regional Programme Leader under the overall supervision of the Assistant Director General/Regional Representative (ADG/RR), with a functional reporting line to the Director of the Office of Innovation (OIN). He/she will work in consultation with other Technical Officers, the Programme Priority Area Lead for Digital Agriculture, the Partnerships and South-South Cooperation Officer and RAF Partnerships Officers.

Technical Focus

The Senior Digital Agricultural Officer will provide technical leadership and supervision for RAF’s thematic work on digital agriculture, including digital solutions, innovation and technology processes, working closely with other Programme Managers and Technical Officers in RAF, as well as with the PPA Lead for Digital Agriculture at FAO headquarters. He/she will be responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting of RAF’s work on digital agriculture with other components of RAF Regional Priorities and other programme areas of work. The Senior Digital Agriculture Officer will lead RAF’s activities for strengthening partnership and knowledge networks within and outside the Organization, supporting country-level actions guided by FAO’s Country Programme Framework (CPF), as well as increasing South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

Key Results

Leadership, conceptual thinking and technical policy expertise for the planning, development and implementation of regional programmes, projects, corporate initiatives and services in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework, Regional Priorities and Programme Areas of Work in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework, the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy and in alignment with the Organization’s Gender Policy.

Key Functions

•    Plans, manages or leads highly specialized or multidisciplinary teams; leads, coordinates and/or participates in Organization-wide, cross-divisional committees, project teams and working groups and/or provides technical leadership/secretariat services on technical networks and/or international technical policy and platforms for digital food and agriculture.
•    Analyses key global and regional trends and developments, as well as country specific requirements to provide critical input into the FAO Strategic Framework, Programme of Work, work plans and supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
•    Implements, monitors and reports on work programmes involving the conception and formulation of analytical frameworks, medium- and long-term plans and strategies, cutting edge tools, methods, systems and databases, critical indicators and/or policy models, etc.
•   Conducts, designs and oversees research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, technical reports, publications and/or on-going programme development, as well as the provision of technical and/or policy advisory services.
•    Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to Regional, Subregional and Country Offices in the development and implementation of their programmes.
•    Leads and/or collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to, and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development and knowledge sharing activities of Members, such as policy support, organizational development and individual learning events including the preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools.
•    Supports data collection, validation, analysis and reporting activities to support the development of technical standards, international instruments, innovation, FAO flagship publications/yearbooks and/or on-going programme development, as well as technical and/or policy advisory services.
•    Represents the Organization at international/inter-governmental meetings and conferences, advocates strategic partnerships, best practices and increased policy dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national partners.
•    Performs other job related duties as required.

Specific Functions

• Leads and contributes to the preparation of studies, reports, briefs, statements and other knowledge products on digital agriculture, transformation of agrifood systems and related policy matters.
• Contributes to strategic thinking, planning and programmatic matters related to digital agriculture, technology, innovation and for inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth.
• Accelerates the implementation of FAO Africa work on agricultural innovation, including the action plan for digital innovation, corporate initiatives, such as the 1000 Digital Villages Initiative and delivery of projects that respond to country and regional needs.
• Coordinates the work of the Africa region with teams and units at headquarters working on digital agriculture, science technology and innovation and the UN Roadmap for Digital Cooperation, by championing Digital Public Goods (Open Software, Open Data, Open AI Models, Open Standards and Open Content).
• Provides technical and policy advice to Members and technical support to FAO Regional, Subregional and Country Offices in the development and implementation of programmes in digital agriculture.
• Promotes and coordinates collaborative activities and workflows with other Programme Areas of Work in the Africa region and maintains close work relations with Centres, Offices and Divisions  at headquarters and other Decentralized Offices.
• Develops coordinates and implements partnerships with external partners including development financial institutions, private sector and civil society to accelerate digital transformation in food and agriculture and to reinforce the work programme and deliverables of the Africa region.
• Identifies emerging areas of work for the Africa region and develops or oversees the development of concept notes, proposals and work plans, ensuring alignment to FAO strategies, initiatives and programmes.
•  Leads resource mobilization for digital agriculture in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and RAF Regional Priorities.
• Leads and contributes to the development of knowledge management and dissemination activities around the action plan for digital innovation in Africa and other corporate initiatives.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in information and communications technology (ICT), business administration, management, economics, social sciences or relevant sciences and technology related field.
• Ten years of relevant experience in information and communications technology for development (ICT4D) business development/project analysis, ICT4D strategic and business planning, in public or/and private sector, including work in developing, implementing and monitoring strategies/initiatives/programmes/projects policies in the field of digital agriculture.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

•  Results Focus
• Leading, Engaging and Empowering
• Communication
• Partnering and Advocating
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
• Strategic Thinking

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is essential.
• Strong understanding and experience of digital economy context especially in terms of agriculture, digital agriculture entrepreneurship, innovation, youth in agriculture, extension services, digital transformation processes, governance mechanism in terms of regulatory context, policy making process, intra and inter-governmental communication, etc.
• Extent and relevance of experience in roles related to ICT strategy, policy analysis and advice and implementation related to sustainable innovations and technology in agriculture and rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in organizing and running international meetings, conferences, workshops and training courses.
• Demonstrated experience in working with countries and various stakeholders and demonstrated diplomacy in dealing with country delegates.
• Proven experience in the formulation and implementation of technical assistance programmes at country and regional level and in collaboration with national, regional and international institutions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the formulation of strategic frameworks, the implementation and management of work programmes, and the management of human and financial resources.
• Ability to develop project proposals and mobilize financial resources.
• Extend and relevance of experience in developing collaboration and partnerships with various partners for the development and implementation of joint programmes and the preparation of joint studies and reports.
• Working knowledge (advanced – level C) of French will be considered an asset.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree .o

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements