Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 by supporting more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food system transformations to the Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and Better Life, leaving no one behind. The FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) leads responses to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development by identifying, planning, and implementing the FAO’s priority activities. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with offices, centres and divisions at the headquarter, sub-regional, and 47 country offices, develops, promotes and oversees FAO’s strategic response to regional priorities. In its programme delivery, RAF contributes to the achievements of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, supports FAO’s work in Member countries, develops and maintains strategic partnerships with continental organizations, and supports countries to develop strategies, policies, regulatory frameworks regional and country policy dialogues that sustain efficient and inclusive agricultural and food systems. RAF also facilitates partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.

FAO promotes a One Health approach as part of the agrifood system transformation, strengthening and supporting better-performing national and international integrated One Health systems for the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. The Animal Production Systems and One Health platforms and actions (APSOH) programme of FAO-RAF coordinates One Health across FAO Animal Production and Health Division, four sub-regional offices, regional GHS units, 47 sub-Saharan African countries as well as different regional programme priority areas under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022 – 2031. The OH coordination also involves regional entities like the Africa Union InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), Africa CDC (Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention), regional economic communities and civil society organisations like AFROHUN. One Health in Africa is delivered in collaboration with the World Health Organization, World Organisation for Animal Health, UNEP and development partners like the Pandemic Fund (PF), USAID, EU, African Development Bank, World Bank, IFAD, etc. APSOH supports governments by delivering on priorities identified through the FAO Country Programming Frameworks and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, as well as regional and national development plans.

With the rise in political and financial support to One Health and a focus on strengthening national-level action, FAO is actively engaged in the new Pandemic Fund as an Implementing Entity. FAO in Africa has established a core team supported by NSAH-CJW including the subregional offices, GHS-ECTAD regional units (Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases) and the country focal points. This involves supporting countries and working with key partners such as WHO, UNICEF and Banks to support the government in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. This represents a large opportunity for FAO to extend support to countries to strengthen a One Health approach, and this in turn is triggering other investment opportunities for countries that require FAO’s technical assistance, policy and programming support. RAF’s growing One Health programme requires strategic coordination and continual partnership development.

In addition, APSOH in Africa is increasingly involved in supporting national multisectoral, multidisciplinary programmes and projects integrating and strengthening animal health, production and livestock value chains. APSOH also enhances youth and women empowerment and capacity development in livestock value chain development. APSOH has been increasingly engaged in addressing food insecurity and climate vulnerability challenges of transhumance and pastoralist communities by working closely with the FAO resilient team and other regional programme priority areas.

Reporting Lines

The Programme Support Specialist will report primarily to the Senior Animal Production and Health Officer (SAPHO) for the FAO Regional Officer in Africa (RAF)

Additionally, s/he will work under the technical and overall administrative supervision of the FAO Regional Office for Africa. S/he will liaise and assist in coordination with the FAO Headquarter-based Pandemic Fund and Animal Health Teams, Global Health Security Program (GHSP), FAO Sub-regional offices in Central, Western, Eastern and Southern Africa and 47 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Technical Focus 

Coordination, Communication, Monitoring and evaluation, Programme support, Project cycle management.

Tasks and responsibilities

Pandemic Fund team

•    Assist in coordinating the Pandemic Fund calls for proposals and internal regional events (seminars, workshops) to sensitise FAO Offices for each call, including contribution to the review of the Pandemic Fund project proposals (especially parts related to operational arrangements, budgets and co-financing);
•    Support maintaining the Pandemic Fund projects dashboard in the region, keeping track of proposals from submission to implementation and monitoring, including operational backstopping on project cycle management and support to the actors involved at the regional, sub-regional and country levels, liaising with the NSAH-CJW team;
•    Daily coordination support and knowledge management, facilitating experience, lessons learned and evidence sharing on PF projects;
•    Support key meetings and events concerning RAF’s role in the Pandemic Fund, as well as supporting the RAF Communication team in preparing visibility and advocacy materials for the PF programme (including web articles and social media channels);
•    Support the development of PF projects M&E framework in coordination with MEL team, and prepare periodic reports on PF projects implementation progress;
•    Maintain files and databases including key focal points and a repository of key documents “The Pandemic Fund Ms teams channel”.

APSOH Programme Operations Support

•    Assist with budget and work planning and operational support for APSOH work;
•    Provide operational support to the implementation of the programme activities related to the APSOH;
•    Support liaise with focal points for gender, youth and Indigenous People, digital agriculture and other regional priority programme areas to ensure these perspectives and engagement in OH programming;
•    Liaise with the Human Resources Division regarding recruitment of staff.
•    Liaise with the Procurement Division and partnership;

FAO Standards and guidelines:

•    Liaison with OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, aligned messaging, and appropriate review and clearance processes.
•    All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en
FAOSTYLE https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).
•    Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in any of the social science disciplines.
•    At least two years of practical experience as Programme Assistant in multisectoral, multidisciplinary project operation, monitoring and evaluation and the coordination of implementations under intergovernmental work environments.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English.

FAO Core Competencies

•    Results Focus
•    Communication
•    Teamwork
•    Building effective relationships
•    Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Extent and relevance of experience in the operation support to project and programme in the Agrifood systems.
•    Demonstrated ability to write technical and project documents in both English and French.
•    Excellent communication skills.
•    Intermediate (level B) of French is desirable
•    Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements