National Professional Officer Value Chain Development Expert - FAO

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender nationality background and culture
• Qualified female applicants qualified nationals of nonand underrepresented member nations and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct and to uphold our values. FAO has a zerotolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO including sexual exploitation and abuse sexual harassment abuse of authority and discrimination.

• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

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.

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) is responsible for leading FAOs response to regional priorities for food security agriculture and rural development through the identification planning and implementation of FAOs 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 Divisions/Offices/Centres at headquarters develops promotes and oversees FAOs strategic response to regional priorities.
RNE also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organizations 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. RNE develops and maintains relations with regionwide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).
The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security agriculture and rural development issues facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security agriculture and rural development in the region.

The post is located in RNE and based in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.

Reporting Lines

The National Professional Officer (Value Chain Development Expert) reports directly to the FAO Programme Coordinator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in consultation with the Chief Technical Adviser of the project and in collaboration with the Chief Technical Adviser of the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Programme.

Technical Focus

Programme development and management coordination and operational support based on the knowledge of the local conditions culture language and institutions of Saudi Arabia.

Key Results

Effective and efficient management and coordination of the technical and operational support of the programme and project.

Key Functions

• Participates in policy dialogue and advises government authorities local national and international institutions in the areas of FAOs activities and liaises with other UN agencies. Represents FAO at interagency meetings.
• Promotes the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organizations mandate programmes national priorities and activities including the coordination of development and maintenance of communication tools such as website press releases and publications and supports the implementation of FAOs regulatory frameworks (Codex Alimentarius Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries Safe Use of Pesticides etc.) in the country.
• Coordinates and manages the maintenance of country data on food crops livestock forestry and fisheries including information on external aid in FAOs corporate systems and monitors and communicates changes in national policies affecting the agricultural sector.
• Takes the lead in producing technical economic and policy studies as well as developing country level development frameworks such as the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework).
• Identifies formulates and coordinates the preparation of programme and project proposals monitors FAO field programme implementation ensuring that all operational activities are carried out in line with the work plan and the project document and makes recommendations on how to improve results and increase efficiency.
• Briefs trains and supervises lower grade level programme staff regarding all aspects of the job. Ensures adherence to procedures and work requirements and accuracy and diligence of the work provided.

Specific Functions

• Advises and coordinates with the FAO Programme Coordinator; liaises with the Programme Management Unit (PMU) and the Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture (MoEWA) to ensure the flow of cooperation and coordination necessary for the appropriate planning and implementation and monitoring of progress of the project component in accordance with the project document.
• Works in close collaboration with and ensures timely and full coordination with the Project National Focal Points to facilitate the implementation of the project; prepares periodical reports for organization of the Regional Steering Committee meetings acts as reporter during the meetings and ensures timely preparation and distribution of the Committee minutes.
• Coleads the comprehensive review for the priority commodities of the rural development programme and organizes full value chain analysis and development studies for all priority crops/commodities.
• Contributes to the identification of important local commodities in demand in local markets in each of the target regions and prepares and assists implementation of local commodities value addition programme.
• Supports the improvement of value addition/agroprocessing physical infrastructure and logistics including grading facilities and laboratory services assists the establishment and operation of local agroprocessing centres and identifies and promotes access and use of technologies and innovations by small producers and their associations.
• Assists in design and implementation of a programme for value addition innovations and technology promotion in target regions including through pilot demonstration of appropriate technological packages for value addition in smallscale farming communities.
• Assists in design and conduction of a study to compare the value addition potential of traditional versus modern livestock management.
• Reviews and validates the list of identified technical experts for the project component including their Terms of Reference (ToRs) helps managing their recruitment and supervises component technical team consultants and the support staff in carrying out their duties.
• Coleads the preparation and dissemination of various written project component outputs e.g. background papers sector reviews technical reports sections of reports and studies manuals guidelines and checklists as well as knowledge products.
• Coleads the preparation of quarterly and semiannual project component progress reports and terminal report identifies lessons learned constraints and issues that require timely resolution and corrective actions and presents recommendations for improving performance.
• Coleads development of demanddriven and responsive partnerships to benefit Saudi Arabia from proven innovation and good practices in the south and north for value addition and marketing.
• Coordinates with Southern Region Agricultural Development (SRAD) National Director and national stakeholders to ensure close working relations with MoEWA branches and other local authorities to ensure timely conducting of country activities including contractual arrangements and informs the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) of problems and obstacles that need attention and specific assistance.
• Provides support in the design and organization of social qualitative and quantitative studies including but not limited to gender mainstreaming productive family issues entrepreneurship internal migration and with respect to rural people and youth participation and opinion considerations.
• Ensures that the Southern Region Agricultural Development Project (SRADP) investment and support components including the provision of equipment construction of extension centers and others include marketing facilities are timely completed.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Advanced University degree in agribusiness value chain analysis agricultural economics or any other related field.
• Seven years of relevant experience in value chain analysis agribusiness development and/or project implementation in sustainable rural agricultural development
• Working knowledge (proficient level C) of Arabic and limited knowledge (intermediate level B) of English.

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work particularly in field positions is desirable
• Extent and relevance of experience in value chain development and agribusiness.
• Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of the technical programme operational guidelines and project/programme management procedures preferably those adopted by the United Nations or FAO.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the field of policy analysis relating to food and nutrition security agriculture and rural development.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the collection of country data on food crops livestock forestry and fisheries.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the identification formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals as well as programme/project implementation monitoring and reviewed.
• Extent and relevance of experience in Saud Arabia is considered a strong asset.

• Staff members in this category are recruited locally and paid according to a local salary scale. Salary scales are reviewed periodically on the basis of comprehensive surveys of the best prevailing conditions of employment in the locality.

• FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment to make an appointment at a lower grade or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment accreditation any residency or visa requirements and security clearances.