Policy Officer

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’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations

The Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty (GAAHP) initiated under the G20 Presidency of Brazil aims at providing sustained, high-level political impetus to eradicate poverty, hunger, and malnutrition worldwide. Under the Alliance, a Policy Basket will provide a menu of policy instruments proven to have a positive impact on reducing hunger, food insecurity, malnutrition and poverty that can be adapted to national or subnational contexts, and whose adaptation and implementation can be supported, upon the request of a Global Alliance member.

These policy interventions will be supported through a combination of three pillars: i) a National Pillar for domestic policy and programme implementation and/or direct country-to-country support and lesson sharing; ii) a Financial support pillar for multilateral and bilateral funding, development finance, innovative financial mechanisms, climate funding, philanthropy and others; and iii) a Knowledge pillar where institutions offer technical assistance and cooperation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. Global Alliance members can both provide and request support for any of these components.

The Global Alliance is implemented through a Support Mechanism hosted by FAO to create synergies and leverage technical expertise of the UN Development System and its existing footprint of UN agencies, funds, and programmes. The Support Mechanism will consist of:

• a Rome Office based at FAO that will focus on the knowledge and finance pillars;
• three Global South Offices in Brasilia, Addis Ababa and Bangkok that will focus on the national and knowledge pillars; and
• a Washington Office that will focus on the finance pillar and relevant technical expertise and contributions by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs).

All five offices will work under the overall leadership of the Director of the Support Mechanism of the Global Alliance, who will lead the Support Mechanism on delivering the priorities established by the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty in accordance with FAO’s rules and procedures. This Support Mechanism shall remain autonomous from the hosting organization as an independent mechanism that will follow the mandate and approach contained in the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty´s Terms of Reference and Governance Framework as well as the guidance from the Board of Champions and Core Group of the Global Alliance. 

This position is part of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division, ESP, hosted by the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Policy Officer (Regional Liaison) reports to the Director, Support Mechanism of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. 

Provides intellectual leadership, guidance and operational support for results-based policy assistance and governance work of GAAHP in the region in relation to regional and subregional policy issues.

Implementation of coherent, integrated and effective policy assistance and governance work supporting Global Alliance Members Nations at regional, subregional and country level: i) in accordance with the FAO delivery mechanisms, and ii) in response to new policy assistance requests.

• Supports the work carried out by Alliance members in relation to policy and governance work
• Participates in specialized or multidisciplinary teams and policy analysis missions or projects, policy networks and/or international policy setting bodies.
• Supports with analytical work and collaboration with concerned stakeholders the adoption and implementation of cross-sectoral policies and strategies concerning food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.
• Participates in partnerships and promotes best practices and policy dialogue in support of enhanced governance for food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and food systems.
• Supports the analysis of regional and country-level policy issues to provide input into the identification of country and regional priorities and requirements.
• Implements and monitors regional and subregional policy work programmes and the supporting budgets and/or resourcing strategies.
• Organizes and participates in capacity development activities, and develops the related materials, on-line tools and information kits.
• Performs other duties as required

Specific Functions:

• Builds network of collaboration with governmental and organizational counterparts to facilitate programme coordination and promotion.
• Monitors and identifies critical programme issues where the GAAHP Support Mechanism inputs/involvement is needed, organizes information flows from external collaborators to programme units.
• Identifies opportunities for the GAAHP Support Mechanism to project organizational capacities and priorities into regional agendas and activities at the UN Common System level and with counterparts; assesses the GAAHP Support Mechanism participation in regional interagency forums.
• Builds awareness within GAAHP Support Mechanism of the regional perspectives and priorities of collaborators, assists GAAHP members with networking with external counterparts.
• Promotes GAAHP positions and capacities in collaborative activities with external counterparts.
• Represents GAAHP in receiving visitors and facilitates replies to institutional and public inquiries on subjects falling within the competence of the Alliance.
• Supports mobilization of resources in support of social protection, poverty eradication, agriculture and food security.
• Performs other duties as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Advanced university degree in political sciences, economics, sociology, food security, nutrition, sustainable agriculture (including livestock, forestry and fisheries) or related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in policy advice and public analysis relating social protection, poverty eradication, food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes.
• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Technical/Functional Skills:

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable.
• Relevance and extent of experience in policy analysis and advice relating to social protection, poverty eradication, food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and rural development.
• Relevance and extent of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2500152