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.
The position(s) will be home-based with missions to New Delhi.
Under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded GEF 6 and GEF 7 projects, FAO is mandated to organize Policy Dialogues at national and state levels to inform and facilitate discussion of priority issues related to agrifood systems transformation. The dialogues are to be built around key themes identified by FAO’s Sustainability Assessment of Food and Agriculture Systems, FAO`s Strategy on Climate Change and FAO Policy on Gender Equality as formulated in the context of Attaining Food Security Goals in Agriculture and Rural Development and ensure that such dialogues include gender and social equity issues.
To take this forward, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly launched the ‘Investment Forum for Advancing Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India’ in New Delhi. The kick-off event for this transformative initiative was a two-day multi-stakeholder meet on January 18-19, 2024, New Delhi.
The two-day multi-stakeholder meet paved the way for discussions and deliberations among key stakeholders, and their perspectives on national priorities, investment opportunities, partnership, technical support and cooperation. The Forum facilitated discussions and deliberations on six key areas namely: (i) Climate resilient agriculture (experiences and pathways); (ii) Digital infrastructure and solutions; (iii) Financing climate resilient agrifood systems (domestic and global); (iv) Climate resilient value chains; (v) Production practices and inputs for climate resilience; and (vi) Gender mainstreaming and social inclusion for climate resilience.
The meet witnessed almost 200 attendees with senior representatives from the Government, private sector, and international agencies. This initiative aims to develop an investment and partnership strategy to advance climate resilient agrifood systems among the government, private sectors, and farmers’ organizations and financial institutions in India.
Reporting Lines
Under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in India (FAOR), the Agrifood Systems Policy Specialist will be responsible for developing policy advocacy briefs on climate-resilient agrifood systems in India.
Technical Focus
Support the National Technical Coordinators (NTCs) in facilitating policy dialogues on climate-resilient agrifood systems.
Tasks And Responsibilities
- Support NTCs to develop a road map for future policy advocacy, and policy briefs to promote investments in climate-resilient agrifood systems in the country.
- Advise and closely coordinate with the National Project Coordinators of GEF 6 and GEF 7, and the FAO Country Office and other National Experts to organized Policy Dialogues at national and regional levels on Transforming Agrifood Systems in India.
- Support NTCs to coordinate with experts to receive their inputs for preparing briefs (at least five) for future policy advocacy and promotion of investments in climate-resilient agrifood systems in the country.
- Provide technical expertise to integrate food security, climate resilience, and nutrition goals into policy frameworks.
- Support NTCs to identify prospective investment sources (international and domestic) for financing climate-resilient agrifood systems in the country.
- Facilitate multi-sectoral dialogues to ensure coherent agrifood systems approaches across agriculture, environment, health, and trade sectors that are aligned with national commitments.
- Provide advice on evidence-based policy interventions that promote sustainable agricultural practices, climate resilience, and nutrition-sensitive agrifood systems.
- Support documentation of lessons learned from policy dialogues.
- Support the NTCs to promote the role of FAO as a leader in sustainable agrifood systems transformation through public presentations, policy briefs, and advocacy materials.
- Participate in high-level meetings, conferences, and workshops on agrifood systems and sustainable agriculture.
- Support NTCs in engaging with relevant stakeholders in the government and private sector to influence policy making on climate-resilient agrifood systems as per the lessons learnt from the policy dialogues.
- Any other duties assigned by the project implementing agency.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- Master’s level degree or PhD degree in Food systems, Environment Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Agriculture Sciences, Agribusiness, or equivalent.
- At least 10 years working experience in agricultural and environmental management or related fields with recognized technical expertise.
- Working knowledge (level C) of English.
- National of India or resident of the country with valid work permit.
FAO Core Competencies
- Results Focus
- Teamwork
- Communication
- Building Effective Relationships
- Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
- Experience of working with Government agencies on development project.
- Extensive experience in the management of complex projects at national/regional levels.
- Strong technical knowledge and management skills including the ability to provide strategic guidance, technical oversight, mentor staff, build strong teams, develop work plans, and manage budgets and project expenditures.
- Proven written, analytical, computing, presentation and reporting skills.
- Understanding of GEF functioning and procedures will be an asset.
- Working proficiency in Hindi is desirable.
Job Posting
14/Jan/2025
Closure Date
28/Jan/2025, 4:59:00 PM
Organizational Unit
FAIND
Job Type
Non-staff opportunities
Type of Requisition
PSA (Personal Services Agreement)
Grade Level
N/A
Primary Location
Home-Based
Duration
12 months (renewable)
Post Number
N/A
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
- FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
- Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members 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 FAO's values
- FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
- All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
- All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
