Senior Field Programme Officer

Organizational Setting

The Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU) 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 oversees the network of Country Offices and the Subregional Office for Central Asia). It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region, and, in collaboration with Divisions, Offices and Centres at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities and the implementation of the Organization's strategies through programmes and projects across the region.

The Regional Office (REU) supports the formulation and implementation of the Country Programmes and Projects, including Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), and their contribution to the FAO Strategic Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at the country level, advising Decentralized Offices on corporate priorities such as the Strategic Framework and on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget.

The Regional Office (REU) leads, formulates, implements, monitors and reports on the Organization's programmes and budget in the region and draws management attention to problems, deficiencies and risks.

The Regional Office (REU) leads the preparation of the Regional Conferences and the Statutory Bodies in the region.

The Regional Office (REU develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions, including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs), and participates in the United Nations Regional Architecture, such as UN Regional Forums on Sustainable Development and UN Regional Collaborative Platforms and related mechanisms.

The Regional Office (REU) delivers an improved, integrated and collaborative business model to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, consistency, innovation, agility and responsiveness in logistical, operational, financial and other support services at all levels to accelerate the achievement of the Organization's programme in the region and ensure compliance with the Internal Control Framework.

The Regional Priorities translated through the Regional Initiatives (RIs) into a programmatic umbrella for the Region supporting the formulation of the Country Programmes (CPFs) and the contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) at country level. The RIs support the 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 position is located in the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in Budapest, Hungary.

Reporting Lines

The Senior Field Programme Officer reports to the Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia (Regional Programme Leader).

Technical Focus

Leadership of results-based field programme management, implementation and coordination throughout the region; support regional resource mobilization efforts; private sector and civil society engagement, operational support and capacity building to budget holders/project formulators and operators throughout the region; field project/programme implementation as Budget Holder; project cycle management, forecasting, monitoring and reporting on results; management of Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) resources.

Key Results

Leadership and technical expertise for the planning, development and implementation of Programmes of work, projects, related-products, and services in accordance with FAO Strategic Objectives.

Key Functions

•          Leads the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/projects; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions;

•         Coordinates programmes and reviews the assessments of issues and trends for the implementation of programmes and projects and the preparation of impact evaluation or equivalent studies;

•         Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications;

•         Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations;

•         Manages outreach activities; designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities;

•         Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties;

•         Represents the Organization at international meetings and conferences, identifies and implements strategic partnerships, advocates best practices and increased dialogue and develops and negotiates effective working relationships/consensus and agreements with international and national stakeholders.

Specific Functions

•          Leads and supervises the Regional Field Programme Team for the development, management and coordination of the field programme throughout the region including the development of Country Programme Frameworks, especially in countries with no FAO presence contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals;

•         Manages and supervises (as Budget Holder) the implementation of regional projects and country projects (where needed) as assigned;

•         Advises Europe and Central Asia (ECA) countries in the operational management of projects and implementation of FAO policies and procedures as well as assessment and strengthening of Country Offices' capacities for project implementation;

•         Supervises the management of the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) Measures, monitors and reports on the implementation of the field programme in countries and region, and provides forecasts and trend analysis to management to support strategy development;

•         Supervises and coordinates the Resource Mobilization and the South-South Cooperation ' related activities in the Region and monitors performance of the assigned staff;

•         Supervises and coordinates the Partnerships with Non-State Actors, Governments and Academia;

•         Supervises and coordinates the Project Cycle support to Budget Holders and leads the appraisal and quality assurance of projects in the region;

•         Supervises and coordinates the results monitoring and result-based management principles in projects;

•         Collaborates with the Regional Priority Programmes Delivery managers, the leaders of the technical modules and streams and the multidisciplinary teams on the development, implementation and monitoring of the Regional Priority Programmes under the Strategic Framework;

•         Contributes to the management of the Regional Office as a member of the REU Senior Management Team and leads corporate initiatives as assigned;

•         Manages the budget and resources of the functional objectives related to programme management, field programme support, resource mobilization and partnership in close collaboration with the REU administration.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•          Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, business administration, management or related fields of the FAO mandate.

•         Ten years of relevant experience in results-based project/programme planning, implementation, and monitoring systems/appraisal.

•         Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - 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.

•         Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project management, in the management/operation of small-, medium and/or large-scale projects at country and regional levels, including in-depth knowledge of related administrative, operational and financial procedures.

•         Extent and experience in partnering with resource partners and non-state actors and particularly the private sector

•         Extent and experience in contributing to the UN reform in operational issues;

•         Experience in integrating regional technical commissions in regional programmes is desirable;

•         Work experience in applying results-based management methods and project evaluation.

•         Knowledge of field programme issues and work experience in the Europe and Central Asia region is considered a strong asset.