FAO Representative

The FAO Representative (FAOR) leads and manages the FAO Country Office in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, representing FAO to national authorities and partners. The role involves advocating for FAO's policy positions, leading the development and implementation of the Country Programming Framework, mobilizing resources, and ensuring effective programme management and office administration.

Responsibilities

• Represent FAO towards national authorities, partners and stakeholders.
• Advocate FAO's policy positions in the relevant national fora, represent FAO in the national media, and implement a proactive communications strategy to raise awareness of FAO with the general public.
• Support UN joint communication efforts and speak with 'one voice' in delivering the 2030 Agenda.
• Facilitate timely access by national stakeholders to FAO's knowledge resources and global public goods.
• Provide leadership on food security and agriculture policy, as well as operational matters within the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator System.
• Lead the overall emergency response preparedness, coordination and response at the country level, in cooperation with the government, UN Country Team/Humanitarian Country Team and Cluster/sector activities and related resource mobilization efforts.
• Support the country's efforts towards the achievement of the SDGs, in line with FAO's mandate and Strategic Framework.
• Lead the timely development of the CPF and the Country Work Plan in accordance with the UNSDCF process and related FAO programmes, projects and/or other activities.
• Lead the analysis of the country situation, providing updates and alerts on key events and trends, including for the UN Common Country Analysis.
• Lead FAO's contribution to the UN common planning and programming frameworks, including CCAs, UNSDCFs, CAPs, Humanitarian Action Plans, Flash Appeals, Joint Programmes.
• Advise and collaborate with internal partners to raise awareness of country priorities and needs and support their inclusion in corporate and regional policies.
• Lead the dialogue and liaise with national government authorities on issues of FAO's mandate.
• Support the operationalization of the CPF and the UNSDCF.
• Support the establishment of effective partnerships and collaborations with governments, donors, civil societies, NGOs, the UN and other international organizations.
• Lead country-level mobilization of extrabudgetary resources, making maximum use of expertise available in Decentralized Offices.
• Support the Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator in strategically positioning the UN in the country and in joint UN resource mobilization efforts.
• Ensure that programmes are managed and monitored effectively and in compliance with corporate policies and procedures.
• Mobilize technical backstopping to FAO projects, in line with corporate norms, standards and procedures.
• Provide technical support services in FAO's areas of competence in the country and subregion.
• Operate as budget holder for national projects entrusted to him/her.
• Oversee effective implementation of FAO programmes and projects, lead periodic reviews, monitor CPF and FAO components in UN Sustainable Cooperation Frameworks and Joint Programmes, and ensure timely reporting.
• Report results as per corporate reporting requirements in a timely manner.
• Address issues in real-time to minimize reputational and financial risks for FAO.
• Lead and manage the Country Office and ensure effective and efficient use of human and financial resources, in line with corporate policies and administrative procedures.
• Manage all matters related to the security and safety of FAO personnel and their eligible dependents, ensuring adherence to UN Security Policy and FAO security instructions.
• Improve observance of legal, statutory or regulatory obligations; FAO's ethical standards and internal HR rules and policies, including zero tolerance policies on sexual abuse and harassment, and gender parity.
• Promote and nurture staff development and welfare.
• Identify and implement effective and efficient controls to respond to operational risks, including Anti-Fraud Control plans.
• Maintain and improve reliability, appropriateness and timeliness of financial and non-financial information.
• Reduce losses and waste of assets and resources through misdirected effort, errors, mismanagement, abuse or fraud.
• Ensure designation of a gender focal point as required by the FAO Gender Equality Policy.
• Sustain and increase confidence among Members and stakeholders in the reliability, resilience and efficiency of FAO's management systems.
• Promote and lead initiatives under the FAO Corporate Environmental Policy and Corporate Environmental Responsibility Strategy 2020-2030 to reduce emissions, increase efficiency and integrate sustainability into daily operations.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in an area related to the activities of the Organization, e.g. agriculture, forestry, fishery or rural development, etc.
• Ten years of relevant experience in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of field programmes.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of Spanish and English.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential, in both programmatic areas and fostering government relationships.
• Extent and relevance of experience in developing and managing country field programmes from design to delivery (programme/project identification, formulation, analysis, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation).
• Extent and relevance of experience in the coordination and/or management of technical cooperation projects and programmes, including emergency, recovery and rehabilitation related programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in resource mobilization.
• Extent and relevance of experience in negotiating and cooperating with national governments, intergovernmental organizations and other institutions, as well as in designing collaborative networks and joint programmes.
• Candidates should adhere to FAO values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for all and Integrity and Transparency.

Skills

• Programme Planning
• Programme Implementation
• Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
• Field Programme Management
• Technical Cooperation
• Emergency Programme Management
• Resource Mobilization
• Government Relations
• Programme Formulation
• Project Identification
• Project Analysis
• Programme Coordination
• Negotiation with Government
• Intergovernmental Cooperation
• Collaborative Network Design
• Country Programme Management
• Office Management

Languages

Spanish, English