National Programme Specialist (Emergency and Resilience)

The National Programme Specialist supports FAO's emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, food security and resilience portfolio in Papua New Guinea. The role involves programme and operational support, coordination of multi-hazard emergency responses, and engagement with government, UN agencies, and development partners to strengthen resilience of vulnerable agricultural livelihoods and food security.

Responsibilities

• Support FAO's emergency, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and resilience programming in PNG.
• Support emergency and resilience programme project cycle, including formulation (concept notes/proposals) delivery of required inputs, financial monitoring, and reporting.
• Support HoO and FAO PNG Emergency Focal Point to coordinate multi-hazard emergency responses (cyclones, floods, droughts, biosecurity threats) and provide technical advice to government partners and NGOs to strengthen early warning, preparedness, anticipatory actions, and disaster management systems.
• Represent FAO in interagency forums, maintain strong relationships with government, UN agencies, and donors, and actively support resource mobilization (e.g., CERF/SFERA appeals).
• Assist in the development of advocacy and crisis communication materials, preparing high-quality briefs and reports to keep all key stakeholders and the donor community informed.
• Support implement emergency and anticipatory interventions to protect climate-vulnerable livestock, poultry, and apiculture value chains, supporting women smallholders and restoring market connections during and after disasters.
• Support the rapid response coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors during disease outbreaks—focusing on early detection, sample transport from remote areas, and PHEOC simulation exercises.
• Support the Food Security Cluster secretariat by coordinating meetings, mapping humanitarian gaps, managing a robust food security database, and conducting regular field-monitoring missions.
• Monitor the FSC El Niño Plan of Action (Preparedness, Anticipatory Action, Response, Recovery) across high-risk provinces.
• In close coordination with the National Weather Service, the National Disaster Centre and NDAL, track the Combined Drought Index (CDI).
• Conduct field assessments to trigger timely, proactive early actions.
• Coordinate the sourcing and distribution of drought-tolerant seeds (e.g., NARI-approved kaukau, yam corms), livestock feed, and water-harvesting tools.
• Lead agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments (DaLA) during and after droughts to evaluate impacts on crops, livestock, and fisheries.
• Support the mid-term and the after-action reviews of the FSC El Niño Plan of Action.
• Perform other duties as and where necessary

Requirements

• University degree (bachelor’s degree) in agriculture, agricultural economics, development studies, disaster risk management, emergency management, food security, resilience, environmental sciences, veterinary sciences, public health, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, resilience programming, food security, agricultural development, programme/project management, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of English.
• Working knowledge of Tok Pisin is considered an asset.
• National of Papua New Guinea or resident of the country with a valid work permit.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, food security, agricultural development, resilience or humanitarian programming.
• Experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of emergency, disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action and resilience programmes.
• Experience in programme/project coordination, stakeholder engagement, field monitoring, financial follow-up, reporting and assessments.
• Familiarity with Food Security Cluster coordination, early warning and anticipatory action, drought monitoring, agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments, and emergency preparedness and response systems.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or coordinating emergency response, DRR, anticipatory action and resilience programmes.
• Experience working with government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and other development/humanitarian partners.
• Experience in food security, drought response, agricultural assessments and/or agricultural livelihood recovery.
• Knowledge of Papua New Guinea's agricultural, food security, disaster risk and institutional context.
• Experience in multi-sectoral emergency coordination, including human, animal and environmental health and biosecurity.
• Strong analytical, communication, coordination and report-writing skills.

Skills

• Emergency Response
• Disaster Risk Reduction
• Resilience Programming
• Food Security
• Agricultural Development
• Programme Management
• Project Management
• Programme Coordination
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Field Monitoring
• Financial Follow-up
• Reporting and Assessments
• Food Security Cluster Coordination
• Early Warning Systems
• Anticipatory Action
• Drought Monitoring
• Agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments
• Emergency Preparedness
• Multi-sectoral Emergency Coordination
• Biosecurity

Languages

English, Tok Pisin