Organizational Setting
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO’s Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
The Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSR) leads and coordinates the mobilization of voluntary contributions (currently 70 percent of FAO’s budget) in support of the Organization’s strategic priorities. PSR manages FAO’s relations with resource partners, strategically matching partners’ interests to those of the Organization, and supports the negotiation of approximately 800 trust fund agreements per year. It mounts marketing analysis and campaigns around global development opportunities, provides market and business intelligence and positioning services to management as well as resource mobilization capacity development to decentralized and headquarters offices. PSR also oversees and coordinates results reporting to ensure accountability to resource partners.
The position is located in the Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSR) at FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy,
Reporting Lines
The Donor Relations and Contracts Officer will report to the Senior Programme Officer (Head of Unit), Resource Partnership Management Unit (PSRP).
Technical Focus
Grant and contract negotiation, donor relations, resource mobilization liaison, capacity development and programming support.
Key Results
Provide support and advice on the mobilization of voluntary contributions resource mobilization outreach, funding agreements, capacity development and programming, monitoring and quality control of outreach and reporting to partners and operating projects.
Key Functions
• Contributes to the planning and development of annual work plans to achieve divisional targets in assigned areas.
• Contributes to strategic thinking and related plans to further develop and facilitate implementation of the Corporate Resource Mobilization and Management Strategy (RMMS).
• Collaborates with headquarters teams and Decentralized Offices to mobilize resources in line with defined corporate priorities.
• Supports contacts with potential partners to explore funding opportunities as well as supports negotiations of funding agreements and project proposals with governments, international organizations,’private sector and civil society partners.
• Maintains effective working relationships with key stakeholders throughout the project cycle, including support in project implementation.
• Facilitates monitoring and compliance issues and ensures submission of reports to resource partners.
• Supports capacity development efforts to staff in all locations with regard to resource mobilization partnerships through policy development, production of training materials and delivery of trainings.
• Organizes and supports the facilitation of partner meetings, events and outreach campaigns.
• Collaborates to facilitate the corporate resource mobilization efforts and reports on key results.
Specific Functions
• Liaises with various assigned resource partners to maintain relations and mobilize voluntary contributions to FAO.
• Supports the negotiation of funding agreements to be signed by FAO.
• Advice on issues related to partner and FAO compliance throughout the project life cycle (funding, administrative, financial, legal, partner and technical requirements).
• Supports project formulation teams across FAO with issues related to partners, including assisting in negotiating funding agreements, project proposals and related terms and conditions with assigned resource partners.
• Supports project formulators in ensuring projects support FAO’s corporate and strategic priorities as well as SDG alignment.
• Monitors the geographical and thematic development priorities for the assigned resource partners.
• Monitors and updates operational and pipeline projects and initiates the necessary follow-up with the technical, operational and administrative units concerned, both at FAO headquarters and in the Decentralized Offices.
• Drafts briefs, speaking points and analytical documentation.
Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in international law, business administration, international development, development economics, or another field relevant to the work of the Organization.
• Five years of relevant experience with grant and contract negotiations and management related to resource mobilization, partnership and contractual management with major donors, international financial institutions or vertical funds.
• Working knowledge (proficient – level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in Resource Mobilization.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in managing relations and outreach with partners.
• Extent and relevance of experience in negotiating funding agreements with resource partners.
• Extent and relevance of experience in agricultural development, capacity development, training, knowledge sharing and international technical cooperation programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in institutional collaboration and partnership with governments, private sector and regional, national or local agencies within the development field.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds
- FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM/salaries_allowances/salary.htm
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection
HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
Deadline; 16th February 2022
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
