National Emergency and Resilience Specialist (2601910)

Organizational Unit: FABGD -FAO Representation in Bangladesh

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition: NPP (National Project Personnel)

Grade Level: N/A

Primary Location: Bangladesh-Dhaka

Duration: 6 months (extendable, subject to availability of resources)

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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

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

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. FAO Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level. The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.

Specifically, FAO Country Offices:

• advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
• provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
• assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
• position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
• ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

The FAO Representation in Bangladesh 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 country. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in Bangladesh and, in collaboration with Regional Office Asia and Pacific and the departments and divisions at Headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to the country priorities. The Representation also supports the regional office in the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the country, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. The office also develops and maintains relations with Government of Bangladesh, UN agencies, the resource partners and other development institution at the country level.

Bangladesh is highly vulnerable to recurrent climate and disaster risks, including floods, flash floods, cyclones, droughts. These shocks have significant impacts on agricultural production, food security, rural livelihoods, and household incomes, particularly among smallholder and marginal farming communities. Despite considerable progress in disaster preparedness and climate adaptation, increasing climate variability and extreme events continue to undermine the resilience and recovery capacity of vulnerable households. According to the recent food security analysis, approximately 18.2 million people are expecting high levels of food insecurity till December 2026, while approximately 1 million households require immediate agricultural inputs. To address food insecurity, build the resilience of farmers and sustainable agrifood system, FAO works closely with the Government and provides technical support.

Reporting Lines

This is an SC-9 level position and he/she will work under the overall guidance of the FAO Representative in Bangladesh, the Direct Supervision of the International Emergency and Resilient Specialist in collaboration with the Deputy FAO Representative; Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and the Assistant FAO Representative (Administration) and in consultation with the relevant technical units at FAO headquarters in particular Office of Emergency and Resilience (OER) and the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

Technical Focus

The incumbent will provide technical leadership to FAO’s Emergency and Resilience Unit, with particular emphasis on food security, emergency livelihoods assistance, food-system resilience, disaster risk reduction and anticipatory action. The position will support the International Team Leader in coordinating the US Macro Grant and will ensure that project implementation is aligned with FAO’s emergency and resilience priorities, national food security needs and relevant Government and humanitarian coordination mechanisms.

The incumbent will provide strategic direction and coordination to ERU staff and facilitate collaboration with the Cox’s Bazar Emergency Team, FAO technical units and external partners. Technical responsibilities will focus on food security analysis, emergency response and resilience programming, contribute to the country's programme and portfolio development as foreseen in the Country Programme Framework (CPF) and the Emergency and Resilience Plan (ERP).

Tasks and responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the incumbent will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Lead and coordinate FAO’s Emergency and Resilience Unit (ERU) at national level, providing overall technical and operational direction to the Unit and ensuring coherence across its emergency preparedness, response, anticipatory action and resilience portfolio.
• Provide technical leadership on food security, including assessment of food security risks, emergency food assistance and livelihood needs, food security response planning, livelihood protection and resilience-building approaches.
• Lead the development and coordination of emergency preparedness and response strategies, including anticipatory action, disaster risk reduction and early recovery interventions in collaboration with relevant FAO teams and partners.
• Coordinate the implementation of the US Macro Grant project under the direction of the International Team Leader, ensuring delivery against the approved results framework, workplan, budget, implementation schedule and donor commitments.
• Coordinate with Operations, Procurement, Finance, M&E and other support functions to facilitate timely procurement, contracting, cash/voucher delivery, beneficiary registration, field implementation, monitoring and reporting, while escalating bottlenecks to the International Team Leader and senior management.
• Coordinate with Cox’s Bazar Emergency Team and other FAO units to ensure complementarity of emergency and resilience interventions, sharing lessons and good practices, and coherent approaches to food security and livelihood programming.
• Represent FAO and provide technical expertise in interagency coordination meetings, Food Security Cluster, Needs Analysis Working Group, working groups Anticipatory Actions Task Force, amongst others.
• Provide technical advice on food security and emergency livelihood priorities to FAO management, project teams and partners and contribute to strategic planning and programme development.
• Coordinate with relevant technical units to ensure that emergency and resilience interventions are evidence-based, needs-driven and appropriately targeted, drawing on available food security, vulnerability, climate and disaster-risk information.
• Support the preparation and quality assurance of project proposals, concept notes, strategic documents, donor reports and other programme documents related to emergency response, food security and resilience.
• Facilitate coordination among ERU staff and relevant project personnel and ensure that technical and operational issues requiring management attention are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
• Promote integration of gender, protection, accountability to affected populations, environmental and social safeguards and conflict sensitivity within emergency and resilience programming.
• Strengthen the capacity of ERU staff, government counterparts and implementing partners on food security, emergency preparedness, response and resilience, as appropriate.
• Undertake field missions and provide strategic oversight to assess implementation progress, identify constraints and facilitate timely corrective action.
• Contribute to resource mobilization and development of the ERU portfolio, including identification of emerging food security and emergency needs and opportunities for FAO support.
• Perform other related duties as required by the International Team Leader, AFAOR (Programme), DFAOR and FAO Representative.