Food Security Cluster Coordinator

The Food Security Cluster Coordinator will work impartially with all members of the Food Security Cluster and serves and represents the group as a whole, not an agency. He/she will work closely with the UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator or their designated official as required.

The scope of this job is established in line with the Emergency Response Priorities of coordination, assessment, and time-critical interventions.

FAO’s Mission and FAO in Emergencies

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is committed to achieving food security for all by making sure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

FAO plays a critical role in preparing for and responding to emergency needs arising from both slow and sudden onset natural disasters, food chain emergencies, socio-economic crises, nuclear emergencies, protracted crises and violent conflicts that threaten agriculture, food and nutrition security and/or food safety. FAO’s work in emergencies focuses on reducing people’s vulnerability to hazards before, during and after disasters through risk assessment, risk reduction, emergency response and rehabilitation. Learn more about the Organization’s work in emergencies by visiting our website athttp://www.fao.org/emergencies.

Key Functions and responsibilities

The role of the Food Security Cluster Coordinator, as set out in the IASC Generic Terms of Reference for Sector Leads at Country Level, is to lead and facilitate this process through:

• inclusion of key humanitarian partners;
• establishment and maintenance of appropriate humanitarian coordination mechanisms;
• coordination with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors;
• ensuring appropriate participatory and community-based approaches;
• ensuring appropriate attention to priority cross-cutting and cross-sectorial issues (e.g. gender, age, HIV and AIDS, human rights, environment and early recovery);
• undertaking needs assessment and analysis;
• coordinating sector-wide emergency preparedness;
• undertaking planning and strategy development;
• ensuring the application of appropriate standards;
• ensuring monitoring and reporting;
• undertaking advocacy and resource mobilization;
• undertaking training and capacity building; and
• provision of assistance or services as a last resort subject to access, security and availability of funding.
• performing other duties as required.

Key Performance Indicators

Expected Outputs:

• key humanitarian partners included;
• humanitarian coordination mechanisms established and maintained;
• national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors coordinated;
• participatory and community-based approaches ensured;
• needs assessment and analysis undertaken;
• application of appropriate standards ensured, including monitoring and reporting;
• proper training and capacity building undertaken.

Emergency Response Competency Indicators

All emergency response personnel are expected to exhibit the following emergency competencies:

Values:

• commitment to FAO emergency preparedness and response;
• respect affected populations by recognizing their culture, customs, rights, aspirations and fundamental dignity and accounting for their needs and capacities in developing and managing emergency response activities;
• respect and promote integrity and transparency; and
• adhere to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, operational independence and impartiality.

Core Competencies:

• maintain a results focus on the timely delivery of emergency response programme objectives;
• ensure inclusiveness and open communication when working with team members, partners and affected populations;
• promote a culture of information sharing and learning for continuous improvement with team members, partners and stakeholders;
• shared responsibility and demonstrated responsiveness to challenges faced by the team or any member of the team;
• actively engage with partners and promote collaboration while upholding and reinforcing the scope of the humanitarian mission and UN principles;
• demonstrate flexibility and resilience in changing and challenging emergency context;
• take responsibility for own actions and well-being;
• work effectively in a chaotic and unpredictable environment with limited amenities and support systems; and
• make decisions under pressure and in the absence of complete information and instruction.

Position Specific Competencies:

• ability to work and plan at strategic as well as operational levels;
• understanding of the international humanitarian response architecture, including co-ordination mechanisms, humanitarian reform and action, and funding mechanisms (e.g. Strategic Response Plan process, Central Emergency Response Fund and Flash Appeals);
• facilitation and communication: experience of high level coordination and chairing of meetings; ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working; excellent English communication skills, both verbal and written;
• coping with pressure: ability to work productively in a pressurized environment and to maintain visibly high levels of morale in difficult circumstances.Job Requirements
  Skills:

All emergency response personnel should have the following:

• excellent organizational skills;
• good written communication skills, including in emergency settings;
• demonstrated ability to analyze problems, make appropriate recommendations, effective decisions, including in emergency settings;

· strong foundation in programme formulation, planning, implementation, management and evaluation.

Minimum Requirements:

· University degree in a discipline relevant to the mandate of the Organization;

· Minimum of 5 years of proven experience in humanitarian response at a mid- or senior level including in the food security sector;

· Working knowledge of English. Good knowledge of Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish, according to the country of assignment.

How to apply:

To apply, visit the iRecruitment website at http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/ and complete the on-line application. Only applications received through iRecruitment will be considered.

Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your iRecruitment online profile. We strongly recommend that you ensure that the information is accurate and complete including employment record, academic qualifications and language skills.

Vacancies will be removed from iRecruitment at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date. We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: iRecruitment@fao.org