Post-conflict Mitigation and Knowledge Sharing Specialist (SC9) Job Ref. SOM/FAO/082314

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating the Implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives.  More specifically, FAO’s response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, and ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources and respond to recurrent emergencies.  The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Somalia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production, to natural resource management, Nutrition, value chain, food security analysis and water and land information management.  FAO is also implementing several emergency, resilience-building, and development interventions, with the support of its five field offices and close to 400 staff in partnership with the Federal and State line ministries.

The position is under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Somalia, the general supervision of the relevant technical divisions in FAO and the direct supervision of the Livestock Sector Coordinator.

The incumbent will provide overall support to Livestock Value Chain Programme. S/he will specifically provide support to RECOVER, RAAISE/ILED, SIRA and FNS-REPRO Projects by mainstreaming conflict sensitive livelihood development approaches; spearheading knowledge sharing and knowledge management in sustainable natural resources management for resilience; developing projects’ learning agenda; and leading conflict and livelihood capacity needs.

The Incumbent will:

• Work closely with Livestock value chain projects in the design, validation, and application of the Food System Resilience Assessment Tool (FoSRA) to inform FAO how food systems work.

• Develop and maintain the Projects’ Learning Agenda, an evolving compilation of questions the project seeks to answer or better understand through action, monitoring and evaluation and reflection under the learning agenda.

• Carry out basic research on selected aspects of programs and operations in regard to the interaction between conflict and livelihood interventions to inform knowledge and future planning processes and wider institutional learning.

• Work with local structures in Somalia in monitoring and mitigating conflict within the confinement of FAO programs.

• Organize policy dialogue fora for relevant stakeholders/national staff and policymakers to raise awareness on critical matters along the livestock value chains and the larger food system.

• Carry out appraisal of intervention before commencement to ensure compliance to “Do-No-Harm” approach.

• Identify areas in need of capacity development related to conflict and livelihood to facilitate injection of knowledge and practice related to post conflict livelihood development.

• Participate in survey initiatives; issue data collection tools, reviews, analyses, and interpret responses, identify problems/issues and prepare preliminary conclusions.

• Work closely with key stakeholders to coordinate the overall implementation of value chain component of the SIRA phase II, RAAISE/ILED, REPRO and RECOVER Projects.

• Develop and deliver capacity development activities in the areas of conflict analysis, promoting knowledge sharing and best practice of the livestock value chains and food systems.

• Contribute to the preparation of various written outputs, e.g., draft background papers, analytical notes, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications for FNS-REPRO, SIRA phase II, RECOVER and RAAISE/ILED.

• Develop the contractual implementation documents (Letters of Agreement) and undertake quality control and monitoring of letters of agreement with programme/project implementing partners.

• Undertake outreach activities; participate in the development of training workshops, seminars; participate in and makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.

• Participate in field missions, including provision of substantive and administrative support, data collection etc.

• Coordinate activities related to budget funding (programs/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements) and preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programs, programs budget).

• Perform any other duties as requested.

• University degree in one of the following fields: International relations, development studies, economics public or business administration, finance and government, social sciences, or other relevant discipline from a reputable Institution.

• At least 4 years of relevant experience in developing conflict sensitive livelihood projects; research in interaction between conflict and livelihoods; working with local authorities to monitor and mitigate conflicts in livestock related projects; assessing food systems resilience; developing and maintaining projects’ learning agenda; and stakeholder engagement preferably in Somalia.

• Working knowledge (level C) of the FAO official language used for communication within the country (English) and working knowledge of the local language(s) is required.

• Results Focus

• Teamwork

• Communication

• Building Effective Relationships

• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Experience in development of conflict sensitive livelihood projects.

• Experience in monitoring livestock projects to mitigate conflicts.

• Experience in research on evolving interactions between conflict and livelihood interventions within FAO livestock program.

• Experience in assessment of food system resilience.

• Ability and willingness to engage in continuous learning related to livestock value chain.