Organizational Setting
The Legal Office of FAO ensures that FAO's activities are carried out in accordance with its Constitution and the other Basic Texts of the Organization, consistent with its status as an intergovernmental organization of the United Nations system, and that its relations with governments, organizations and individuals are based on a sound legal basis.
The Development Law Service (LEGN) of the Legal Office of FAO provides legal advisory services to governments on matters relating to food and agriculture and natural resources (including land, water, fisheries, aquaculture, plants, animals, food, forestry, wildlife, environment, climate change and biodiversity), as well as general agricultural issues (institutions, trade, economic reform).
It is anticipated that LEGN will need external legal experts to assist its work in providing legal technical support for several FAO projects and other activities, which may take place in different region and sub-regions of the world, including in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific.ย
This call for expressions of interest is for the purpose of identifying suitably qualified experts in Development Law to be included on the roster for consideration for short-term assignments with LEGN, ranging from a few days to a maximum of 11 months (on a when-actually-employed basis). This call is aimed at experts with various levels of experience. The incumbent would be home-based, with availability to travel to Rome, Italy, for meetings at FAO Headquarters, as well as to selected countries where FAO projects are being or will be implemented.ย
The assignments may cover various legal activities, or be dedicated to a specific issue or activity related to the legal aspects of areas under the mandate of FAO.
Candidates who have already been informed of their inclusion in the LEGN roster list of specialists do not need to resubmit their application to this call for expressions of interest.ย
Reporting Lines
The Development Law Specialist reports to the Chief, LEGN, while day-to-day supervision is provided by a designated Legal Officer in LEGN.
Technical Focusย
Legal research and advisory services to Governments in relation to food and agriculture and the management of renewable natural resources in countries where FAO projects are being or will be implemented.
LEGN seeks to identify candidates who may cover one or more of the technical areas under LEGN, per FAO's mandate:
โข ย ย Agricultural law, including agricultural health (food safety, phytosanitary and veterinary legislation; antimicrobial resistance), sustainable agricultural production (seeds, pesticides, organic farming and other marketing systems) and other areas of agricultural law (supply chain regulation mechanisms, contract farming, agricultural finance, cooperatives and other farmers' organisations, agricultural insurance schemes);
โข ย ย Food and nutrition security, right to adequate food, school meals and nutrition;
โข ย ย Climate change laws in relation to agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture and forests;
โข ย ย Enabling environment for responsible investments in agriculture and food systems;
โข ย ย Fisheries law and aquaculture law;ย
โข ย ย Food systems transformationย
โข ย ย Forests, wildlife, grazing;
โข ย ย Gender mainstreaming within legal frameworks;
โข ย ย Social protection in rural areas and decent rural employment;ย
โข ย ย Sustainable land management, sustainable water management, sustainable Wildlife production.
LEGN is particularly interested in identifying qualified candidates to support its work in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and Pacific in the areas of:
โข ย ย Food and nutrition security and the human right to adequate food, in particular to support the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines in support of the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security.ย
โข ย ย Aquaculture legal framework, including in support of the implementation of the Guidelines for Sustainable Aquaculture.
โข ย ย Fisheries laws and related legal framework in support of responsible and sustainable fisheries, especially small-scale fisheries, in light of the Voluntaryย
Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines), the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF), and combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, including through the implementation of the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) and instruments related to IUU fishing.
Tasks and responsibilities
The tasks and responsibilities of each selected Development Law Specialist will be defined in the Terms of Reference for the specific assignment. Specialists working with LEGN are normally called upon to provide advice to contribute to: the progressive development of national legal systems; review of draft laws; participation in or leading legislative drafting projects; analyzing, evaluating and explaining various laws, legal systems or alternative legal approaches. The specialist will carry out his tasks within FAOโs Strategic Framework 2022-31 for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the FAO Policy on Gender Equality.ย
The incumbent will work under the supervision and close guidance of the Legal Officers. The nature of the tasks and responsibilities that will usually be assigned to them are:
โข ย ย preparing project concept notes;
โข ย ย supporting the design of projects involving different relevant technical units, as well as regional, sub-regional and national FAO offices;
โข ย ย preparing, reviewing and updating work plans;
โข ย ย supporting the development and implementation of training and capacity-building activities;
โข ย ย preparing materials, conducting legal research, preparing legal notes, reports and written advice;
โข ย ย preparing or contributing to legal publications and analyses; and
โข ย ย attending internal and external meetings, and reporting as per the reporting line on the results achieved.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
โข ย ย University degree in Law
โข ย ย Advanced Legal degree (LLM and/or PhD) would be an asset
โข ย ย At least five years of relevant legal work experience in Development Law.
โข ย ย Working knowledge (C1) of either English or French or Spanish. Knowledge of Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese or Russian would be an asset.
FAO Core Competencies
โข ย ย Results Focus
โข ย ย Teamwork
โข ย ย Communication
โข ย ย Building Effective Relationships
โข ย ย Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skillsย
Applicants must have demonstrated interest in the technical areas listed above, as well as strong analytical, legal research and writing skillsย
Selection Criteria
โข ย ย Degree of knowledge and experience in legal issues related to a relevant technical areas;
โข ย ย Degree of experience in developing national legislative and regulatory measures to implement international agreements, codes, guidelines or other instruments;
โข ย ย Experience in legal drafting and development in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific;
โข ย ย Ability to conduct legal research and analysis;
โข ย ย Ability to write clear and concise reports and draft legal texts, legislative and regulatory instruments;
โข ย ย Experience working with international, regional or sub-regional organizations or other entities in a relevant field;