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.ย
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.ย
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:ย
โข ย ย advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAOโs mandate;
โข ย ย provide technical assistance and deliver core services;ย
(iii) ย ย ย ย ย assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;ย
(iv) ย ย position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems ย transformation; andย
(v) ย ย ย ย ย ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management. ย
For more than four decades, FAO has been working with the Government of the Philippines, civil society, community-based organizations, the academe and the private sector to address challenges in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sector. Joint efforts have included increasing sustainability in agricultural production, promoting value-adding practices, mechanization and modernization through improving post-harvest management, enhancing productivity and increasing the resilience of agriculture-based livelihoods to natural disasters, climatic hazards and armed conflict.ย
FAO in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (MAFAR) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is implementing a Government Cooperative Programme funded by Japanโs Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The project, Development of Sustainable Fishery Value Chains in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, aims to sustain and improve productivity and resilience of aquaculture/fisheries enterprises in the Bangsamoro region in Mindanao. Specifically, this project will focus on improving efficiency and sustainability of local aquatic food value chains and market linkages, increase capacity of small-scale producers to augment their income through entrepreneurship using alternative species and processing for value-addition, empower them and their organizations on improved and resilient aquaculture/fisheries technologies and appropriate postharvest processing, and enhance the knowledge and skills of MAFAR and LGU fishery personnel on monitoring and managing fish stock.ย
The position is located in Cotabato City, Philippines.
Reporting Lines
The National Civil Engineer will report to the Project Team Leader.
Technical Focus
The National Civil Engineer provides technical expertise in cold storage engineering and energy-efficient infrastructure especially during project conception and implementation.
Tasks and responsibilities
โข ย ย Conduct site selection analysis, evaluating land access, environmental, geo-structural feasibility, infrastructure availability, and energy supply.
โข ย ย Develop engineering plans and specifications, ensuring efficient insulation, minimize ambient infiltration, refrigeration systems, and incorporate logistics, prechamber and processing optimization. All considerations should aim to maximize ROI, lower operational costs, and empower the use case to anticipate depreciation. Depreciation of all proposed plans should fully consider and aim to mitigate the impact of both slow deterioration and disaster risk at the coastal location.
โข ย ย Integrate climate-resilient design features, including elevated foundations which mitigate frost heaving through passive flow, flood mitigation systems, drainage, wastewater management and temperature-stable storage solutions with minimum exposure to surfaces in direct contact with solar radiation (i.e. false ceilings above sandwich panels prior to exposed roof materials, curtain walls).
โข ย ย Assess and recommend sustainable energy options, including solar power integration, energy recovery systems, and hybrid grid connectivity which incorporate considerations for low pull-down operations during sunlight hours and minimize grid power, or generator power use.
โข ย ย Ensure compliance with FAOโs environmental and social standards, as well as national engineering regulations.
โข ย ย Ensure that project milestones are met in terms of construction phases, contractor performance, and quality control.
โข ย ย Prepare technical specifications for procurement of refrigeration units, backup generators, and insulated transport solutions.
โข ย ย Support the tendering and contracting process, ensuring compliance with FAO, government, and donor procurement rules.
โข ย ย Conduct technical evaluations of supplier proposals and ensure materials and construction and safety characteristics (including internal emergency lighting and panic alarms) which meet quality standards.
โข ย ย Oversee inspection, commissioning, and final acceptance testing of the facility before handover.
โข ย ย Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for facility management, including maintenance schedules and operational safety.
โข ย ย Implement waste management and environmental sustainability measures to minimize the facilityโs ecological footprint.
โข ย ย Prepare and submit an end-of-assignment report including best practices and lessons learned according to FAO's guidelines.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements ย ย
โข ย ย University degree in civil engineering
โข ย ย At least 5 years of working experience in civil engineering preferably in the field of aquatic value chains development
โข ย ย Working knowledge of English and Filipino
โข ย ย National of the Philippines or resident of the country with valid work permit
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 Skills
โข ย ย Proficiency in civil engineering software
โข ย ย Strong understanding of construction materials, methods, and safety regulations
โข ย ย Ability to work/deliver independently with minimal supervision
โข ย ย Ability to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams
โข ย ย Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Tagalog
โข ย ย General knowledge and skills in the use of standard software, such as MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point)