Programme Specialist

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

The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Nepal, FAO projects focus on technical capacity building, policy development, enhancing Agri production, strengthening food systems, promoting agri-value chain development and agri-business entrepreneurship, fostering digital agricultural innovation, improving food & nutrition security, gender empowerment and mainstreaming, enhancing resilience to disasters and impacts of climate change as well as threats posed by zoonotic diseases to human health through the One Health approach. FAO also contributes to the coordination of humanitarian assistance/relief and transition to recovery within the agriculture sector, under the framework of the food security cluster.

Reporting Lines

The Programme Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative and direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme).

Technical Focus

The role focuses on providing technical and analytical support for programme development and implementation within FAO’s mandate. This includes contributing to project formulation, managing consultant and vendor recruitment processes, and ensuring quality technical inputs for TORs, RFPs, and project documentation. The position supports coordination with government counterparts, development partners, CSOs, and the private sector to ensure smooth programme execution. It also emphasizes data collection, analysis, and reporting to advance CPF, UNSDCF, FAO corporate initiatives, and SDG monitoring. Additionally, the role contributes to policy dialogues, capacity building events, and advocacy efforts while supporting corporate assessments, annual reporting, and overall programme delivery.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Programme Specialist will be responsible for carrying out the following tasks:

•     Engage and contribute to identification, formulation and formalization of programme and project proposals, and provide technical backstopping support in the implementation of assigned projects.
•     Support to develop and/or review Terms of Reference of affiliate workforce, coordinate the selection process and ensure compliance with current standards and regulations.
•     Facilitate to prepare Request for proposal (RFP) and involve in evaluation process of selecting vender and engage in preparing Terms of reference (TOR), outputs, methodology, timeline for contract document in consultation with programme and admin team of FAO country office.
•     Establish and maintain functional relationship with government counterparts at all levels, international organizations, CSOs and private sector within FAO’s mandate for smooth implementation of FAO programmatic affairs.
•     Support in operationalization of Country Programming Framework (CPF), United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), FAO corporate initiatives and work closely with M&E expert and programme team to implement, monitor, and report on the implementation status of relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
•     Assist in collection, consolidation and maintenance of relevant data/information, development of technical and analytical reports, economic and policy studies as required to implement the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and FAO corporate initiatives.
•     Contribute to policy dialogues, consultative meetings, workshops, conference, seminar and make presentation as assigned.
•     Promote the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization’s mandate, programmes, corporate priorities and initiatives and support the implementation of FAO’s regulatory framework in the areas of agriculture, agro-biodiversity and food safety.
•     Support the implementation of corporate outcome and output assessments and contribute to the preparation of country office annual reports.
•     Perform any other duties as required

Specific Functions

•     Act as Innovation and food safety focal point for FAO Nepal Country office.
•     Support in preparation and celebration of key international years and world food Day
•     Provide technical inputs for preparation of strategic plans, policy briefs, studies, and assessment reports as per need.
•     Assist in identifying windows for and mobilizing extra-budgetary resources from potential donors and other financing institutions in support of the implementation of relevant priorities of CPF, corporate initiatives and programme related to agriculture, food and nutrition security and food safety aligning with corporate program priority areas.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   

•     Master’s degree in Agriculture, Forestry, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies or other related fields 
•     Ten years of relevant experience in agriculture, food systems, food safety, innovation, or in supporting programme, project operations preferably with UN agencies, I/NGOs or donor funded government projects.
•     Working knowledge of English
•     National of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

FAO Core Competencies

•     Results Focus
•     Teamwork
•     Communication
•     Building Effective Relationships
•     Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

•     Project formulation and technical support
•     Project Management & Delivery
•     Stakeholder coordination and partnership management
•     Data analysis, reporting, and M&E support
•     Policy engagement, presentations, and advocacy
•     Monitoring, Problem Solving & Decision Support

Selection Criteria

•     At least 10 years of professional experience in agriculture, food systems, food safety, innovation, or related programme areas.
•     Proven experience serving as a technical focal point in food safety, innovation, or related thematic areas.
•     Demonstrated ability to develop strategic documents, including policy briefs, studies, assessments, and strategic plans.
•     Strong track record in resource mobilization, including identifying funding opportunities and preparing proposals aligned with CPF.
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION