Resource Mobilization and Planning Specialist

Organizational Setting

FAO Ukraine is the country office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, a specialized agency dedicated to achieving food security, reducing rural poverty, and promoting sustainable management of natural resources. FAO Ukraine works in close partnership with the government, civil society organizations, private sector, and other UN agencies to address the diverse challenges and opportunities in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and environmental sectors. 

In 2024, FAO is responding to the food security and livelihood needs of war-affected people in Ukraine by delivering seasonally bound emergency agricultural interventions in coordination with the government to protect and restore the contribution of rural households, and small- and medium-scale producers to Ukraine’s agriculture sector. In parallel, by providing technical assistance, policy advice, and capacity development support, FAO Ukraine plays a vital role in fostering sustainable agricultural practices, strengthening the resilience of rural communities, and enhancing food security and nutrition across the country.

FAO is actively implementing emergency, recovery, and development interventions to assist Ukraine in addressing its most immediate and longer-term challenges to food security, and their impacts globally. A key aspect of this effort involves building partnerships and ensuring coordination, oversight and support for all activities related to resource mobilization and strategic planning. More specifically, this involves close coordination withing the FAO Ukraine office to develop programmes, while mapping and maintaining strong relations with resource partners, identifying opportunities expanded partnerships.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the Head of Office/Designated Responsible Officer/Budget Holder, the direct supervision of the Head of the Resource Mobilization and Planning Unit, and in close collaboration with relevant colleagues in the FAO Ukraine office, Regional Office, and Headquarters, as well as with technical specialists to raise greater awareness and advance resource mobilization for FAO’s emergency, early recovery and development programmes. 

Technical Focus

The incumbent will be responsible for providing visibility and organizational support to FAO Ukraine to help FAO meet program implementation and resource mobilization goals. The Specialist will support the Head of Strategic Planning, as well as the Head of Programme on all topics FAO works on in Ukraine, including emergency response, agriculture, livestock, value chain and natural resource management. The Specialist will need to work closely with the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL) team, Operations Team, the Program team, and the Planning & Resource Mobilization team to ensure the FAO results are written and presented to donors in a timely, accurate and compelling manner.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Outline FAO’s programme priorities against seasonal funding deadlines and carry out regular stocktaking meetings with the Head of Programme, other relevant staff and teams.
•    Develop and maintain a Resource Mobilization Plan linked to these seasonal funding windows that outlines programme priorities, prospective donors and priority actions to successfully fund the programme – including targeted donor engagement, programme/donor visibility, strategic communication materials and proposals. 
•    Actively contribute to and track progress against FAO Ukraine’s Resource Mobilization Plan. 
•    Develop a set of pre-filled, short concept notes for priority time-sensitive interventions to facilitate prompt submissions to potential donors.     
•    Guide and support the development of strategic communication materials for resource mobilization, including short programme summaries, donor presentations and regularly updated key messages that highlight programme priorities, results, gaps and cost-effectiveness, working closely with Communications, MEAL and other relevant staff. 
•    Support the drafting and finalization of project proposals/concept notes based on agreed programme priories, and prompt responses to donor queries and information requests.
•    Assist with the organization of regular partner meetings and represent FAO in inter-agency coordination meetings (e.g. Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster, regional General Coordination Meetings). 
•    Undertake field missions to engage with FAO Ukraine staff based in field offices, local governments and communities to support the development of the concept notes in line with FAO’s programme priorities. 
•    Work in close coordination with resource mobilization teams and donor focal points in FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (REU), Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER), and its corporate Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Partnerships Division (PSR). 

Liaison with the OCC will be maintained, either directly or through an agreed focal point/coordinator, to ensure compliance with OCC standards, appropriate review and clearance processes. 

All communication materials will follow FAO clearance processes and comply with FAO standards, including: 

FAOSTYLE (English: https://www.fao.org/3/cb8081en/cb8081en.pdf; French: https://www.fao.org/3/AC339FR/ac339fr.pdf; Spanish: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339s/ac339s.pdf; Arabic:https://www.fao.org/3/ac339a/ac339a.pdf; Chinese: https://www.fao.org/3/ac339c/ac339c.pdf); 
FAO terminology http://www.fao.org/faoterm;
FAO Names Of Countries https://www.fao.org/nocs/en; 
Story guidelines http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/UPDATED-Digital-Storytelling-Guide-EN-FINAL.pdf; 
Story template http://intranet.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/occ/Quick_Guides/FAO-Stories-Template-UPDATED.pdf; 
UN map standards (available to staff); 
FAO Brand and policy book (available to staff). 

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section. 

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements    

•    University degree in Political Science, International Development, International Relations, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Media Studies, Agriculture, or a related field;
•    At least 1 year (Category C), 5 years (Category B) or 12 years (COF Category A)/ 15 years (PSA Category A) experience  in project development, resource mobilization, business and strategic planning,humanitarian and agricultural/rural development sectors including work experience with national and international NGOs, UN agencies, governments and donors;
•    Working knowledge ofEnglish (level C), and limited knowledge (level B) of any other official language of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish and Russian). For PSA, working knowledge of English;

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Excellent writing editorial skills with good attention to details
•    Good interpersonal, communications skills
•    Sound knowledge and experience in writing reports
•    Ability to use own initiative, multi-task and excellent organizational skills
•    Good knowledge of the UN system, procedures and operational activities would be an advantage