Senior Programme and Policy Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our 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.

The Türkiye Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FETUR) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing strategies for addressing the country's food security, agriculture and rural development priorities. The Organization’s technical assistance includes institution building, development of knowledge and competencies, and exchange of experience in the countries facing transition challenges. 

Reporting Lines

The Senior Programme and Policy Specialist will work under the direct supervision of the Assistant Representative of FAO Turkiye (AFAOR) and the overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative in Türkiye, and under the technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officers of FAO Sub-regional Office for Central Asia and in collaboration with FAO Türkiye team led by AFAOR.

Technical Focus

The Senior Programme and Policy Specialist will focus on supporting the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of strategic frameworks, including the UNSDCF and CPF, to align with national and international development priorities. The position will contribute to identifying service gaps, resource mobilization, and strategy development while ensuring alignment with FAO Türkiye’s priorities. Key technical areas include programme and project management, emergency response, and resilience planning, with a focus on social policy interventions such as social protection, migration, employment, livelihoods, gender, and inclusion. 

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Provide policy advice to FAO Turkey on the formulation and implementation of all FETUR Programmes, its projects and activities through framework development and technical consultation;
•    Contribute to the development of project proposals, especially in multilateral projects; 
•    Support the Regular Programme with a focus on identifying, formulating, and renewing programmes, projects, and country assessments in collaboration with international and national partners.
•    Assist in the design, execution, monitoring, and evaluation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and the Country Programming Framework (CPF).
•    Aid relevant teams in setting programme targets and ensuring necessary adjustments are made to align with FAO Türkiye's priorities.
•    Contribute to FAO Türkiye’s emergency and resilience initiatives by supporting planning, programming, project development, reporting, and resource mobilization efforts in coordination with relevant staff.
•    Support FAO Türkiye’s social policy-related activities, including the planning, design, implementation, and reporting of interventions on social protection, migration, employment, livelihoods, resilience, gender, and social inclusion.
•    Assist in identifying service gaps within FAO Türkiye’s emergency response and help develop appropriate strategies and projects to address these needs.
•    Provide support to FAO’s presence in relevant working groups, task forces, and meetings to ensure the organization is well-positioned and effectively engaged.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements   

•    Advanced university degree in agriculture, rural development, economics, statistics, social sciences, or a related field
•    At least 5 years of relevant experience in program planning, implementation, and monitoring within the context of development or humanitarian settings
•    Working knowledge of English (Level C) and Turkish
•    National of Türkiye or resident of the country with a valid work permit 

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Strong knowledge of program cycle management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
•    Proficiency in aligning projects with strategic frameworks such as the UNSDCF and CPF.
•    Skills in developing and drafting project proposals, concept notes, and funding requests.
•    Experience in mobilizing resources and building partnerships with donors and stakeholders.
•    Expertise in producing high-quality analytical reports and documentation on program progress and impact.
•    Strong communication and facilitation skills 

Selection Criteria

•    Experience in working on United Nations frameworks such as the UNSDCF or similar strategic frameworks.
•    Demonstrated experience in social policy-related areas such as social protection, migration, livelihoods, resilience, and inclusion.
•    Experience in project development, resource mobilization, and coordination with international and national counterparts.
•    Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration, including engagement with government entities, civil society organizations, and private sector actors.