Social Policy Officer (Social Protection)

Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) coordinates Programme Priority Areas on gender equality and rural women's empowerment and on inclusive rural transformation. The Division works with Members and other partners to achieve resilient and inclusive rural livelihoods for people living in conditions of vulnerability, reduce gender inequalities and advance women's economic empowerment and promote people-centred climate action and equitable access to natural resources. The Division also leads efforts to integrate the cross-cutting themes of gender, youth and inclusion throughout the work programmes of the Organization. ESP structures its work around three core Objectives: 1) Build sustainable and resilient livelihoods for vulnerable people in agrifood systems; 2) Achieve gender equality and women's empowerment in agrifood systems; and 3) Promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable climate action and natural resource management. 
The post is located at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, in the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division’s (ESP) Social Protection Team and largely contributes to the Divisional Objective 3 “Promote equitable, inclusive and sustainable climate action and natural resource management”.

Reporting Lines 
The Social Policy Officer (Social Protection) reports to the Senior Social Policy Officer/Social Protection Team Leader.

Technical Focus 
Provide specific technical expertise on inclusivity in FAO's work on social protection systems.

Key Results 
Collection, analysis and review of information, data and statistics, and project/meeting services to support programme products, projects, publications, and services and in alignment with the Organization's Policy on Gender Equality.

Key Functions
• Collects, reviews/cross checks and/or analyses relevant agricultural, economic, trade, market, social, environmental, nutrition/food composition and/or gender related data, statistics and information to support delivery of programme projects, products, publications and services.
• Undertakes analysis, provides technical input for plans and reports and edits/revises technical documents and/or publications. 
• Participates in the development of improved tools and methodologies.
• Updates databases and web pages.
• Participates on multidisciplinary project/work teams.
• Participates in the development of training materials and the organization of workshops/seminars etc.
• Participates in the organization, conduct and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the development/production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.

Specific Functions 
• Delivers technical assistance to FAO Decentralized Offices and governments for making social protection systems responsive to rural women and other population groups (e.g. Indigenous Peoples, people living with disabilities etc.).
• Contributes to delivering technical and capacity development support to civil society organizations working on collective action for enabling them to effectively engage in social protection policy dialogue, policy implementation and policy evaluation.
• Undertakes quantitative and/or qualitative policy analysis and develops technical reports to inform i) global and regional narratives; ii) policy dialogue with state and civil society organizations on inclusive social protection; and iii) the design of national policies and programmes. 
• Participates in teams of internal and external actors, including with civil society organizations with experience in collective action, to enhance understanding of how social protection systems can be more inclusive of rural populations, including women, Indigenous Peoples and people living with disabilities.
• Participates in internal and external meetings and fora involving social protection actors, including civil society organizations with experience in collective action.

Minimum Requirements
• Advanced university degree in political science, economics, institutional development, social anthropology, gender or other relevant social sciences.
• Three years of relevant experience in socio-economic analysis, policy formulation, capacity building.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

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

Technical/Functional Skills 
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable. 
• Extent and relevance of experience in setting up and undertaking socio-economic and/or policy research and proven ability to write reports and publications.
• Extent and relevance of experience in analysing policies from the perspective of inclusivity.
• Ability to play an active role in delivering capacity development support and in engaging in policy dialogue with governments.
• Experience of at least two years in relation to social protection, including experience on working with civil society organizations.