Water Programme Support Specialist

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure 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 Strategic Framework 2022-31 articulates FAO’s vision of a sustainable and food secure world for all, in the context of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 seeks to support the 2030 Agenda through 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’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) provides support to its member countries to access resources from various donors and partners through project identification, proposal development and implementation to meet its overall global strategic vision. Working closely with its member countries, RAP ensures multidisciplinary support to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with the Offices, Centres and Divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to country and regional priorities.

RAP is seeking a junior professional to fill the role of Water Programme Support Specialist to assist the Water Team at FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) implement various projects including but not limited to the ScaleWat Project, the Water Scarcity Programme and the Transboundary Waters Programme.

ScaleWat Project: The ScaleWat Project addresses the critical need to improve the governance of water by elevating water tenure to help ensure equitable and sustainable water allocation. By raising awareness of governments and non-state actors as to the many different types of tenure arrangements and the different ways each type is governed, by informing ongoing reform processes of water policies and laws- especially those regarding water allocation, by making clear the need to underpin water tenure assessments with water accounting which helps ensure allocation decisions are based on sound information and trusted by stakeholders.  

Water Scarcity Programme (WSP): The WSP aims to ensure agricultural water consumption is within sustainable limits while also preparing the sector for a productive future with less water. The WSP has assessed the scope of water scarcity in the region, evaluated effective management response options, and developed a range of tools and approaches to assist partner countries to implement adaptive scarcity management strategies. The WSP promotes practical water accounting and the development of transparent, rational, and evidence-based water allocation processes. It seeks to embed these activities at a high-level and represent the interests of all water stakeholders, improving policy coherence between water-using sectors. The WSP is also undertaking field work to understand water tenure and set a framework for the inclusion of all water users in a transparent and equitable manner. The WSP also facilitates high-level regional buy-in and south-south cooperation across both technical and governance issues.  

Transboundary Waters Programme: The Transboundary Water Program (TWP) is improving transboundary cooperation for effective management of shared water resources in the Asia and Pacific region. The TWP currently consists of four transboundary freshwater projects, engaging eight countries, valued at US$33 million, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) International Waters (IW) Focal Area.  This includes a unique groundwater project in Cambodia and Viet Nam to enhance the sustainability of the transboundary Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Aquifer; one of the largest GEF IW projects globally. Other transboundary water projects in the portfolio include shared river basins in Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam, Laos PDR, and Cambodia, as well as a volcanic groundwater project in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.   

This position will be based in RAP office, Bangkok.

Reporting Lines

The Water Programme Support Specialist  will work under the overall technical supervision of the RAP Water Management Officer    and in close coordination with the WSP Programme Manager and the TWP Programme Manager, the FAO Representation in the relevant country/ies of assignment, and in collaboration with national agencies and other stakeholders.

Technical Focus 

The primary objective for the Water programme Support Specialist is to provide support to the Water Team in the day-to-day implementation of activities. The role encompasses several key areas:

1.    ScaleWat Programme Implementation:
•    Support the execution of the Thailand Water Tenure Assessment, collaborating with national and international experts.
•    Manage on-ground activities and workshops for validating and sharing findings.
•    Coordinate with the Thailand Assistant FAO Representative in liaising with key institutions in Thailand. 
•    Draft Terms of Reference (TOR) and Letters of Agreement (LoAs) with key institutions and partners.
2.    Transboundary Waters Programme (TWP) and Water Scarcity Programme (WSP) Implementation: 
•    Support the Water Scarcity Programme Manager in carrying out research tasks, drafting LoA’s, and implementing key activities in Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Mongolia. 
•    Support the TWP Programme Manager in carrying out research tasks, drafting LoA’s, and implementing key activities under the GEF portfolio.  
•    Work closely with FAO Country Offices and other stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation. 
3.    Communication and Dissemination:
•    Lead the preparation and publication of important communication materials, such as the Water Tenure Briefing Series.
•    Coordinate with various partners for the effective distribution and dissemination of information and research findings. 

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the RAP Water Management Officer and in close coordination with the WSP Programme Manager, the TWP Programme Manager, and all relevant colleagues at RAP and in country teams, the incumbent will: 

Scaling up capacities for responsible governance of water tenure in support of food security, climate resilience and social inclusion (ScaleWat):

•    Recruitment: Support the hiring process for Water Tenure Experts in Thailand. 
•    Implementation: Oversee the implementation of the Water Tenure Assessment in Thailand, coordinating with Water Tenure Experts.  
•    Coordination: Support the organization of field visits to validate Water Tenure findings. 
•    Workshops: Plan and execute National and Regional Water Tenure Dialogues.
•    Deadline Adherence: Ensure implementation as per the workplan and various deadlines.

Transboundary Waters Programme (TWP) and Water Scarcity Programme (WSP):

•    Recruitment: Support the administrative processes for NSHR, LoA, and Funding Agreements. 
•    Implementation: Support the Programme Manager in day-to-day implementation of the WSP, inclusive of research tasks, budget management, liaising with country offices, supporting workshop delivery. 
•    Resource Mobilization: Assist in the drafting of funding proposals for key donors. 
•    Deadline Adherence: Ensure implementation as per the workplan and various deadlines.

Communications:

•    Events: Support the implementation of various regional and international forum, including but not limited to Water Technical Sessions at the International Forum on Land, Soil and Water, and the Water Scarcity Sub-Theme for the World Water Forum. 
•    Drafting and Publication: Contribute to the creation and publication of key knowledge products including the Water Tenure Briefing Series and other unpublished works. 
•    Webinar Series Coordination: Organize and manage a webinar series in collaboration with various platforms – AWP, IRTPWS, etc. 
•    Website/Social Media: Work with the communications team at RAP and NENA to maintain team websites, further work with RAP communications team to ensure key events are updated on the website.  

•   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 international development, political science, development, water resources management, environment, natural resources economics, or in a related field.
•    Working experience as below: 
o    For Consultants level C: one to five years of relevant experience in one of the technical areas listed above.
o    For Consultants level B: at least five years of relevant experience in one of the technical areas listed above.
o    For Consultants level A: at least twelve of relevant experience in one of the technical areas listed above.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, 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

•    Proven experience in assisting the implementing development projects.
•    Demonstrated analytical skills with proven ability to write technical papers, analysing and integrating diverse information from various sources.
•    Ability to support multi-level and multi-stakeholder dialogue. 
•    Track record of working with Governments at the national and regional level. 
•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions in Asia and the Pacific is desirable.
•    Demonstrated capacity to write technical reports in English