Young Professional Officer (Small Island Developing States - SIDS)

The Young Professional Officer (Small Island Developing States - SIDS) supports policy dialogue, partnerships, and knowledge exchange on agrifood systems transformation in SIDS. The role involves engagement with Permanent Missions, supporting multi-stakeholder initiatives, and integrating SIDS priorities across FAO Geneva's thematic workstreams.

Responsibilities

• Analyses relevant technical social, economic, environmental, and technology information, data and/or statistics for input in various documents.
• Maintains records and updates databases and web pages.
• Provides technical support to various projects.
• Collaborates in the development of training tools and materials and the organization of workshops/seminars, etc.
• Participates in the organization and follow-up of meetings, consultations and conferences, the production of required materials and the provision of information and assistance to partners.
• Supports sustained interaction with SIDS Permanent Missions in Geneva, through regular bilateral meetings aimed at discussing FAO priorities and ongoing work, facilitating information sharing, and responding to SIDS members interest in relation to Geneva-based processes.
• Supports the Office for SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs, as well as with the regional and subregional offices in RAP, RAF and RLC to assess how to further strategize the organizational efforts to strengthen agrifood systems in SIDS and advance commitments under the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (2024-2034), particularly in relation to food security and nutrition, sustainable economic growth, and climate resilience.
• Regularly engages with SIDS geographical groups present in Geneva, bringing together the CARICOM and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Groups in Geneva, and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in Brussels, to discuss critical issues and challenges specific to island contexts, in close collaboration with relevant technical divisions in headquarters, as well as in OSL, LOB and LON.
• Supports the organization of the SIDS Solutions Dialogue Series, a joint initiative between FAO's Liaison Offices in Brussels, Geneva, and New York, as well as OSL, aimed at addressing key issues related to agrifood systems transformation in SIDS.
• Contributes to issuing the quarterly SIDS Digest to be published quarterly by LOG through the use of applied AI tools for enhanced knowledge, with the aim to provide the latest SIDS news and information to Members and position FAO as an active SIDS advocate.
• Supports the preparation and participates in technical meetings, conferences, events, seminars and sessions ensuring that FAO priority support for SIDS is appropriately conveyed and reported upon.
• Liaises with main workstreams of the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva that are of strategic priority for SIDS agriculture and fisheries trade, emergencies and resilience, climate change and environment, one health to drive the integration of SIDS specific needs into the agenda of events, dialogues, and initiatives at LOG.
• Performs other duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Agriculture, Natural Resources Management, Social or Political Sciences, Economics, Public Administration, International Relations, or a related field relevant to the work of the Organization.
• One year of relevant experience in development work and/or in designing and managing projects, including engagement with development partners, governments, international organizations, research institutions and civil society.
• 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).
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, including field positions, is desirable.
• Good knowledge of FAO's mandate, priorities and programmes.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse and present complex issues related to environment, climate change, biodiversity, and food security and nutrition.
• Sound understanding of the specific challenges faced by SIDS and of FAO's strategic priorities in this context would be a strong asset.
• Technical and analytical skills in the use of applied AI tools for knowledge generation and dissemination.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences.
• Candidates should be 32 years of age or younger as of 31 December of the year of application.

Skills

• Project Design
• Project Management
• Development Work
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Policy Dialogue
• Knowledge Exchange
• Agrifood Systems
• Environment Analysis
• Climate Change Analysis
• Biodiversity Data Analysis
• Food Security Analysis
• Nutrition Analysis
• Applied AI Tools
• Communications Skills
• Multilingual Proficiency English
• FAO Mandate Knowledge
• Strategic Priorities Understanding
• Small Island Developing States Expertise

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish