FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Terms of Reference for Consultant  PSA  Minimum number of years of relevant experience required: 1+yr  5yrs 12+yrs Job Title International Consultant Agronomist Division/Department Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE) Programme/Project Number OSRO/SYR/306/UK Location Gaziantep, Turkey Expected Start Date of Assignment asap Reports to: Michele Di Benedetto Duration: 4 months (with possibility of extension depending on funds availability and individual performance) Title: Programme and Operations Coordinator, RNE Gaziantep GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF TASK(S) AND OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Under the overall supervision of the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative of the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa Region (RNE) and the immediate supervision of the FAO Programme and Operations Coordinator, Gaziantep; in close coordination with the FAO Subregional Office for Central Asia (SEC) and in collaboration with the Food Security and Livelihood Sector Working Group (FSLWG), the consultant will:  provide technical support to FAO cross-border operations for humanitarian response in Northern Syria. In particular, in liaison with RNE technical officer, advise on the technical quality of the proposed interventions, ensuring provision of adequate agricultural packages;  provide technical support to NGOs partners operating cross-border, with a view to support and better orient their agriculture assistance and strengthen the livelihood focus and technical quality of their cross-border interventions;  in liaison with partners and with FSLWG coordinator, establish an agricultural working group to operate as a sub-group of the FSLWG and provide technical orientation for agricultural activities in Northern Syria;  identify additional requirements for technical support or training to partners;  in liaison with field partners and donors, support the development of the FAO programme to sustain the agricultural sector in Northern Syria and prepare proposals accordingly;  in consultation with partners working on agriculture and RNE, prepare a position paper on FAO role in the context of the evolving Syrian crop production system and value chain;  undertake any other duty, as required, to develop agricultural-related cross-border operations and adequately support partners. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES Minimum requirements      University degree in Agricultural Sciences and post-graduate diploma or equivalent in subjects related to the areas of work of FAO. Relevant working experience can compensate for the post-graduation diploma At least seven years of relevant experience in the field of emergency or development agricultural programmes, including conflict and disasteraffected countries. Knowledge of FAO operations and activities is a strong asset. Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills. Working knowledge of English; Arabic desirable. Technical/Functional Skills    Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable Extent of experience in the formulation, development and implementation of food security and resilience projects and programmes in the rural sector preferably developed in protracted crises emergency contexts. Demonstrated ability to liaise with UN agencies, NGOs and government counterparts. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION       All candidates should possess computer/word processing skills. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview. Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your iRecruitment online profile (see “How to Apply”). We strongly recommend that you ensure that the information is accurate and complete including employment record, academic qualifications and language skills. Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list. Other similar positions at the same level may be filled from this vacancy notice and the endorsed candidates will be considered for the Employment Roster for a period of 2 years. Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments. REMUNERATION A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: http://icsc.un.org/ HOW TO APPLY To apply, visit the iRecruitment website at http://www.fao.org/employment/irecruitment-access/en/ and complete your online profile. The PPF should be sent via e-mail to: Gazien-VAconsultant1@fao.org Deadline for submission of your application: 21 February 2015. Vacancies will be removed from iRecruitment at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date. We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date. Applications received after the closing date will not be given consideration. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: iRecruitment@fao.org