Organizational Setting
The Regional Office for Africa (RAF) is responsible for leading FAO's response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning and implementation of FAO's priority activities in the region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the region and, in collaboration with departments and Divisions and Offices at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities. RAF also advises on the incorporation of regional priorities into the Organization's Programme of Work and Budget and implements approved programmes and projects in the region, monitors the level of programme implementation and draws attention to problems and deficiencies. RAF develops and maintains relations with region-wide institutions including the Regional Economic Integration Organizations (REIOs).
The Regional Office supports regional policy dialogue on food security, agriculture and rural development issues, facilitates the emergence of regional partnerships, and supports capacity development and resource mobilization for food security, agriculture and rural development in the region.
The position is located in the Regional Office for Africa (RAF), Accra, Ghana.
Reporting Lines
The Partnerships Officer (Resource Mobilization) reports to the Assistant Director-General/Regional Representative, RAF.
Technical Focus
Strengthen and foster partnerships with non-state actors (NSA) with particular focus on private sector entities in support of the FAO mandate and Strategic Framework 2021-2030.
Provide policy support and share knowledge and good practices on transformative partnerships with non-state actors and Inter-governmental Organizations (IGOs).
Monitor partnerships with all partners including NSA, UN entities and IGOs at all levels and report to key internal and external stakeholders on the results.
Key Results
Comprehensive services and advice on networking and partnerships; increase and strengthen partnerships and knowledge networks within and outside the Organization, with national, regional and international development partners, NGOs, and private sector, to support country-level actions guided by FAO's Country Programme Framework (CPF) as well as increasing South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC).
Key Functions
Oversees the implementation of the FAO Strategy for Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations and FAO' s Strategy for Private Sector Engagement at regional or national level;
Identifies, promotes and develops strategic linkages and synergies between non-state actors and FAO's strategic objectives and regional initiatives.
Provides guidance and support to staff in Decentralized Offices on the use of corporate requirements related to partnerships with non-state actors;
Executes the annual work plan with the priorities and main activities of non-state actors, which will be aligned with FAO's Strategic Objectives and programmes;
Contributes actively to FAO/Decentralized Offices global advocacy objectives and strategies on partnerships;
Establishes and maintains partnerships in the area of food security and nutrition, advocacy, innovation and programme implementation and monitors partnerships activities at the regional and national level;
Supports country-level actions guided by FAO's Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs), sub-regional and regional priority frameworks and higher-level strategic frameworks of the Organization in order to transform FAO's knowledge products into country-level results and impacts, ensuring the participation and involvement of non-state actors;
Generates programme/project summaries and other documentation to inform partners and create interest to FAO/Decentralized Offices' programmes/projects;
Prepares and finalizes briefs and other documents explaining donor policies/trends and advises senior management on major donor issues with recommendations to improve FAO's partnerships at local/regional levels;
Ensures quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific partnership materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners;
Develops, reviews, refines and fosters processes of working collaboratively with partners, including meetings, joint projects, information sharing, etc.;
Collaborates in capacity development activities involving knowledge sharing, the organization of training workshops, seminars, and meetings as well as the development of related materials and on-line tools and information kits;
Fosters effective advocacy strategy and activities in support of global and country level fund-raising, and promotes donor contributions through the identification and follow-up of new sources of funding.
Specific Functions
Produces regular briefs and other documents explaining donor policies/trends and alerts senior management on major donor issues and recommendations on ways to improve FAO's Partnerships at local/regional levels;
Facilitates regular coordination meetings between resource mobilization/partnership officers in the region and ensures effective coordination with HQ relevant division (i.e. Resource Mobilization (PSR), Project Support (PSS), Office of Communications (OCC) etc.);
Regularly monitors existing partnership agreements at regional and national level and provide comprehensive reports to senior management;
Recommends/explores new strategic Partnerships and RM opportunities with the aim to nurture existing Partnerships in the area of food security and nutrition, advocacy, innovation and programme implementation and monitors Partnerships activities at the regional and national level;
Conducts analysis of existing internal policies and processes on engagement with non-state actors including private sector partners and proposes improvements;
Reviews the quality, consistency and appropriateness of country-specific partnership materials, activities, processes and messages shared with partners;
Provides guidance and support to staff in Decentralized Offices on the use of corporate requirements related to partnerships with non-state actors and UN entities;
Advises on the participation and involvement of partners in the development and implementation of FAO's CPFs;
Develops tools for capacity building among staff at the Regional Office and Decentralized Offices to strengthen FAO's capacity of partnering with various stakeholders and partners at regional and country levels.
