Programme Specialist – JOSP Maareynta and YOU-A

Tasks and responsibilities

•     Lead the day-to-day implementation of Maareynta and YOU-ACT projects, ensuring alignment with approved work plans, donor requirements, and FAO's strategic objectives. Serve as the primary focal point for coordination among UN partners, government counterparts, and local stakeholders at national and sub-national levels. Promote programmatic synergy and ensure coherence between the two projects, maximizing complementarities and shared outcomes.
•    Ensure strategic alignment and operational integration across interlinked governance and resilience efforts, aligning institutional reform, climate change adaptation, youth empowerment, and community-based engagement under a unified implementation framework.
•    Support the development and operationalization of governance structures and institutional frameworks under JOSP.
•    Facilitate structured engagement with relevant institutions at federal, state, and district levels to ensure inclusive participation and ownership in project planning and implementation.
•    Provide technical support and oversight on governance-related deliverables, institutional capacity assessments, policy dialogues, and capacity-building initiatives aligned with project objectives.
•    Oversee community mobilization efforts to enhance youth participation in peacebuilding, climate adaptation, and natural resource governance. Lead implementation of youth-focused activities under YOU-ACT, including community mobilization, skills development, and climate adaptation initiatives.
•    Support youth engagement in peacebuilding and natural resource governance through strategic partnerships.
•    Facilitate partnerships with youth organizations, local authorities, and technical institutions to amplify impact and ensure long-term engagement.
•    Ensure gender, youth, and social inclusion principles are fully mainstreamed.
•    Develop and manage M&E frameworks; prepare regular progress reports for both Maareynta and YOU-ACT projects, ensuring timely collection and analysis of performance data against agreed indicators. Ensure adherence to FAO and donor reporting, financial tracking, and compliance standards.
•    Organize stakeholder meetings, community consultations, and joint field visits to promote collaboration and transparency.
•    Support donor and partner missions with field visits and briefings. Prepare visibility materials such as progress briefs and success stories to showcase project impact.
•    Identify risks early and recommend adaptive solutions to management.
•    Ensure project activities remain flexible and responsive to changing field dynamics, donor priorities, and policies.

FAO Standards and guidelines:

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:
FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31: https://www.fao.org/strategic-framework/en   
FAO social media policy and guidelines: https://www.fao.org/2/socialmedia   
Social Media Branding Guidelines: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb5044en 
FAOSTYLE: https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cb8081en 
FAO terminology: http://www.fao.org/faoterm 
FAO Names Of Countries: https://www.fao.org/nocs/en     
Story guidelines, Story template, UN map standards, FAO logo policy and related branding guidelines (available to staff).  

Further guidance regarding FAO communications, policies and procedures can be found through the FAO intranet, OCC section.

Minimum Requirements  

•    University degree in Integrated Water Resources Management, Water Governance, Resilience Leadership, or a related field.
•    At least 7 years of experience managing multi-stakeholder programmes in fragile settings, with a proven track record in public sector coordination, interagency collaboration, and delivery of governance and resilience initiatives.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English

FAO Core Competencies 

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

Technical/Functional Skills  

•    Advanced university degree in Integrated Water Resources Management, Water Governance, Resilience Leadership, or a related field is an asset
•    Communicating to build understanding and support.
•    Engaging in continuous learning.
•    Planning organizing and delivering quality results.
•    Understanding FAO mandate and its global context.
•    Working together in teams and partnerships.
•    Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
•    Demonstrated experience in project coordination, governance strengthening, youth and community engagement, and climate adaptation.
•    Solid experience working with national governments, UN agencies, and donor-funded programs.
•    Strong communication, negotiation, and report-writing skills.
•    Proven ability to contribute to policy formulation and strategy development through technical leadership, institutional engagement, and integration of field-level evidence into governance and resilience frameworks
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Selection Criteria

•    Knowledge of second UN language will be assets. 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp