Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting 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 is a specialized agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure 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 Country Offices, working under overall corporate guidance and in line with the Strategic Framework, offer policy advice and support to countries in the mandated areas of FAO, facilitated through partnerships, resources and an active country programme to provide technical assistance, develop capacities and deliver core services while fully observing international standards of accountability to establish leadership and strengthen impact at the country level.
The offices deliver on the programmatic priorities of each country as agreed in their respective Country Programming Frameworks (CPFs) aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and ensure effective and efficient operations with adequate human and financial resources.
Specifically, FAO Country Offices:
(i)    advocate, inform and support policies and investments in the areas of FAO’s mandate;
(ii)    provide technical assistance and deliver core services;
(iii)     assist and catalyse partnership and resource mobilization activities to support agrifood systems transformation;
(iv)    position FAO as the specialized/authoritative technical agency in food and agriculture and agrifood systems transformation; and
(v)    ensure risk-smart and accountable operations and management.

To support the implementation of the project “Smart Agro-ecological Transformation of Farming Systems towards Resilience and Sustainability in Middle and Coastal Zones of the Viet Nam Mekong Delta (STAR-FARM)”, FAO is seeking a motivated, dynamic consultant to serve as a National Technical Advisor (NTA) for this project. The project will contribute to all the above mentioned four development outcomes and will support the Government of Vietnam (GoV) in the implementation of Government Resolution No. 120, which proposes moving the management of the Mekong Delta Region towards sustainability, through measures including diversifying agriculture around rice, and the restoration of natural seasonal flooding regimes and ecosystem functions, and will help ensure that principles of integrated landscape management (ILM) are mainstreamed into the plans and programmes of provincial Governments, to address landscape-wide environmental interactions and reconcile the diverse interests of multiple landscape stakeholders. Furthermore, the project will considerably contribute to the Government’s Sustainable Development Project on One million heactares of High-quality and Low-emission Rice Cultivation in the Mekong River Delta region. Together with private sector partners, farmer organizations and Government, the project will facilitate the leverage of environmental benefits through “green value chains” and the application of environmental sustainability standards such as the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standard – complemented by other standards of sustainability at community and landscape levels addressing issues including nature-based solutions and agroecology.
STAR-FARM is a 4-year project funded by the EU Delegation and led by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (new name: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) through its line agency – the International Cooperation Department. The project aims at creating an enabling environment for the establishment of sustainable value chains in the Mekong Delta, based on agroecological approaches. FAO will take the management and coordination role in the consortium implementing the project. Besides FAO, the project consortium will involve other research and development institutions including IRD, CIRAD, IPSARD, VAAS and Can Tho University.
The position is located in the FAO Country Office in Vietnam

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Vietnam and the direct supervision of Assistant FAO Representative (Programme), the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officers (LTO) from FAO-RAP, the incumbent will work closely with Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, other project consortium members and the 3 target provincial governments (Dong Thap, , Tra Vinh and Kien Giang), and will advise the core project teams of the projects, which are led by respective National Project Coordinators and supported by M&E Specialists.

Technical Focus

The National Technical Advisor will play a key role in providing conceptual and strategic orientation to the project, and ensuring that it incorporates the systems, tools, relevant international standards and partnerships necessary for this direction to be maintained, and as necessary adapted, during the remainder of the project period.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the FAO-R, the daily supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programme) and in close coordination and consultation with Government counterparts, the National Technical Advisor will be responsible for:

Common responsibilities for the project:
•    Providing technical support to the project teams and project partners to ensure the achievement of the projects’ objectives
•    Supporting the consolidation and management of relationships with core project stakeholders and ensuring harmonization of procedural and methodological approaches and systems between the project and the Operating Partners as a whole to ensure effective implementation of the project.
•    Facilitating engagement with and inputs from relevant technical experts (from FAO and other specialized institutions) in setting up systems for project implementation and monitoring to ensure that it is adopting best practices approaches for operational management and technical innovation.
•    Overseeing the establishment and initial implementation of mechanisms for outreach and communication by the project at regional and global levels, in support of the scaling out of impacts and the sharing of knowledge to the benefit of the project and other relevant initiatives in the region and beyond.
•    Providing advisory and backstopping support to ensure that the project is at the forefront of global good practice (and fully compliant with project donors (EU), FAO and Government principles and procedures) in the implementation of environmental and social safeguards and the gender action plan, across all thematic components of the project.

Specific responsibilities for the project
•    Providing technical advice to the annual review of project workplan and result framework including project’s expected outcomes, output and activities.
•    Coordinating the work and deliverables of FAO recruited staff under the project.
•    Ensuring that FAO led activities are executed in a manner consistent with the project document and that FAO led outputs are delivered to the highest possible standards.
•    Leading the efforts to ensure (1) the linkages between the different components and the different levels of project actions implemented by different project partners; and (2) promote strong involvement and ownership of the project results by local partners, policy makers and other local stakeholders.
•    Contributing to monitoring of project implementation risks and work to ensure compliance with risk management strategies to meet FAO requirements for environmental and social safeguards.
•    Contributing to the preparation of the Project Implementation Progress Report to the donor, midterm and final evaluation reports as defined in the project document.
•    Overseeing the periodic monitoring and reporting by FAO to EU donor on project results and M&E indicators and provide advice to optimize project activities in line with the interests of the government and the donor.
•    Other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements  

•    The candidate must have an Advanced university degree in Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture, Rural Development or other related fields
•    From eight (8) years of relevant experience in the implementation of projects agroecological, agro-based livelihoods and value chain development
•    Working knowledge of English and Vietnamese
•    Vietnamese National

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills 

•    Work experience in more than one location or area of work
•    Extent and relevance of experience in Agribusiness, climate change and environment protection
•    Extent and relevance of experience in working in Mekong Delta region, Vietnam
•    Familiarity with agroecological and value chain development

Selection Criteria 

•    Prior experience in working in agribusiness, sustainable ago business models, climate-smart approaches contributing to environmental sustainability
•    Extent and relevance of experience in project management, planning and implementation.
•    Extent and relevance of experience working with private sector, NGOs, academic and government institutions on inclusive and sustainable agrifood value chain.
•    Level of communication skills, good writing skills including ability to write concise technical reports in English is a strong asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION