Donor Relations and Contract Consultant

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture. Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply; Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

Organizational Setting

The Resource Mobilization Division (PSR) leads and coordinates the mobilization of voluntary contributions in support of the Organization’s strategic priorities. PSR manages FAO’s relations with resource partners, strategically matching partners’ interests to those of the Organization, and supports the negotiation of agreements. It mounts marketing analysis and campaigns around global development opportunities to decentralized and headquarters offices. PSR also oversees global programme and project reporting to resource partners. It strives to assure the highest quality of development results, through providing project cycle oversight and support and policy design for operational modalities and outsourcing. PSR assures the financial and contractual compliance of agreements negotiated and signed with resource partners in close coordination with FAO's legal, procurement, and financial services, as well as decentralized and headquarters offices.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the concerned Head of Unit (European Partners Unit / Global Partners Unit) and the direct supervision of the relevant Coordinator, the consultant will provide support to partner liaison, resource mobilization, grant management, FAO and partner compliance of voluntary contributions within FAO’s Strategic Framework and in line with FAO’s Rules and Regulations. In doing this, the consultant will contribute to the achievement of the Unit’s goals in line with the Unit’s annual workplan.

In addition, this roster may be used by the relevant units in PSR, such as the Multi-partner Initiatives and Flexible Funds Unit on Flexible Voluntary Contribution (FVC). FVC is one of FAO’s main programmatic instruments for channelling and managing less earmarked pooled, voluntary contributions to strengthen its strategic priorities. This unit collaborates closely with the European and Global Partners Units. In this regard, selected tasks listed below and additional tasks may apply, on a case by case basis, customized to the role of Flexible Funds Programme Specialist, supervised by the Head of Unit, Multi-partner Initiatives and Flexible Funds.

Technical Focus 

Resource Mobilization
Agreement negotiation
Compliance support
Grant management

Tasks and responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for negotiation of funding agreements, resource partnership liaison and resource mobilization with resource partners’ countries or entities within an assigned portfolio which will be defined depending on the background of the Consultant. In particular, the Consultant will: 

• Advocate for the establishment of framework agreements, standard template funding agreements or other tools with the aim of facilitating the contracting process and timeline.
• Prepare and negotiate funding agreements and related agreements in full compliance with the policies, procedures, rules and regulations of FAO, including FAO Financial Rules and Regulations.
• Assure, in close coordination with relevant FAO services, the consistent interpretation of financial, contractual and administrative obligations towards partners. 
• Provide technical assistance to technical units on funding-related financial, contractual, and administrative subjects to ensure that FAO rules and procedures are applied consistently while also adhering to the donor’s rules and regulations.
• Verify and clear funding agreements to be signed by FAO for resource partner compliance issues.
• Collects and shares intelligence related to financial, contractual and administrative matters with donors. 
• Ensure effectively and timely compliance checks by FAO’s legal, financial and procurement teams on the budgeting and the financial reporting submitted to partners.
• Liaise with resource partner countries or entities from an assigned portfolio to facilitate, coordinate and enhance resource mobilization opportunities.
• Seek new sources of funding and advocate for multi-year, unearmarked and flexible funding to appropriate FAO funding modalities, such as flexible voluntary contribution (FVC), multidonor projects and umbrella programmes.
• Take on the Funding Liaison Officer function and take part in the Project Task Force for the assigned resource partners and projects.
• Act as focal point for technical divisions and decentralized offices and liaise with them for signatures of funding agreements and approval of project proposals with aforementioned resource partners.
• Analyse concept notes and project proposals for FAO and partner compliance.
• Liaise with resource partners, technical units and decentralized offices to provide trouble-shooting advice related to the use of voluntary contributions.
• Review and clear project progress reports before submission to resource partners.
• Organize, facilitate and participate in informal and formal meetings with resource partners.
• Analyse intelligence, funding data and trends and prepare briefs, presentations, biodata and speaking points on resource partners.
• Contribute to the preparation of training materials and capacity development sessions.
• Provide advice concerning thematic and geographic resource partner priorities.
• Identify, map and share with relevant offices new funding opportunities with resource partners.
• The consultant may be requested to provide support and/or handle portfolio(s) of other colleagues in the Unit when such need arises.
• Perform any other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in law, business and administration, political science, international development, development economics, or other relevant fields.
• At least one year for Consultants Category C, at least five years for Consultants Category B and at least 12 years for Consultants Category A of relevant experience in grant negotiation or partnership management.
• Working knowledge (level C) in written and spoken English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in conducting negotiations within an international context (bilateral partners, UN agencies, international financial institutions [IFIs], multilateral organizations such as EU or international NGOs). 
• Extent and relevance of experience in contractual procedures.
• Demonstrated experience in developing productive relationships with resource partners (be they governments, foundations, IFIs, multilateral organizations such as EU or other UN agencies).

Selection Criteria

• Previous experience in contract/agreement negotiations and compliance procedures.
• Previous experience in bilateral and multilateral cooperation will be an asset.
• Familiarity with FAO areas of work (agricultural development, food security, nutrition, climate change, etc.).
• Demonstrated capacity to work under time pressure and prioritize tasks.
• Strong interpersonal skills to relate with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing) Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognized in the IAU/UNESCO list Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at For more information, visit the FAO employment website Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

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