Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the Specialized Agency of the United Nations leading international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to high-quality food.

To meet the Zero Hunger Challenge, political commitment and major alliances with key stakeholders are crucial. Partnerships are at the heart of FAO’s mission to help build consensus for a world without hunger. The effectiveness and credibility of the Organization as a policy-making forum and unique multilingual centre of excellence, knowledge and technical expertise depends to a considerable degree on its ability to work and develop strategic partnerships. Only through effective collaboration with governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, research centres and other stakeholders, and making use of each other’s knowledge and comparative advantages, can food security be achieved.

The Partnership and UN Collaboration Division (PSU) leads FAO's engagement in the UN Development System repositioning, develops capacities, fosters dialogues, scales up programmes and advocates for FAO's corporate positions in support of FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It ensures that multi-stakeholder processes and strategic interventions globally and locally are an integral part of FAO's work and provides targeted support for successful collaboration with partners.  PSU has a critical role in driving efforts to enhance outreach, coordination and identification, strengthening and stewardship of strategic partnerships with UN agencies, non-state actors (NSAs) including private sector entities, civil society, academia and research institutions, parliamentarians, family farmers' and Indigenous Peoples' organizations.

The Division has the lead responsibility for the promotion of the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS RAI) and the FAO Policy on Indigenous Peoples. It is also in charge of FAO’s e-learning programmes and access to scientific and technical data through knowledge platforms and enhanced information policies and standards, promotes and facilitates knowledge sharing on sustainable food security and nutrition among various stakeholders.

The position is located in the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSUDD) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting lines

The Director reports to a Deputy Director-General.

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the policy guidance and the general supervision of a Deputy Director-General, the Director, PSU provides strategic, managerial and technical leadership for the work of the Division and facilitates the management of corporate activities, including:  

• Lead the Division’s work in contributing towards the achievement of the areas of its mandate;

• Provide strategic vision, leadership and coordination of FAO’s work related to transformative partnerships with other actors from inside the United Nations (UN) system and with private sector entities, civil society organizations, Indigenous Peoples, family farmers’ organizations, parliamentarians, academia, research institutions, among others;

• Lead the implementation of FAO’s Strategy for Private Sector Engagement (2021-2025) in coordination with the Project Support Division and the Resource Mobilization Division especially, supporting Divisions and Offices in this area, with a view to expanding the partnership base and scaling up the Organization’s formal and informal engagements;  

• Explore new partnership modalities and collaboration approaches, and promote the identification of innovative solutions to address challenges in agrifood systems and development, especially at the country level;
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• Foster and maintain strong relationships with partners and stakeholders, ensuring effective communication, collaboration and coordination;

• Establish robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness and impact of partnerships and continuously improve partnership strategies and initiatives;

• Lead outreach, capacity building, and support efforts on the application of international guidance instruments such as the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems (CFS-RAI Principles) and ensure that partners adhere to applicable responsible business practices; 

• Ensure liaison and coordination with, and provide information, guidance and support to, all units of the Organization, both at headquarters and in the Decentralized Offices (DOs) in topics related to the areas of the Division’s mandate;

• Maintain liaison with FAO Members and provide them with relevant information and policy and technical advice, as necessary;

• Ensure cooperation and coordination with the organizations of the UN Common System, in particular with the Rome-based agencies and other global, regional and national institutions and relevant partners and stakeholders;

• Promote FAO’s efforts for the transformation of agrifood systems through the active engagement of stakeholders, capacity development, technical support and international dialogue;

• Represent the Organization at high-level meetings and other events relevant to the Division’s field of competence;
• Exercise management responsibility for the Division’s programme of work, planning, advice, quality control, and ensuring the implementation of the Division’s approved work plan in support of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, as well as the cost-effective use of financial and human resources based on Results Based Management principles;

• Maintain a motivated and effective workforce by supporting the recruitment of highly qualified staff, mentoring, coaching and supporting their career development;

• Supervise and support the preparation of FAO publications and media material related to the areas of the Division’s mandate;

• Perform other duties as required.