Organizational Setting

FAO PNG works closely with national and provincial government institutions, United Nations agencies, development partners, research institutions, civil society and communities to support national priorities in agriculture, food security, nutrition, sustainable natural resource management and resilient agrifood systems. Papua New Guinea's high dependence on smallholder and subsistence agriculture, geographical and infrastructure constraints, and exposure to climate-related and other shocks create significant challenges for food security, agricultural livelihoods and rural resilience. FAO's programme therefore includes support for climate-smart agriculture, disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and response, agricultural livelihoods, market access, sustainable natural resource management and resilience-building.

Within this context, FAO PNG maintains a growing portfolio of Technical Cooperation Programme and externally funded initiatives addressing emergency preparedness and response, food security, agricultural livelihoods, resilience, gender-responsive rural development and One Health. Current programming includes initiatives supporting agricultural drought preparedness and response, women's economic resilience, agricultural value chains, and the prevention and response to animal health and zoonotic threats.

The position is located within the FAO Papua New Guinea Country Office (FAPNG) and forms part of the Programme team supporting FAO’s emergency preparedness, disaster risk reduction, food security and resilience portfolio in Papua New Guinea.

The position works closely with relevant FAO technical teams and national counterparts to ensure that emergency, anticipatory action, disaster risk reduction and resilience interventions are effectively coordinated and aligned with FAO’s country programme priorities. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening resilience of vulnerable agricultural livelihoods, supporting food security and agricultural value chains, and facilitating coordinated responses to climate-related and other emergencies, including public health and biosecurity risks.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Head of Office and in close coordination with the Head of Programme and Head of Operations, the National Programme Specialist – Emergency and Resilience provides programme and operational support across the portfolio, including project formulation and implementation, field-level coordination, monitoring, financial follow-up, reporting, emergency preparedness and response, and engagement with government, UN agencies, development partners and other stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The incumbent is responsible for steering field-level implementation of country programme activities, coordinating multi-hazard emergency responses (such as climate shocks, agricultural disruptions, and biosecurity threats), and integrating sustainable livelihood resilience. This includes driving value-chain development, agricultural market access, and agribusiness capacity building for smallholder farmers and vulnerable groups (particularly women and youth) across targeted provinces.

Tasks and responsibilities

•    Support FAO's emergency, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and resilience programming in PNG.
•    Support emergency and resilience programme project cycle, including formulation (concept notes/proposals) delivery of required inputs, financial monitoring, and reporting.
•    Support HoO and FAO PNG Emergency Focal Point to coordinate multi-hazard emergency responses (cyclones, floods, droughts, biosecurity threats) and provide technical advice to government partners and NGOs to strengthen early warning, preparedness, anticipatory actions, and disaster management systems.
•    Represent FAO in interagency forums, maintain strong relationships with government, UN agencies, and donors, and actively support resource mobilization (e.g., CERF/SFERA appeals).
•    Assist in the development of advocacy and crisis communication materials, preparing high-quality briefs and reports to keep all key stakeholders and the donor community informed.
•    Support implement emergency and anticipatory interventions to protect climate-vulnerable livestock, poultry, and apiculture value chains, supporting women smallholders and restoring market connections during and after disasters; and
•    Support the rapid response coordination across human, animal, and environmental health sectors during disease outbreaks—focusing on early detection, sample transport from remote areas, and PHEOC simulation exercises.

Emergency Coordination, Food Security Cluster (FSC) & Drought Response

•    Support the Food Security Cluster secretariat by coordinating meetings, mapping humanitarian gaps, managing a robust food security database, and conducting regular field-monitoring missions.
•    Monitor the FSC El Niño Plan of Action (Preparedness, Anticipatory Action, Response, Recovery) across high-risk provinces.
•    In close coordination with the National Weather Service, the National Disaster Centre and NDAL, track the Combined Drought Index (CDI).
•    Conduct field assessments to trigger timely, proactive early actions.
•    Coordinate the sourcing and distribution of drought-tolerant seeds (e.g., NARI-approved kaukau, yam corms), livestock feed, and water-harvesting tools.
•    Lead agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments (DaLA) during and after droughts to evaluate impacts on crops, livestock, and fisheries.
•    Support the mid-term and the after-action reviews of the FSC El Niño Plan of Action.
•    Perform other duties as and where necessary

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree (bachelor’s degree) in agriculture, agricultural economics, development studies, disaster risk management, emergency management, food security, resilience, environmental sciences, veterinary sciences, public health, or a related field.
•    Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, resilience programming, food security, agricultural development, programme/project management, or a related field.
•    Working knowledge of English. Working knowledge of Tok Pisin is considered an asset.
•    National of Papua New Guinea or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

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, particularly in emergency response, disaster risk reduction, food security, agricultural development, resilience or humanitarian programming.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in the design, implementation, monitoring and reporting of emergency, disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action and resilience programmes.
•    Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project coordination, stakeholder engagement, field monitoring, financial follow-up, reporting and assessments.
•    Familiarity with Food Security Cluster coordination, early warning and anticipatory action, drought monitoring, agricultural Damage and Loss Assessments, and emergency preparedness and response systems.

Selection Criteria

•    Demonstrated experience supporting or coordinating emergency response, DRR, anticipatory action and resilience programmes.
•    Experience working with government, UN agencies, NGOs, donors and other development/humanitarian partners.
•    Experience in food security, drought response, agricultural assessments and/or agricultural livelihood recovery.
•    Knowledge of Papua New Guinea's agricultural, food security, disaster risk and institutional context.
•    Experience in multi-sectoral emergency coordination, including human, animal and environmental health and biosecurity.
•    Strong analytical, communication, coordination and report-writing skills.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted
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 http://www.whed.net/
For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

National Programme Specialist (Emergency and Resilience)