About the opportunity
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is seeking a dedicated Strategy and Planning Officer for the Scaling-Up Resilience in Africa’s Great Green Wall (SURAGGWA) programme. Located in the Subregional Office for West Africa (SFW) in Dakar, Senegal, this Professional Project position focuses on strategic planning, results-based management, performance-driven budgeting, and multi-country coordination. The SURAGGWA programme is a USD 250 million multi-country initiative funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) targeting eight Sahelian countries to restore 1.4 million hectares of degraded land, enhance climate resilience, and improve livelihoods. The officer will ensure strategic coherence, coordinate multi-year work plans, support institutional capacity building, and facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships across the region.
Salary and benefits
- Competitive compensation and benefits package based on UN standards
- Dependency allowances and rental subsidies, subject to eligibility
- Education grant for children
- Home leave travel and 30 working days of annual leave per year
- Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
- International health insurance and optional life insurance
- Disability protection and access to family-friendly policies and flexible working arrangements
Who can apply?
- Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, finance, economics, agriculture, development economics, international development, computer science, or related fields
- Five years of relevant experience in planning, monitoring and evaluation, financial analysis, business process analysis, and/or systems development
- Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English
- Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish)
Required documents
- Online profile containing complete employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
- Letter of motivation attached to the online profile
When to apply
- Job posting date: September 30, 2026
- Application deadline: October 22, 2026, at 9:59 PM GMT
How to apply
- Visit the FAO recruitment website and create or update your online profile with accurate details
- Attach a letter of motivation to your online profile
- Apply and submit your application through the FAO recruitment portal before the deadline
Additional information
- The initial appointment is a one-year fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension.
- Higher educational qualifications must be obtained from an institution recognized/accredited in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).
- Working knowledge of French is considered an asset.
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong background in strategic planning, results-based management, or monitoring and evaluation within international development or climate resilience projects
- Experience working with multi-country environmental initiatives, agricultural development, or large-scale institutional coordination in Africa
- Demonstrated ability to harmonize multi-stakeholder plans, budgeting frameworks, and progress reporting for major donors such as the Green Climate Fund
What should you think carefully about?
- Requires relocation to Dakar, Senegal, along with potential travel across targeted Sahelian project countries
- Demands fluency in English alongside intermediate proficiency in a second UN official language, with French considered a strong asset
- Fixed-term UN staff contract structure means renewal is contingent upon satisfactory performance and ongoing funding availability
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This role offers an exceptional platform for mid-to-senior development professionals aiming to anchor their career in high-impact climate action and sustainable agriculture within the United Nations system. Managing a major regional initiative like the Great Green Wall provides profound exposure to multilateral diplomacy, large-scale grant execution, and environmental policy implementation across Africa.
Our take
This position is highly suitable for experienced planners, economists, and development specialists with a strong foundation in results-based management and a commitment to environmental resilience. Candidates lacking the required professional experience duration or mandatory language proficiencies should consider building further qualifications before applying.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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