About the opportunity
The Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa (D-1) heads the Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, covering Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda. Operating under the Regional Office for Africa (RAF), the coordinator serves as FAO’s focal point for food security, agriculture, nutrition, fisheries, forestry, natural resource management, climate change, and rural development. The role also serves as FAO Representative to Ethiopia, the African Union (AU), and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), leading strategic planning, multidisciplinary technical teams, resource mobilization, and regional partnerships.
Salary and benefits
- Competitive UN compensation and benefits package at the D-1 senior director grade level
- Dependency allowances and rental subsidy (subject to eligibility)
- Education grant for eligible children
- Home leave travel and 30 working days of annual leave per year
- Pension scheme under the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF)
- International health insurance and optional life insurance
- Disability protection and family-friendly workplace policies
Who can apply?
- Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in agriculture, fishery, forestry, or international relations from an institution listed in the World Higher Education Database (WHED)
- Minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience in development issues, management, and resource mobilization (preferably including experience in Africa)
- Familiarity with international financial institutions (IFIs), global agricultural and environmental funding envelopes (such as GEF and the Adaptation Fund), and private-sector or blended finance modalities
- Extensive managerial and professional leadership experience aligned with FAO's mandate
- Proven capacity in high-level partnerships across international organizations, governments, civil society, and the private sector
- Working knowledge (proficient, Level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate, Level B) of a second FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish)
- Candidates cannot be appointed as FAO Representatives in their own country of nationality
Required documents
- Completed online profile on the FAO recruitment portal (including employment records, educational credentials, and language competencies)
- Letter of motivation attached to the online candidate profile
- Performance assessments and authorization for background verification checks (upon request)
When to apply
- Job posting date: October 15, 2026
- Application closing date: November 12, 2026, at 10:59:00 PM (or November 13, 2026, depending on the applicant's time zone setting)
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their complete application well ahead of the official deadline
How to apply
- Access the official recruitment portal via Jobs at FAO (jobs.fao.org) for requisition number 2602140
- Create or update your applicant profile, ensuring all employment history, academic qualifications, and language proficiencies are complete and accurate
- Attach a tailored letter of motivation to your online candidate profile
- Review all application information, provide required privacy and screening consent, and submit the application prior to the closing deadline
Additional information
- The appointment is for an initial fixed term of two years, with the possibility of extension
- Internal FAO staff appointments will follow prevailing internal extension policies
- Appointment is contingent upon medical clearance, security clearances, diplomatic accreditation, and applicable visa/residency formalities
- Higher educational qualifications must align with ISCED mappings and IAU/UNESCO WHED accreditation
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…
- Senior development executives with over a decade of high-impact leadership in African agrifood, forestry, or climate resilience programs
- Experienced diplomats or UN managers skilled at negotiating multi-stakeholder partnerships with the African Union, UNECA, and regional economic commissions
- Resource mobilization leaders with a demonstrated record of unlocking funding from major facilities like the GEF, Adaptation Fund, and multilateral development banks
What should you think carefully about?
- Requires full-time relocation to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, alongside frequent regional and international travel
- Carries broad dual responsibilities encompassing subregional multidisciplinary leadership and country-level representation
- Ethiopian nationals are legally excluded from appointment as FAO Representative to Ethiopia under UN conflict-of-interest regulations
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This appointment directly serves senior international development leaders aiming to steer high-level agrifood policies across eight Eastern African nations while coordinating directly with continental bodies like the African Union and UNECA.
Our take
A prime career opportunity for accomplished agricultural directors and senior international civil servants ready to lead complex, subregional sustainable development agendas; unsuitable for early- or mid-career specialists or Ethiopian nationals seeking representative accreditation in Ethiopia.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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