Child Labour Specialist
Organizational Context
The Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) focuses on gender equality, rural women's empowerment, and inclusive rural transformation. It collaborates with members and partners to foster resilient rural livelihoods for vulnerable populations, reduce gender inequalities, advance women's economic empowerment, and promote climate action and equitable resource access. The Division also integrates gender, youth, and inclusion across FAO's work programmes, aiming to build sustainable livelihoods, achieve gender equality, and promote sustainable climate action and natural resource management.
Job Purpose
This role supports FAO's global, regional, and country-level initiatives focused on child labour. The specialist will contribute to policy and technical assistance for developing and implementing strategies and programmes aimed at preventing and eliminating child labour, particularly within agriculture and rural development contexts. The position involves generating evidence, identifying good practices, and disseminating knowledge products to enhance understanding and solutions for child labour drivers, risks, and mitigation strategies, including through private sector engagement and labour rights safeguards.
Responsibilities
Contribute policy and technical support to FAO divisions, decentralized offices, and countries for developing and implementing child labour prevention and elimination strategies, especially in agriculture and rural development. Support the creation of evidence, good practices, and lessons learned to improve understanding of policies, approaches, and institutional frameworks addressing child labour drivers, risks, and mitigation. Develop and disseminate knowledge products, technical documents, capacity development materials, and advocacy tools related to child labour, responsible business conduct, labour rights, and sustainable agrifood systems. Organize capacity development events and support FAO's participation in relevant global and regional forums. Contribute to initiatives like Alliance 8.7 and the International Partnership for Cooperation on Child Labour in Agriculture. Assist in formulating programmes and projects focused on child labour prevention and remediation, private sector engagement, and human rights due diligence.
Work Experience
Requires at least 1-5 years of relevant professional experience in policy assistance and programme development within rural development, poverty reduction, or rural employment sectors, specifically related to child labour. An advanced university degree is preferred, but a bachelor's degree with two additional years of experience is also considered. Proficiency in English, French, or Spanish is mandatory.
Skills
Key competencies include Results Focus, Teamwork, Communication, Building Effective Relationships, and Knowledge Sharing. Essential skills involve familiarity with child labour from a rural development perspective, experience in child labour prevention and remediation in agriculture, labour rights, safeguarding standards, responsible business conduct, human rights and environmental due diligence, private sector engagement in sustainable supply chains, and youth employment strategies. Strong writing skills, experience in interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder work, and knowledge of policy support, technical assistance, and programme development related to child labour are crucial. Familiarity with risk-based approaches and labour rights concepts is also important.