Social Assistant

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

Organizational Setting

In April 2025, the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) for the Sustainable Development of the Brazilian Legal Amazon approved the UNJP/BRA/097/UNJ project "Environmental Regularization Project through Land Governance and Territorial Planning, as a pillar for Sustainable Development / Land for Women Project". The intervention was conceived by the Institute of Colonization and Lands of Maranhão (ITERMA) and will have the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) as the executing agency. 

The "Land for Women" project aims to promote land and environmental regularization in settlement areas and rural communities in Maranhão, with a priority focus on women heads of household. Seeking to reduce social inequalities, expand territorial governance and promote sustainable agricultural practices, the intervention will combine land titling actions, training in sustainable practices and entrepreneurship, access to credit and environmental monitoring, with a view to ensuring land tenure security, promoting access to public policies and strengthening economic autonomy. 

The project is organized into three project components/deliverables, namely:
    • Formalization of women's lands in rural and traditional communities.
    • Training in bioeconomy practices, sustainable management and female entrepreneurship.
    • Technical capacity of the Governments of Maranhão and Pará for land monitoring and environmental enforcement strengthened.

Reporting Lines

The Social Assistant will work under the overall supervision of the Assistant to the Representative for the FAO Programme Unit in Brazil and under the technical guidance of the MPTF Project Coordinator. 

Technical Focus

The Social Assistant will work in the technical scope of the "Lands for Women" project, with an emphasis on the analysis and intervention in the expressions of the social issue, through the elaboration, execution, monitoring and evaluation of public policies, programs, social projects. The work includes activities of assistance and monitoring of individuals, families and groups in situations of vulnerability or violation of rights, with the realization of social studies, home visits, interviews and referrals to the social protection network, according to legal and technical requirements, promoting the actions of the project, in accordance with the parameters of FAO, MPTF and Brazilian legislation.

Tasks and Responsibilities

    • Prepare opinions, reports and social reports, based on theoretical and methodological foundations, to support administrative, judicial or institutional decisions linked to the project.
    • Provide socioeconomic analysis and situational diagnostics.
    • Promote the articulation of resources and intersectoral policies in health, housing, social assistance, social security and justice.
    • Identify and act on social needs, seeking to promote equity and inclusion.
    • Develop planning, advisory and technical consulting actions for communities, focusing on the formulation, management and social control of social policies.
    • Support the overall coordination of the project in complying with legal guidelines, socio-environmental and gender safeguards, and in the formalization of execution acts.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING: 

Minimum Requirements  

    • Bachelor’s degree in Social Service.
    • Minimum professional experience of 5 (five) years of proven activity in social service.
    • Working knowledge of (level C) Portuguese and Spanish and/or English.
    • Brazilian nationality.

FAO Core Competencies 

    • Results Focus
    • Teamwork
    • Communication
    • Building Effective Relationships
    • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills 

    • Previous work with land regularization of social interest or policies aimed at traditional communities and rural women.
    • Familiarity with gender equity safeguards as a cross-cutting criterion.

Selection criteria:

    • Active registration with the Regional Council of Social Service (CRESS).
    • Lato or stricto sensu postgraduate degree, in Social Assistance and Social Protection, in Social Sciences, Public Management, Public Policies, Human Rights, Conflict Mediation or related areas is considered an asset.

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. 

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. 

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
•  We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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