NPOs Documents
Management of Human Resources
National Professional Officers (NPOs)
Latest update: 06/08/2015
“National Professional Officers, hereinafter referred to as NPOs, are staff members of the Organization locally recruited to perform professional functions at offices away from Headquarters and on field projects within the country of assignment. They are nationals of the country where they serve and are not subject to assignment outside their own country.” (Extract of MS 376).
Fully fledged FAO country offices normally have 2 NPO positions, funded by the Regular Programme: - the Assistant FAOR (Programme), graded from N1 (or NOA) to N4 (or NOD), and - the Assistant FAOR (Administration), currently graded from N1 (or NOA) to N2 (or NOB).
In FAO country offices with a large field programme, FAORs may request the establishment of additional NPO positions mainly to support project operations, i.e. National Operations Officers (NOOs), who are funded through AOS or other extra budgetary sources or a combination of the two.
All NPO positions (including Assistant FAORs and NOOs) must be published through iRecruitment, regardless of their funding source.
In addition, please note that according to FAO’s rules and procedures on recruitment, the Interview/Selection Panel for either a PWB or a Project position must not include any representative from the government or the donor(s).
- Recruitment
AFAOR - Briefing
AFAOR - Recruitment
NOOs - Briefing
NOOs - Probationary
Period
Recruitment of AFAOR
In an effort to prevent duplication of information and at the same time provide guidance for the selection of National Professional Officers, we have prepared a set of documents to help you through the process. Links to the documents are below.
Should you have questions or suggestions for improvemnets, please contact [email protected].
- Guidelines on the selection of National Professional Officers (OHR 29 April 2014)
- Sample message from RO to FAOR
- Checklist for the selection of NPOs
- Post Action Request ADM 160
- ADM 213, Professional Vacancy Announcement. Please use the Standard Job Descriptions (for AFAOR Programme N-1 to N-4, also indicated as NOA to NOD and AFAOR Administration, N-1 and N-2, also listed as NOA – NOB) on the right
- FAO Competency Framework
- The Competency-Based Interview Guide (all managers are encouraged to take the interviewing course)
- IAU/UNESCO Handbook of legitimate educational institutions
- Login: faouser
- Password: FAO
- How to check recognized Academic credentials on the IAU/UNESCO lists
- Telephone reference check form
- Template Selection Report Professional NPO (in iRecruitment)
Brifing of AFAOR
Regional Offices are encouraged to organize an induction briefing for the newly-recruited AFAORs as soon as possible. This may involve a visit to the Regional Office or a mission by an experienced AFAOR from another country office in the region or a mission to another country office in the region for on-the-job training.
Recruitment of NOOs
(PLEASE NOTE THAT NOOs will be reviewed and updated following the completion of the NPO documentation. The objective is to ensure as much similarity between the two processes as possible.)
Briefing of NOOs
(PLEASE NOTE THAT NOOs will be reviewed and updated following the completion of the NPO documentation. The objective is to ensure as much similarity between the two processes as possible.)
Probationary Period
All staff with appointments of one year or more have to undergo a probationary period of one year. This can be extended to 18 months if more time is needed for you to assess the staff member's performance.
During the first year of employment, the performance of new staff has to be monitored and reported on periodically. The periods are within the first three weeks of hire, by six months and by nine months. The Probationary Performance Appraisal Report (PPAR) is the form used and guidance is included in COIN.
For full details, refer to the SSC site regarding evaluating a probationary period, the Probationary period guidance email (see draft email sample for supervisor) and ADM 190e and Addendum to ADM 190 – Probationary Performance Appraisal Report (PPAR)
Following the completion of the probationary period, NPOs will be included in the PEMS cycle.