National Legal Specialist - Agricultural Legislation Review and Reform

Organizational Setting

FAO's office for Iraq is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing agreed strategies for addressing countrywide food, agriculture and rural development. It develops and maintains relations with the relevant government entities and Ministries at country level.

At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), and in line with the FAO-Government of Iraq partnership under the Country Programming Framework, FAO Iraq is providing technical support to review the agricultural legislation currently in place in Iraq. The review will identify gaps, overlaps and outdated provisions, assess alignment with Iraq's international obligations, and formulate proposals to develop and modernize the legal framework in a way that strengthens the flexibility, resilience and adaptive capacity of the agriculture sector.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Iraq, the technical supervision of the Legal Office, and in close technical collaboration with FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (RNE), the incumbent will work in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Technical Focus

Agricultural legislation review, gap analysis, harmonization, stakeholder consultation and reform proposals.
The incumbent will lead the legislative review, gap analysis, stakeholder consultation and the formulation of concrete reform proposals.

Tasks and responsibilities

Inception and Methodology:

•    Based on the inputs provided by the Legal Office, prepare an inception report setting out the methodology, review framework, assessment criteria, sources to be consulted, stakeholder engagement approach and detailed work plan.
•    Compile and map the agricultural laws, regulations, ministerial instructions and related instruments currently in force.

Legislative Review and Gap Analysis:

•    Conduct a systematic review of the identified legislation to assess coherence, enforceability, institutional responsibilities, overlaps, gaps and outdated provisions. Provide a folder with soft copies to FAO Legal. 
•    Assess consistency of the national legal framework with Iraq's international obligations and with recognized international and regional good practice.
•    Benchmark priority areas against comparable national frameworks and relevant international legal instruments and guidance.
•    Identify legal and regulatory entry points to strengthen the sector's flexibility, climate resilience and adaptive capacity.
•    Drawing on the above and following the guidance of the Legal Office, develop a national legal report with recommendations to revise and strengthen national legislation. Send it to the Legal Office for clearance.

Consultation and Validation:

•    Organize and facilitate consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture, relevant ministries and stakeholders to validate findings.
•    Incorporate feedback and build consensus around priority reform areas.

Recommendations, Drafting and Reporting:

•    Formulate prioritized legal reform recommendations, including short-, medium- and longer-term measures, and prepare a practical roadmap for implementation.
•    Prepare concrete legal drafting proposals, amendment options and explanatory notes for selected priority provisions, clearly indicating the rationale, expected implications and any institutional or procedural requirements for adoption.
•    Prepare progress reports, meeting minutes and a final consultancy report.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

•    University degree in Law, preferably with specialization in agricultural, environmental, natural resources or administrative law (a first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted).
•    Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in legislative review, legal drafting, or agricultural and natural resources law and policy.
•    Working knowledge (level C) of English, and Arabic.
•    National of Iraq or resident of the country with valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

•    Deep knowledge of agricultural legislation and policy, and of legislative drafting and harmonization processes.
•    Familiarity with international legal instruments and obligations relevant to agriculture, food, water and natural resources.
•    Ability to analyze complex legal frameworks and propose practical, implementable reforms.
•    Skilled in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and building consensus.
•    Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize and deliver within deadlines.

Selection criteria

•    Proven knowledge of Iraq's legal and institutional framework for agriculture.
•    Experience in stakeholder consultation and in working with government institutions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION