Project Specialist
Job Posting
: 05/Apr/2018
Closure Date
: 20/Apr/2018, 12:59:00 AM
Organizational Unit: FAO SOUTH SUDAN
Type of Requisition: Consultant
Grade Level: N/A
Primary Location
: South Sudan-Juba
Duration: 6 Months
Post Number: N/A
CCOG Code: N/A
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FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants
in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.
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Qualified female applicants and qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member countries
are encouraged to apply.
Persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply.
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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Organizational Setting
The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist Governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.
With the funding from the USAID, FAO is implementing the project entitled, “Sustainable Agriculture for Economic Resiliency (SAFER) Program in South Sudan” . This project aims to improve the ability of households and communities to withstand, recover from, and prevent shocks that negatively impact livelihoods – whether they are naturally occurring or related to violent conflict. Moreover, the project aims to play a key role in supporting agriculture to build the resilience of rural livelihoods. To improve livelihoods in conflict affected areas of South Sudan with stressed and crisis levels of food insecurity, the project will focus interventions on: (i) strengthening the resilience of the agricultural production systems; and (ii) increasing production as well as enhancing consumption, markets and livelihoods.
Reporting Lines
The Project Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative FAO South Sudan and the direct supervision of the Senior Project Manager.
Tasks and responsibilities
Key functions
- Partake in the Project Management Unit (PMU) coordination function and ensure full collaboration to achieve the overall project objectives and provide regular updates to the Senior Project Manager;
- Represent the PMU in liaising with FAO SS operations, procurement, logistics, administration and finance units to ensure timely receipt of support and goods and services delivered;
- Support with the preparation, consolidation and review of all project documentation for information sharing and reporting purposes.
Specific Functions
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Coordinate with the Senior Project Manager, and in partnership with the Human Resource Officer, monitor project recruitments (both international and national consultants) including the development of terms of reference, short-listing, review/selection and on-boarding process;
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Lead with the Senior Project Manager, and in full consultation with the Procurement Unit, the selection process for Implementing Partners (IPs) (under the contractual Letters of Agreement [LoA] modality) including the development (and review of submissions) at Expression of Interest and Call for Proposal stages;
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Develop, adapt/improve and implement relevant planning and monitoring tools (in close cooperation with the Operations Unit) relating to:
- budgeting;
- field activities, including workshops, assessments and trainings;
- procurement and inventory;
- staffing;
- monthly/periodic reporting; and
- Work planning.
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Supervise the work of the National Project Assistant
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Monitor the implementation of contracts and LoAs with IPs and provide operational support, advice and guidance to goods/service providers;
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Collaborate with the Communication Specialist to disseminate project specific reports and products and assist with visibility;
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Facilitate and/or support trainings and workshops and capacity building activities with key stakeholders;
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Act as the focal point for the four sub-offices (Aweil, Rumbek, Bor and Yambio) where the SAFER project is being implemented and provide the necessary support for project implementation;
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Undertake travel to project sites for planning, assessment and monitoring purposes;
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Draft and coordinate project reports, including ad hoc, quarterly and final project report in a timely manner, in accordance with FAO procedures and donor requirements;
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Perform such other related duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
- Two years relevant experience of a progressively responsible nature in programmatic work in the field and headquarters level;
- Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two, or of Arabic, Chinese or Russian
- Advanced Degree in a field related to the position.
Technical/Functional Skills
- Sound knowledge and experience in writing reports.
- Good interpersonal, communications and facilitation skills.
- Strong computer, word processing, Excel and statistical skills.
- Good knowledge of the UN system, procedures and operational activities would be an advantage.
- Ability to develop plans for the implementation and coordination of project operations in developing countries, in partnership with UN agencies and other concerned actors;
- Familiarity with UN administrative, operational, financial and programmatic procedures;
- IT Skills: MS Office (Windows, Word, Outlook, Excel, Exchange)
Selection Criteria
- Proven experience with report writing and administrative procedures.
- Experience and knowledge of project planning, coordination and financial management.
- Experience working with the UN.
- Previous experience in South Sudan.
- Relevant experience in supporting implementation projects is considered a strong asset;
- Proven ability to work creatively and independently both in the field and in the office;
- Strong writing, organizational and communication skills;
- Ability to manage a high workload, meet tight deadlines and multi-task under pressure;
- Work experience with international organizations, non-government institutions/organizations in a multi-cultural setting and/or humanitarian emergency experience.
Office Management Skills:
Ability to use software and other information systems and databases to insert data, make enquiries, retrieve/define ad hoc reports and analyses and edit results in appropriate format.
Systematic, well-structured and efficient approach to work assignments. Analytical ability, accuracy and consistency. Exercise diligence and care in dealing with records and expenditures.
Interpersonal Communications and Teamwork Skills:
The incumbent must possess a cooperative spirit, flexibility and openness to work in an international environment with tact and courtesy. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of different national and cultural background
Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO,
Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing).
- Please note that FAO will only consider academic credentials or degrees obtained from an educational institution recognised in the IAU/UNESCO list.
- Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
- Candidates with acceptable language certificate/s should upload them when submitting their application. For details, visit http://www.fao.org/3/I8446EN/i8446en.pdf
- For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
- For further information on categories, contract duration and honoraria, please refer to the Conditions page.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered.
Vacancies will be removed from the recruitment portal at 23:59 Central European Time (CET) on the deadline for applications date. We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help, or have queries, please contact: [email protected]