International Project Specialist

Organizational Setting

The position is located in Sukhumi, Georgia. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the 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.

Reporting Lines

The International Project Specialist shall operate under the overall responsibility of FAO Representative in Georgia, direct supervision of the FAO Programme Coordinator, in close coordination with other national and international colleagues of the FAO offices in Sukhumi, Zugdidi and Tbilisi

Technical Focus

The International Project Specialist will lead the day-to-day management and coordination of the FAO resilience project in Abkhazia funded by USAID. This project supports an increased resilience in Abkhazian communities, working in the forest sector (forest health, management of forests and natural parks) and in the agricultural sector (promotion of good agricultural practices, including extension to farmers in primary production and post-harvest).

Tasks and responsibilities

• Day to day management of the project through work planning, budget management, monitoring and evaluation and follow-up with project partners to ensure all activities are implemented in accordance with the project log frame; • Provide technical support for the smooth implementation of the project and ensure consistency among the various components of the project and related activities, as foreseen in the project document and log-frame; • Lead the preparation of the procurement plans of all goods and services for the project and ensure the on time planning of procurement actions. • Prepare Terms of Reference and oversee the work of consultants and project staff – ensuring quality control and relevance of consultancy. Directly supervise national project staff. • Lead the technical support in the production of relevant technical briefs, assessments, and studies. • Ensure regular communication with all project stakeholders. • Represent the project at the local Project Coordination Team meetings as required. • Manage the human, material and financial resources allocated to the project for efficient and timely project implementation and delivery. • Organize and supervise the production of all required project reports in line with donor requirements and guidelines maintaining quality control. • Provide substantive backstopping to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc.; • Initiate and coordinate outreach activities; conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.; make presentations on assigned topics/activities; • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, forestry, management of natural resources, or related topics • Working knowledge of English; • Two years (2) of relevant experience in project management; • Working knowledge of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Knowledge of Russian language will be a strong asset • Demonstrated understanding of agricultural and/or forest sectors. • Excellent communication skills, proven ability to convey complex ideas through clear and effective oral presentations. • Good skills in community mobilization as well as inter-personal relations. • Work experience in the implementation of projects in agriculture and/or forestry will be an asset. • Extent and relevance of experience and skills in project management at field level. • Computer literacy with spreadsheets, databases and electronic programmes is an asset. • Quality of both oral and written communication skills.