National Grant Operation Specialist

Overview

Lead grant operations for climate-smart agriculture project in Lao PDR.

You have:

• University degree in public management, agricultural development, rural development, climate change, climate finance or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in facilitation, procurement, grant proposal design and delivery, or technical advisory services in agriculture, climate change, environment, climate finance, or development projects.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in facilitating the agricultural and environmental project implementation for government institutions and development partners.
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of Lao PDR.

Organizational Setting

This Beneficiary Grants Operational Manual (GOM) is developed by the Budget Holder (i.e., FAOR Lao PDR) based on Manual Section 703 for specifying the operational procedures that will be used in the project Climate Smart Agriculture Alternatives for Upland Production Systems in Lao PDR (hereafter CRA project) for cash grants to the project beneficiaries. The procedures are recorded in this manual for cash grants for supporting Community-led Climate Resilient Investment packages (CRIPs), value-chain piloting and value-chain investments. This beneficiary GOM describes all aspects of the award and implementation and progress monitoring of the Beneficiary Grants.

This manual is to be cleared in advance by the Director of the Project Support Division (PSS) (MS 703.2). It will be based on the feasibility assessment and technical guidance by the Inclusive Rural Finance Team (IRF) of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division (ESP) (MS 703.4). It is understood that the clearance of this GOM by FAO/PSS is risk based, considering the risks presented by a specific beneficiary cash grants modality within a specific context, plus the control measures proposed by the Budget Holder to manage and mitigate these risks. The CRA project is Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant funded that is being implemented by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Department of Land Administration and Management (DLAM) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is the main executing agency. The project is being implemented through operational partner implementation modality (OPIM) and the OP is World Vision International Lao PDR.

Climate change poses significant current and expected risks to Lao PDR, particularly for farmers. Forecast trends indicate bifurcated and intense rainfall events during the wet season resulting in greater levels of precipitation and increased flooding. It will also result in a hotter and drier dry season leading to increased droughts and more crop failures. The project covers four districts in Northern Laos in two provinces - Phonphong and Viengkham districts in Luang Prabang province and Xiengkhor and Kuanh districts in Houaphanh province. The rural households in the project area that are heavily reliant on agriculture as their main source of livelihood are particularly vulnerable to these threats, with both high exposure and high sensitivity, especially those relying on rainfed production of lower-value commodity crops such as rice and other upland crops. Small agribusinesses in the rural areas are financially weak and find difficulties to source agricultural products from the project district and add value to reach to consumer markets.

The project objective is to enhance resilience of vulnerable upland communities to climate change impacts through climate-smart agricultural practices in upland production systems. The project has the following four components. • Component 1: Enabling environment to promote and incentivize resilient and sustainable rural landscapes in Lao PDR • Component 2: Resilient and sustainable land-use planning and value-chain networks in two provinces of the northern uplands. • Component 3: Climate-smart technologies and innovations deployed in two provinces of the northern uplands. • Component 4: Monitoring and evaluation, project communication, and lesson-learning

Reporting Lines

The National Grant Operation Specialist works under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative in Lao PDR, the direct supervision of the AFAOR-P, and the technical supervision of the Lead National Consultant, Climate and Livelihood Expert for Grant Management Manual, with support from the International GEF Expert. The incumbent will be the coordinator of the MS703 process for FAO in charging in the beneficiary Grant covering the overall process of assessment and approval.

Technical Focus

The technical focus is on designing, delivering, and institutionalizing the grant operation for the CRIPs, Value Change piloting, and Value Change investments of the project Climate Smart Agriculture Alternatives for Upland Production Systems in Lao PDR (hereafter CRA project) for cash grants to the project beneficiaries.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the formulation of the Grant Management Manual and Small Grant Selection Process, ensuring alignment with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Beneficiary Grant under ESP Beneficiary Grant MS703. • Oversee the implementation and reporting of small grants and LoA-based activities, ensuring that financial and narrative reports meet project and donor requirements. • Facilitate the consolidation of all partner and grant reports into the project’s official reporting system and ensure operational compliance with FAO and GEF. • Assist the Lead National Consultant and the Climate and Livelihood Expert to serve as national grant operation focal point for manage grant operation and procurement of LoA. • Facilitate the CRA Beneficiary Grant Technical Committee (BGTC) to finalize the grants selection process. • Assist in the smooth and timely implementation of project GOM in support of the results-based and partners contractual work plans, through administrative, logistical support procedures according to FAO rules and standards. • Assist in the coordination and review of project operational arrangements through contractual agreements (OPA & LoA) with key project partners, in collaboration with the focal point for all FAO-GEF projects in regard to finance and material inputs for OPA and LoA. • Request the Budget Holder to take a decision on the award and value of beneficiary cash grants, which must be determined through a process that guarantees transparency and integrity. • Assist in the execution of accurate and timely actions on all operational requirements for personnel-related matters, and for smaller-budget equipment and material procurement, and project staff and consultant related field disbursements; • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in public management, agricultural development, rural development, climate change, climate finance or related field. • Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in facilitation, procurement, grant proposal design and delivery, or technical advisory services in agriculture, climate change, environment, climate finance, or development projects • Minimum 5 years of experience in facilitating the agricultural and environmental project implementation for government institutions and development partners • Working knowledge of English • National of Lao PDR

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong organizational and administrative skills • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills • Proficiency in MS Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) • Ability to work independently and as part of a team • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks • Cultural sensitivity and ability to work in multicultural environments • Proposal design and delivery • Knowledge management & e-learning • Coordination and facilitation

Selection Criteria

• Track record of grant operation proposal developing and delivering, preferably on agriculture, climate resilience and rural development. • Knowledge and experience with Government of Lao PDR governance structure. • Experience in GEF project development and management, including familiarity with GEF modalities, investment criteria, feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis, gender mainstreaming, indigenous peoples, and environmental and social safeguards is required. • Experience in working with multi-stakeholder coordination (government ministries, and development partners) is required.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 9 days ago - Updated 2 hours ago - Source: fao.org