National Professional Officer (National Project Coordinator)

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.

The position is located in the FAO Representation in Lusaka, Zambia.

Reporting Lines

The National Professional Officer (National Project Coordinator) will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Zambia, direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR and closely collaborate with the Natural Resources Officer in FAO Office of Climate Change and Biodiversity (OCB), Head of Education/Programme Specialist, Regional Office for Southern Africa in The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Director, Division for the Planet in The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Technical Focus

Programme development, coordination and operational assistance based on the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, language and institutions of the country of assignment.

Key Results

Effective and efficient coordination and provision of technical and operational support of the programme and project activities of the FAO Representation.

Key Functions

• Liaises and assists government authorities and local, national and international institutions in the areas of FAO's activities in the country and with other UN agencies. He/she may represent FAO at inter-agency meetings as required; • Promotes the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization's mandate, programmes, national priorities and activities, including development and maintenance of communication tools (such as website, press releases and publications) and support to implementation of FAO's regulatory framework (Codex Alimentarius, Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Safe Use of Pesticides, etc.) in the country; • Coordinates the collection, consolidation and maintenance of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries, including information on external aid in FAO's corporate systems, and monitors changes in national policies affecting the agricultural sector; • Participates in producing technical, economic and policy studies, as required, and developing country level development frameworks, such as the Country Programming Framework (CPF) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF); • Participates in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals and monitors and reviews the status of programme/project implementation to ensure that all operational activities are carried out in line with the work plan and the project document; identifies inconsistencies and delays and, when necessary, proposes corrective measures to overcome operational constraints; • Briefs, trains and supervises junior staff; ensures adherence to procedures and work requirements as well as accuracy and diligence of the work provided; • Performs other duties as required.

Specific Functions

• Acts as a Secretary to the Internal Consortium Steering Committee and as head of the Project Management Unit (PMU); • Performs national coordination for the implementation of project activities across work packages of the project in compliance with the project specific objectives, activities and expected outputs by ensuring a quality achievement of the programme outputs in line with International Climate Initiative (IKI) qualitative standards and Facility for Action for Climate Empowerment to achieve the National Determined Contributions (FACE-NDC) results matrices; • Leads engagement and collaboration with the Government and relevant Ministries in Zambia, as well as local project partners and international stakeholders by: o ensuring project alignment with Government reforms and sectoral priorities related to the FACE-NDC project, o identifying relevant institutions and ensuring their engagement in FACE-NDC project activities, o ensuring capacity development of national stakeholders in all activities at individual, organizational and system levels, o coordinating the development of the annual project work plans and budgets and performs regular monitoring of their implementation, o assuming responsibility for the delivery of project reports to the donor, o supporting recruitment and providing technical oversight to the PMU staff and consultants of the project, o supporting procurement activities for the project, including identifying project implementation partners and providers of goods and services, o fostering exchanges of information and experience, and identifying new strategies of action to improve delivery of services and to achieve the project requirements and objectives. • Ensures communication and visibility by: o taking the lead in preparing the project visibility plans and ensuring their implementation, o preparing technical briefs/status updates on the projects for wider dissemination, o leading the organization of PMU communication events (seminars and workshops), o liaising with local and international media.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• National of the country of assignment. • Advanced university degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, forestry, fisheries or any other field related to the work of the Organization. • Two years of relevant experience in agricultural development and/or project implementation in an area of FAO's activities in the country. • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English. • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of the local language (if not English).

Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions. • Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project development and management. • Demonstrated understanding of the purpose and functions of the technical programme, operational guidelines and project/programme management procedures, preferably' those adopted by the United Nations or FAO. • Extent and relevance of experience in the field of policy analysis relating to food and nutrition security, agriculture and rural development. • Extent and relevance of experience in the collection of country data on food, crops, livestock, forestry and fisheries. • Extent and relevance of experience in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals as well as programme/project implementation, monitoring and review.