National Specialist on Project Formulation (Investment Concept and Project design)

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan is currently implementing “Contribution to development and further scaling up of healthy nutrition” project (hereafter Project). The project aims to strengthen national capacity and leverage stakeholders’ engagement for further upscaling of healthy nutrition using investment project mechanisms. National Specialist on Project Formulation (Investment Concept and Project Design) will be assigned in Astana, Kazakhstan, and will contribute to the implementation of the TCP/KAZ/3901 project.

Reporting Lines

The National Specialist on Project Formulation (Investment Concept and Project design) will work under the direct supervision of the FAO Representative in Kazakhstan, the technical supervision of the Lead Technical Officer (LTO) of the project, and in the day-to-day coordination of the FAO Kazakhstan office. The incumbent will also work under the technical guidance of project international consultants, and in close cooperation with national project consultants and relevant national stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The National Specialist on Project Formulation (Investment Concept and Project Design) will analyze the current situation on nutrition, identify major gaps and problems in forming healthy food consumption, prepare Concept of the Investment Project, support cooperation with stakeholders and participate in discussions, prepare analytical notes and reports and perform other related duties.

Tasks and responsibilities

Main tasks/outputs: • Conduct a detailed analysis of the current situation on nutrition, based on the results of Project Output 1 - research, roundtables and debates, and also experts’ opinions in order to evaluate efficiency of activities implemented by the concerned stakeholders and to summarize overall situation on healthy nutrition in Kazakhstan; • Prepare a review of the implemented state measures and their impact on healthy food production and consumption; • Identify major sectoral, cross-sectoral gaps and general problems in forming healthy food consumption; • Support discussions among involved ministries and other stakeholders, then aggregate all the information, proposals to be considered in the Investment Project Concept; • Prepare a structure, rationale, main proposals, recommendations, expected results, work plan and the amount of funding required for implementation of the Investment Project; • Prepare the structure of the Investment Project based on the endorsed Concept of the Investment Project; • Prepare the analytical notes and reports related to the subject of the current ToRs; • Assist in presenting to the Government the Concept of the Investment Project for intermediate discussions and their consideration for final approval; • Support discussion with all stakeholders and identify the goals, objectives, target indicators, main activities and the corresponding work plan, implementation arrangements to implement the Investment Project; • Screen and select proposals on healthy diets, organic agriculture, improvement of food safety standards that are to be included to the Concept and to be used for the Investment Project; • Elaborate the selected proposals on the policies of state support measures for the development of healthy food consumption; • Elaborate and formulate strategic development goals, objectives, and target indicators; • Assist in conducting meetings with the concerned ministries to discuss and agree on intermediate results; • Manage overall preparation, quality and timeliness of inception, progress and final reports; • Together with the project team present and submit the Investment Project to the concerned ministries for review; • Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in economics, natural resource management/agriculture/nutrition or other related disciplines; • At least 5 years of experience in the above areas; • Working knowledge of Russian and English, and a good command of Kazakh will be an advantage; • National of Kazakhstan or resident in the country with a regular residence/work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Extent and relevance of experience in the project management • Knowledge of Project Cycle Management is an asset • Previous working experience in UN organizations is an asset • Knowledge and experience of FAO systems and databases, accounting or financial modules and corporate applications is considered an asset • Good written and oral communication skills • Experience of working in an international organization is an asset