National Technical Coordinator

Overview

Provide overall leadership and management of FAO’s component of the Joint Programme.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, or related field
• Minimum 9 years of progressively responsible experience in agricultural or rural development project management
• Working knowledge of English (Level C)
• National of Sierra Leone

Organizational Setting

FAO Sierra Leone, in partnership with UNICEF, WFP and WHO, is implementing a Joint United Nations Nutrition Programme (UNN) aimed at strengthening food and nutrition security, climate resilience, and governance systems in Sierra Leone. The programme adopts a multi-sectoral approach, targeting vulnerable populations (particularly women, youth, and children) and contributes to national priorities including the Feed Salone Strategy and UNSDCF outcomes.

The programme focuses on three strategic outcomes:

1. Strengthened climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods
2. Improved access to nutrition-sensitive and essential services
3. Enhanced governance and coordination in food and nutrition systems

FAO leads on agriculture, livelihoods, and resilience-building interventions, including value chain development, farmer support systems, and climate-smart practices.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Sierra Leone, and the direct supervision of the Assistant FAOR (Programme), the National Technical Coordinator will provide overall leadership and management of FAO’s component of the Joint Programme. The incumbent will work closely with: • FAO Subregional Office for West Africa (SFW) • Government counterparts (MAFS and decentralized authorities) • UN partner agencies (UNICEF, WFP, WHO) • Implementing partners and private sector actors.

Technical Focus

The National Technical Coordinator will ensure effective planning, implementation, coordination, and delivery of all FAO-led project components, ensuring: • Timely achievement of outputs and outcomes • Compliance with FAO and donor (Irish Aid) requirements • Strong multi-sectoral integration across UN agencies • High-quality technical and operational performance.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the overall implementation of FAO project components, ensuring delivery against approved workplans, budgets, and timelines; • Develop and oversee annual, quarterly, and detailed operational workplans; • Ensure alignment with FAO standards, donor requirements, and Joint Programme objectives; • Provide technical leadership across all agriculture, livelihoods, and resilience interventions; • Guide design and implementation of climate-resilient agriculture practices, livelihood support activities and nutrition-sensitive interventions • Ensure technical quality and consistency of all outputs; • Coordinate FAO activities with UN partner agencies (UNICEF, WFP, WHO) to ensure integrated, multi-sectoral delivery; • Maintain strong collaboration with: Government institutions (national and district levels); NGOs and implementing partners; Private sector actors; • Facilitate joint planning, monitoring, and reporting processes • Ensure efficient use of resources in line with FAO financial rules Supervise and validate procurement processes, ensuring: Technical specifications meet project requirements; Compliance with FAO procurement procedures; Timely delivery of goods and services • Oversee use of FAO corporate systems (GRMS, FPMIS) • Ensure robust monitoring systems for tracking outputs, outcomes, and indicators • Lead preparation and submission of: Quarterly and annual reports; Donor reports (Irish Aid via UNICEF); Technical and progress reports; • Ensure high-quality, timely and evidence-based reporting; • Identify and manage technical, operational, and fiduciary risks; • Propose mitigation measures in coordination with FAOR and SFW; • Ensure compliance with FAO rules, donor requirements, and audit standards; • Lead development and delivery of training programmes for beneficiaries and partners; • Promote documentation of lessons learned and best practices; • Support scaling-up of successful interventions; • Supervise project staff and consultants; • Foster a results-oriented and collaborative team environment; • Ensure clear roles, accountability, and performance monitoring; • Perform any other duties as required by the FAOR.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Natural Resource Management, Development Studies, or related field • Minimum 9 years of progressively responsible experience in agricultural or rural development project management • Working knowledge of English (Level C). • National of Sierra Leone

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Strong experience in project/programme management (RBM approach) • Proven experience in multi-stakeholder coordination (UN, government, NGOs) • Experience in climate-resilient agriculture and food systems • Experience in budget management and donor reporting • Knowledge of FAO systems (GRMS, FPMIS) is an asset • Strong analytical, leadership, and communication skills.

Selection Criteria

• Experience in UN Joint Programmes or multi-agency coordination frameworks • Experience with donor-funded programmes (EU, Irish Aid, etc.) • Demonstrated leadership in complex, multi-sectoral projects • Experience in nutrition-sensitive agriculture programmes • Proven ability to deliver results under high scrutiny and tight timelines

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 1 month ago - Updated 29 days ago - Source: fao.org