Programme Assistant

Organizational Setting

The Agrifood Economics Division (ESA) conducts economic research and policy analysis to support the transformation of more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for a better production, better nutrition, a better nutrition a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind. ESA provides evidence-based support to national, regional and global policy processes and initiatives related to monitoring and analysis of food and agricultural policies, agribusiness and value chain development, rural transformation and poverty, food security and nutrition information and analysis, resilience, bioeconomy, and climate-smart agriculture. The Division also leads the production of two FAO flagship publications: The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) and the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI). Within ESA, the Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme seeks to establish country owned and sustainable systems to monitor, analyse, and reform food and agricultural policies to enable more effective, efficient and inclusive policy frameworks in 8 developing and emerging economies. MAFAP works with government institutions, research organizations and other partners to create sustainable policy monitoring systems and carry out a consistent set of policy and public expenditure analyses across a wide range of agricultural value chains. MAFAP analyses are used to inform targeted food and agricultural policy reforms that will result in a more conducive environment for agricultural investment and productivity growth, especially for smallholder farmers. As such, MAFAP supports most of FAO strategic objectives, and in particular those of enabling inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems and helping eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition.

The position is located in ESA at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Main Purpose

The Programme Assistant is responsible for the coordination of specialized and complex processes and activities in support of the delivery of the division's work programme, planning and budgeting activities. He/she provides procedural guidance to managers and staff in the division.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Programme Assistant works under the general supervision of the Senior Economist (Project Manager, MAFAP) and receives guidance from the Senior Programme Assistant. The incumbent operates independently and takes decisions on work priorities. Supervision received is focused on the quality of work outputs. He/ she provides guidance and advice to other programme support staff.

Working Relationships

The Programme Assistant works closely with a wide range of colleagues in the division and with client divisions/offices, ensuring the consistency and quality of programme/project support services provided by the division.

Key Functions/Results

• Monitor both Regular Programme and Projects budgets ensuring that funds are properly allocated and reported upon and take corrective action if required; inform management of any budget issues that may require attention; • Provide support to budget holders in the preparation of the Periodic Budgetary Reports (PBR), the biennial Programme of Work and Budget (PWB) and related work plans for the division; • Prepare projects' budget revisions in consultation with budget holders; • Respond to a variety of routine queries and provide clarifications on programme and project matters; inform management and team members of processes, procedures and timeframes to secure administrative services needed for programme/project execution; initiate correspondence to verify data, obtain additional information on transactions and budgetary matters; • Review data quality and maintain office records and reference files on various subjects; compile and synthesize data from various sources to support financial analyses on programme/project activities; generate periodic or ad-hoc management reports; • Coordinate the full array of administrative and financial actions related to staff management, non-staff support, travel, payments, and procurement; • Provide procedural guidance to Office Assistants (G-4 level) and other staff in the work unit; • Review and make recommendations to improve current programme/projects administration procedures and processes; • Perform other functions as required.

Impact Of Work

The incumbent's work impacts directly on the smooth operations and performance of the division's programme/ project activities. He/she plays a lead role in the provision of programme support services for successful achievement of the organizational unit's mandate.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education. Experience: Four years of relevant experience in the provision of programme/projects support services. Languages: Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of English and limited knowledge (intermediate – level B) of another official FAO language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). IT Skills: Good knowledge of the MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Residency: General Service Staff are recruited locally. To be eligible for this position, candidates must be nationals of the country of the duty station or possess an existing visa/work permit, and reside within commuting distance of the duty station at the time of the application. "Commuting distance" means the distance within which staff members can travel daily between their place of work and their residence.

Competencies

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

Technical Skills

• Very good knowledge of corporate information systems. • Very good knowledge of programme and budget processes and procedures. • Very good knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations. • Very good knowledge of communication and documentation standards.

Desirable Qualifications And Skills

• Knowledge of and experience with trust funded project activities. • Ability to plan, organize work and established priorities autonomously. • Capacity to provide guidance to team members on administration matters. • Working knowledge (proficient - level C) of French. • Familiarity with procurement mechanism, in particular Letter of Agreement. • Familiarity with and adaptability to fast-paced working environments.