Programme Assistant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

The Türkiye Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FETUR) is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing and implementing strategies for addressing the country's food security, agriculture and rural development priorities. The Organization’s technical assistance includes institution building, development of knowledge and competencies, and exchange of experience in the countries facing transition challenges.

Reporting Lines

The Programme Assistant will work under the direct supervision of the National Project Coordinator and overall supervision of the Subregional Coordinator for Central Asia and FAO Representative in Türkiye and in coordination with staff of FAO Türkiye’s Earthquake Response and Recovery Plan (ERRP), technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officers of FAO Sub-regional Office for Central Asia and in collaboration with FAO Türkiye team led by AFAOR.

Technical Focus

The Programme Assistant will contribute to design and implementation of FETUR’s projects and programmes. This will encompass to providing programme and operational support for FETUR’s Earthquake Response and Recovery Plan (ERRP) and Syria Refugee Resilience Plan (SRRP) projects. The Programme Assistant will work in programmes and projects in various areas of FAO’s mandate, here included but not limited to development, humanitarian and humanitarian-development-peace nexus projects and programmes.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Provide support to the programme and operational actions for ERRP and SRRP projects; • Provide support to the preparation of draft Letters of Agreements (LoA) funded from FETUR technical programme budgets; ensure that required supporting documents are prepared; • Provide support to the organization of workshops/meetings and events funded from the FETUR technical programme • budgets, as required; • Assist in the implementation of FAO's Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) commitments and related activities in the field throughout the project cycle, and support the monitoring and reporting and documentation of AAP-related indicators and results; • Provide assistance on feedback of affected populations are effectively collected, analyzed, and used to inform FAO's decision-making and programming; • Assist planning, implementation and reporting of gender mainstreaming activities of FAO Türkiye; • Draft minutes of MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning) related meetings and/or other relevant events, prepare summary notes, and circulate the correspondence to concerned parties and stakeholders; • Assist ERRP and SRRP team on developing and undertaking beneficiary communication and outreach activities; • Assist the M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) Specialist in development and implementation of M&E tools according to project logframe and ensuring quality assurance of field data (completeness, reliability, validity, timeliness, and integrity); • Based on approved field visits and missions and travel plans, prepare travel authorization (TA) requests and arrange travel details for FETUR team, national and international staff and consultants through FAO’s online systems. Follow up the operational requirements of the travel such as timely approval of TA, preparing payment requests for local travel advances; and receipting of security clearance; • Arrange for hotel bookings, as may be requested, for visiting missions or experts to FETUR; • Follow up the receipt of travel claims (international and local) from supervisor and submit TECs for processing; follow up receipt of back-to-office reports (BTOR) to support travel claims; • Follow up the preparation and submission of technical support services claim for backstopping support provided by supervisor to projects; ensure that BTOR is prepared and submitted for the technical support service provided; • Prepare procurement requests for technical programme inputs (including workshop/meetings facilities and supplies) in GRMS, ensuring that specifications of goods or services are clearly defined on procurement requisition form, and submit to Administration (procurement office) for processing; • Prepare various payment requests for goods and/or services received and submit to Administration (accounts payable office) for processing; ensure that complete and relevant supporting documents are attached; • Prepare background materials, working papers and tables for briefings, review sessions and meetings; • Maintain the files for tasks assigned (approved TAs, Purchase Orders, Contracts, BTOR, etc.); • Draft meeting minutes, correspondence, documents, reports, etc. related to assigned duties; • Assist drafting regular project fact sheets and periodic and final reports for the donor, as scheduled, and in alignment with both internal and donor requirements; • Follow up day to day communication correspondences; • Assist monitoring media coverage of project activities; • Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in social sciences (sociology, economics, political sciences, international relations, research methods or alike) or agriculture or other related areas. • At least two years demonstrated qualified and relevant experience in programme or project assistance, including reporting, data collection and processing as well as communication with different stakeholders. • Working knowledge of English and Turkish is required, working knowledge of Arabic is an asset. • National of Türkiye.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Excellent proficiency and knowledge of principles and current approaches to programme assistance especially in the emergency, relief and resilience programs. • Demonstrated understanding of programme and project designing, management and implementation as well as of the project cycle management. • Demonstrated relevant experience in programme and project implementation especially in the emergency or conflict/post-conflict setting. • Demonstrated capacity to support/facilitate trainings; • Work experience in more than one location or area of work; • Relevant experience in accounting, finance and administration; • Experience in working with agriculture and rural development technical teams is an advantage; • Working knowledge of English, and local language; and strong writing and presentation skills and ability to clearly communicate in English; • Demonstrates confidentiality, integrity and high ethical standards; • Client orientation and ability to use tact and courtesy in communication with a wide range of individuals; • Proficient in the use of office equipment and MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: [email protected]
• 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.