Programme Associate

Coordinate programme and project support services.

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FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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Application deadline 4 months ago: Tuesday 10 Feb 2026 at 22:59 UTC

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Overview

Coordinate programme and project support services.

You have:

  • Secondary School Education.
  • Five years of experience in administrative/financial/planning/programming/budgeting activities.
  • Working knowledge (proficiency-level C) of English.
  • Intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of one of the other working languages of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
  • Good knowledge of MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Organizational Setting

FAO's commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The position is located in the Office of Chief Economist (DDCE) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Main Purpose

The Programme Associate plays a lead role in the coordination of programme/projects support services for the office. He/she performs a broad range of programme, planning and budgeting activities requiring in-depth analysis and interpretation of relevant policies, procedures and practices. The incumbent provides procedural guidance to managers and staff in the office or location.

Supervision Received/Exercised

The Programme Associate reports to the Chief Economist. Work is performed autonomously, showing a high degree of initiative and independent judgment. Supervision received is focused on facilitating service delivery. The incumbent provides guidance and training to programme support staff in the office

Working Relationships

The Programme Associate maintains a wide range of contacts with managers, staff and stakeholders inside and outside the office. The incumbent collaborates closely with colleagues in other offices and the corporate services, ensuring the quality and consistency of programme/projects support services.

Key Functions/Results

• Coordinate the preparation, submission, revision and follow-up of Divisional/Office/Centre budget, as well as the monitoring and provision of information on its implementation. • Coordinate, review and analyse the Periodic Budgetary Reports as needed. • Assemble and synthesize data from corporate and office databases to facilitate the analysis of programmes, projects or activities and to draft periodic or ad hoc management reports. • Monitor projects and ensure the maintenance and retrieval of programming reference material, documentation, data and information. • Consolidate and monitor various reports on human resources planning and expenditures, the use of non-staff resources, communication and publishing plans, IT plans and travel schedules. • Screen incoming correspondence to identify issues requiring further attention and draft related correspondence. • Support knowledge building and knowledge sharing across the Division/Office/Centre through training of staff and briefing of budget holders on administrative/budgetary/planning/programming/financial procedures and processes. • Review current processes and make recommendations to improve programme/projects administration procedures. • Perform other functions as required.

Impact Of Work

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

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

Education: Secondary School Education. Experience: Five years of experience in administrative/financial/planning/programming/budgeting activities. Languages: Working knowledge (proficiency- level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of one of the other working languages of the Organization (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish). IT Skills: Good knowledge of MS Office applications, Internet and office technology equipment.

Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building effective relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical Skills

• Thorough knowledge of corporate information systems. • Thorough knowledge of programme and budget processes and procedures. • Thorough knowledge of common administrative and financial rules and regulations. • Thorough knowledge of procurement processes and procedures, including LOAs. • Thorough knowledge of communication and documentation standards

Desirable Qualifications And Skills

• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of Spanish and or French. • Familiarity and experience in development, and operation of business intelligent platforms to support financial and data-driven decision-making. • Knowledge of project cycle and experience in project implementation

Potential interview questions

Describe a situation where you had to manage multiple projects simultaneously. How did you prioritize your tasks? This question assesses your project management and prioritization skills. Provide a specific example highlighting your approach to managing competing deadlines.
Can you give an example of how you improved a process or procedure in a previous role? The interviewer wants to know about your problem-solving abilities. Pro members can see the explanation.
Tell me about a time you had to communicate complex information to a non-expert. How did you ensure understanding? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Discuss your experience working in a team and how you contributed to its success. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What methods do you use to analyze data and present your findings? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Explain how you handle tight deadlines and high pressure in your work. Can you provide an example? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What strategies do you use to foster relationships with stakeholders? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe how you ensure compliance with administrative and financial rules in your work. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 5 months ago - Updated 4 months ago - Source: fao.org