Project manager of Peace-building Project on Empowering Youth at Risk

Organizational Setting

FAO Representation in Sierra Leone implements an integrated food security programme, focusing on diversification of livelihoods, managing natural resources and building resilience. The office employs diverse team of experts locally, but also attracts the available technical experts from the region and the Head Quarters (HQ). FAO works in close partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, farmers and other stakeholders, supporting plans and policies that affect the food and nutrition security in the country; our work is a part of the corporate commitment to support countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, especially SDG 2 on Zero Hunger.

Reporting Lines

Under the general supervision of the FAO Representative in Sierra Leone and in close collaboration with the Office of Emergency and Resilience (OER), the consultant will coordinate activities across the three UN agencies, working closely with the government of Sierra Leone.

Technical Focus

FAO Sierra Leone in collaboration with UNDP and UNFPA is implementing a joint project for which the FAO country office in Sierra Leone is the lead agency. This project aims to empower youths at risk to become resources for sustained peace, community resilience and social cohesion in the targeted districts. It will provide increased possibilities for the voices of youth to be heard and to participate in decision-making spaces; for securing their sustainable livelihoods; and increasing access to prevention and protection services, including counselling, related to gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices (including early marriages, drug, alcohol, and substance abuse). This project will strengthen the capacities of security and civilian authorities as well as civil society organizations at the national and local levels to deal with youth-at-risk issues adhering to respect for human rights and dignity. It will promote judicial and non-judicial restorative processes for the rehabilitation and reintegration of youth at risk; and civic and peace education to improve peaceful living and the sense of civic responsibility among youth at risk. This will increase trust and confidence between them and state and local authorities and thereby improve the participation of youth at risk in decision-making processes. A livelihoods generation component is included in the project, which will directly be implemented by FAO.

Tasks and responsibilities

In this context, FAO Sierra Leone is seeking to recruit an international project manager with peacebuilding and livelihoods expertise, including experience related to disengagement of youth from gangs and cliques. The incumbent will undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Ensure the integrated implementation of project activities and consistency between different implementing agencies by setting up Steering committee and mutli-agency technical teams with Terms of Reference and very precise and detailed work plans.
2. Support the recruitment of technical experts and logistic support for the implementation of the baseline survey, conflict analysis and initial contextual analysis to inform decision-making processes in the context of project implementation and support the development and validation of beneficiary selection, work plan and the detailed schedule of activities
3. Support the implementation of the social cohesion exercise intended to promote peaceful coexistence between project beneficiaries and communities and support the process of identifying community infrastructure suitable for rehabilitation process.
4. Maintain a link with all stakeholders, in particular with the national and regional authorities who will be involved in the project
5. Support the implementation of perception surveys and monitoring of disengagement of youth at risk from gangs and cliques
6. Support the establishment and strengthening of various consultation frameworks on the management and prevention of conflicts related to gangs and cliques
7. Coordinate trainings and support the process of building the capacities of youth at risk, conforming to prevention of community conflicts.
8. Coordinate the organization of the livelihood component, including the distribution of agricultural inputs, machinery, and market linkage supplies, with adherence to “Do No Harm” principles
9. Coordinate the internship and mentorship process between youth at risk, government and private sector
10. Ensure the monitoring of all project activities and inform and sensitize the various actors involved by also participating in the establishment of memoranda of understanding and contracts between the project and the partners
11. Support the process of recruiting service providers for the construction, rehabilitation and securing of community infrastructure in connection with social cohesion exercise, livelihoods component as well as all other activities under FAO implementation
12. Ensure coordination and programmatic synergies between the various outputs and outcomes of the project
13. Ensure coordination and programmatic synergies with ongoing FAO initiatives
14. Produce periodic reports: start-up, semi-annual, annual and final and coordinate the implementation of the perception surveys and evaluations.
15. Support the missions of consultants and FAO officials and perform other tasks requested by the FAO Representative

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s Degree) in sociology, development economics, political sciences, agricultural economics, or related field
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in development, peacebuilding, rural development, livelihoods generation, and /or demobilization and reintegration of youth at risk or community security, in a governmental, multilateral or civil society organization.
• Working knowledge of English (level C) and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other FAO languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience working within a UN agency and experience in or understanding of managing joint projects in a peacebuilding context would be an asset;
• Proven experience in development programming, modalities, and rules and regulations.
• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is essential,
• Knowledge of and experience of Sierra Leone and surrounding region, including in conflict prevention initiatives, is an advantage.
• Experience in mainstreaming gender equality within programme design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
• Understanding of complex programming context
• Relevance and extent of experience in conflict analysis and advice relating to peace building, social cohesion, nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and rural development
• Relevance and extent of knowledge and experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multi-disciplinary teams