Project Specialist (FAO/USAID Resilience project)

Organizational Setting

The position is located at the FAO project office in Sukhumi. The main aim of the FAO country offices, which are headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

Reporting Lines

The Project Specialist for Abkhazia will work under the overall supervision of the Programme Coordinator for Abkhazia.

Technical Focus

Day to day management of the new FAO/USAID resilience project in Abkhazia. This project will support an increased resilience in Abkhazian communities, working in the forest sector (forest health, management of forests and natural parks) and in the agricultural sector (promotion of good agricultural practices, including post harvest technologies). The Project Specialist will coordinate several teams of local staff in the different areas of work.

Tasks and responsibilities

As International Specialist of the FAO/USAID resilience project, he/she will undertake the following tasks:

• Ensure day to day implementation of the project, in accordance with the work plan timeframe, the logframe and the budget. • Guide technically the work in one of the areas of work (forest management or agriculture), and supervise the technical guidance provided by other local/international experts in the other area of work, ensuring coherence and joint work and reporting. • Oversee all field work in the different areas of work, including trainings, awareness raising campaigns, field visits, demonstration plots, demonstration of control measures for forest pests and diseases, etc. • Support the recruitment of full-time local staff and short term local and international staff in support to the project. • Set up a project monitoring system for the project implementation • Maintain an updated status of project management tools, such as the procurement plan, the workplan, logframe and budgets, and ensure the timely reporting (both narrative and financial) to the donor. • Ensure coordination with partner organisations, international and local organisations • Organize for exchange visits, field days to share good practices and innovations amongst practitioners • Prepare and update procurement plans and initiate procurement actions, including preparation of technical specifications, identification of possible suppliers, and provide technical revision of proposals as required. • Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in agriculture, forestry, or management of natural resources. • Three years of relevant experience in project or programme management • Working knowledge (Level C) in English and limited knowledge (Level B) of one of the other FAO languages (Spanish, French, Chinese, Arabic, or Russian) is required for COF. For PSA, working knowledge of English would suffice. Fluency in Russian would be a strong asset.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience working in conflict affected populations will be considered as an asset. • Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions is desirable. • Extent and relevance of experience and skills in project management at field level. • Extent of knowledge of technical work in forestry, agriculture or management of natural resources. • Computer literacy with spreadsheets, databases and electronic programmes is an asset. • Quality of both oral and written communication skills.