Technical Advisor (Project Implementation)

Organizational Setting

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 agri-food systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind. The main aim of the FAO Representation in Cambodia is to assist government 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.

FAO is an Accredited Entity (AE) of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). In partnership with Cambodia's National Designated Authority (NDA), the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) are developing a project 'Public-Social-Private Partnerships for Ecologically-Sound Agriculture and Resilient Livelihoods in Northern Tonle Sap Basin (PEARL)". This climate change adaptation project aims to enhance the climate resilience of farmers and local communities in the Northern Tonle Sap Basin (Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Oddor Meanchey) through public-social-private partnerships and improved access to growing segments of the agricultural product market, while ensuring climate-resilient practices.

The project has three outcomes i) improved hydrological and agrometeorological services, ii) climate adapted agriculture value chains development and iii) strengthened agriculture regulation, policy, market, finance and institutional capacities. The project will work to improve four agriculture value chains: rice, mango, cashew nut and vegetables in the northern Tonle Sap Basin.

Reporting Lines

The Technical Advisor reports to the FAO Representative (FAOR) in Cambodia and will work in close coordination with the Assistant FAO Representatives (AFAOR) for Programme and Administration and the Lead Technical Officer/Team at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP). The Technical Advisor will receive additional technical guidance from relevant officers at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) and relevant units at FAO headquarters.

Technical Focus

The technical focus of this position combines functional expertise in project management with technical advisory expertise in agriculture climate change adaptation and value chain development. The advisor will be responsible for overall project implementation and the proper use of the project’s financial, human, and other resources. The project will be implemented through two different modalities, firstly, directly by FAO and secondly, through operational partnerships government ministries and NGOs. The advisor will directly manage the implementation of FAO’s directly implemented component of the project and will develop the contractual agreements and oversee and monitor the implementation of the components of the project being delivered through operational partnerships.

The Technical Advisor (Project Implementation) will ensure the technical impact and coherence of the project including providing technical advisory support in one or more of the following areas: • mainstreaming climate change adaptation in the agricultural sector • supporting producers and producer organizations adapt to climate change • inclusive and sustainable value chain development • business planning and agriculture finance • digital agrometeorology and advisory services

Tasks and responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of the FAO-GCF funded GCP/CMB/044/GCF project; • Oversee and contribute to the delivery of all the below project conditions required to be completed for the project’s second disbursement: o Finalization of the in-depth study on agro-finance and insurance assessment o Finalization of operational and asset transfer manual on farmer led agricultural mechanism; • Support the recruitment process of key project specialists (PMU team) and assist with the coordination of project team; • Lead coordination with the government partners – MAFF and MoE and and other partners; • Finalize the business processes and project management procedures for the project implementation in close consultation with the National Project Director; • Act as policy advisor to the National Project Director, and DGs of GDA/MAFF, GD of GDEDKI/MoE and provide technical advice and hands-on capacity building to government counterparts and in particular for the implementation of the OPA between FAO and GDA/MAFF, and FAO and GDEKI/MoE; • Ensure smooth coordination and complementarity between the two Operational Partner Agreements (OPAs) and other ministries and project partners with the project workplan and budgets; • Lead and contribute to the implementation of the project baseline surveys and monitoring and evaluation system of the project; • Support to design Expression of Interest and Terms of Reference (ToR), and call for proposals for NGOs engagement in the project implementation; • Provide technical support to the implementation of project components, in particular to assigned component’s focal points; • Support the elaboration and submission of semi-annual report, and other relevant technical documents; • Technically oversee and evaluate the performance of project staff, consultants and service providers if required by FAOR if any during the implementation phase; • Lead the identification and selection of 104 Farmer Organizations including agricultural cooperatives, associations, producer groups, including 20 high functioning Agricultural Cooperatives; • Develop project and FAO specific feasibility assessment and implementation plan to address the recommendations provided in the PEARL Baseline Assessment of the agro-financial and insurance market sector in Cambodia; • Provide technical, coordination advice and support to other GCF-related initiatives; • Performs other duties as required by FAOR in order to achieve the above tasks.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in economics, management, agriculture, international development or related fields; • Twelve years of relevant experience in agriculture value chain or climate change adaptation project/programme implementation; • Working knowledge (level C) of English and limited knowledge (level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions. • Extent of relevance of experience in planning and implementation of large-scale complex projects/programmes in developing countries related to agriculture development; • Extent of relevance of experience in climate change adaptation and agriculture value chain projects/programmes. • Extent and relevance of experience in managing the implementation of large-scale projects/programmes, including in-depth knowledge of related administrative, operational and financial procedures; • Level of experience working with governments, international organizations/resource partners, NGOS and the private sector, including project implementation by operational partners; • Excellent culturally aware interpersonal skills with experience in networking with partners at all levels (ministry, donors, private sector, NGOs and local community-based organizations); • Extent of experience promoting inclusive project implementation at all levels of the project, including recruiting and leading an inclusive project team; • Experience in analyzing climate change impacts, agri-food systems/value chains, natural resources management and related issues; • Experience in the preparation of technical and policy reports, guidelines and manuals; Proven capacity to work in challenging locations; • Ability to mobilize resources.