Organizational Setting
The FAO Subregional Office for the Pacific Islands (SAP) situated in Apia, Samoa supports member countries in meeting their national priorities in the areas of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, agrifood systems, nutrition and rural development. FAO’s member countries in the Pacific include the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu and Tokelau as an associate member. FAO brings to the partners, extensive technical expertise in agri-food systems, sustainable agriculture, including forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, and ecosystem restoration. FAO SAP develops and maintains relations with subregion-wide institutions including the Council of Regional Organizations in the Pacific (CROP). The Subregional Office is a subsidiary of FAO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP) in Bangkok.
FAO SAP is recruiting a Project Coordinator (Improved Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods through Improved Agro-Ecosystems) who will manage and deliver the project objectives and to support stakeholders in better achieving the full potential of project resources. The post is based in Apia, Samoa and funded under a Global Agriculture and Food Security Producer Organization (PO) led grant, under the project “Improved Food Security, Nutrition and Livelihoods through Improved Agro-ecosystems.” The project aims to improve value chains and build capacity in the areas of domestic chicken production, cocoa processing, organic seaweed fertilizer production and beekeeping.
Reporting Lines
The Project Coordinator will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Subregional Coordinator, and direct supervision of the Better Nutrition/Better Life Module Leader. He/she works in collaboration with the national team of the project, government institutions, relevant FAO technical and support staff and consultants as well as partners. He/She will supervise the national project team and guide them in achieving the full results of project outcomes.
Technical Focus
The Project Coordinator will provide overall project management and reporting, and coordination of all technical and managerial aspects of the project, in particular with emphasis on improving value chains and building capacity in the areas of domestic chicken production, cocoa processing, organic seaweed fertilizer production and beekeeping in close collaboration with Samoa Federated Farmers Inc., Samoa Women’s Association of Growers and the Samoa Apiculture Organization as project partners.
Tasks and responsibilities
The Project Coordinator’s responsibilities will include:
• Lead project implementation by coordinating activities and maintaining effective communication with the lead PO and partners
• Prepare work and procurement plans, review procurement and subcontracting documentation; prepare Letters of Agreement (LoA) and contracts, and monitor their implementation to ensure achievement of planned project outputs
• Oversee daily project operations, including work planning, financial management, and progress tracking carried out by the PO and partners.
• Prepare project monitoring reports, ad hoc reports, work plans in coordination with the LTO and project team, and in alignment with the Monitoring and Reporting section of the project document
• Convene and facilitate meetings with key project stakeholders and partners, including serving as meeting secretary
• Manage relationships and expectations between the lead PO and project partners ensuring alignment and collaboration
• Coordinate and oversee the production of technical and communications materials
• Maintain communication with FAO regional and headquarters technical units, particularly the Investment Centre.
• Perform any other related functions as required
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree in agriculture, resource economics, natural resources management, or a related field
• Five years of relevant experience in agriculture, resource economics, natural resources management, with solid experience in project management including experience in cross sector coordination of issues in the context of improving value chains and building capacity
• Full proficiency/Working knowledge of English
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
• Extent and relevance of experience in the Pacific Islands/Small Island Developing States (SIDS) contexts is considered a strong asset
• Extent and relevance of experience in results-based project or programme management and monitoring
• Familiarity with donor-funded projects and reporting requirements is desirable
• Able to work under pressure and adapt to an evolving and complex humanitarian context and within multidisciplinary and different cultural background teams.
• Excellent organizational skills
• Good communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to work and plan at strategic as well as operational levels.
• Facilitation and communication: experience of high-level coordination and chairing of meetings; ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop consensus and joint working;