National Operation Assistant

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized technical agency of the United Nations. The FAO mission is to work toward the eradication of hunger and strive for food security for everyone as stated in the 2030 Agenda. The FAO’s Strategic Framework aspires to transform agri-food systems so that they are MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. The ultimate goals of these efforts include Programme Priority Areas (PPAs such as better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better lives, while leaving no one behind. FAO mobilizes high level national and international technical expertise to build capacity of institutions and human resources. It also helps to bring in modern and innovative technologies and formulate conducive policies in countries through piloting, adapting and scaling up of successful global practices to achieve sustainable agri-food systems transformation.

The FAO also embraces the One Health approach with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment.  This approach also contributes to advancing global health security and the Sustainable Development Goals. FAO’s work in the field of animal health takes a broader approach in addressing technical, policy and institutional issues. FAO develops and implements policies and programmes related to the establishment of best practices in the prevention and control of priority diseases, which threaten animal production, public health and trade through its international and regional networks, projects and by disseminating practical information and knowledge. 

FAO programs are guided by United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2023-2027). A Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2023-2027 which is the shared priorities between the Government of Nepal (GoN) and FAO regarding FAO’s technical assistance over a five-year entail in achieving sustainable agri-food systems transformation and inclusive socio-economic development. Specifically, the project aligns with the CPF Outcome 3: Sustainable Natural Resources Management, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and management.

Global Health Security Programme (GHSP), a strategic partnership to strengthen the Government of Nepal’s capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to emerging infectious diseases. The project will be implemented through “One Health,” a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach that recognizes the interdependence among the health of ecosystems, wildlife and domestic animals, and humans and will strengthen the national veterinary services to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious diseases, zoonoses, and AMR by increasing the technical capacity of veterinary officials, and one health stakeholders, as well as by addressing gaps within the country’s animal health systems focusing on PZDs and AMR.

The Operation Assistant will work for the project entitled “Immediate technical assistance for animal health systems to address emerging and priority zoonotic diseases and health threats in Nepal”, under the Global Health Security Programme (GHSP). 

The Operation Assistant will directly report monthly/regular activities to the Team Leader of the project. The assistant will submit end-of-assignment report to Team Leader who will in turn submit these reports to FAO Country Office.  The FAO CO will share the end-of-assignment report further to the Lead Technical Officer to obtain technical clearance.

The Operation Assistant will support in the implementation of the project activities on a day-to-day basis related to the project operations such as procurement, recruitment, periodic procurement plans, budgeting of the events (meetings, training and workshop), travel plans, delivery monitoring, record keeping etc.)

Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the FAOR Nepal, direct supervision of the ECTAD Country Team Leader as well as in close coordination with project team and FAO country office, the Operation Assistant will be responsible to carry out following key activities:

• Familiarize with the project document, workplan, and the other organizational rules and regulation of FAO;
• Assist in preparing and updating periodic work plans and budget in close collaboration with the Team Leader and other national consultants;
• Assist in preparing recruitment, procurement and travel plans in close collaboration with the Team Leader and ensure required approvals;
• Carry out other day-to-day operational activities of the project, as appropriate, and ensure timely provision of inputs for the implementation of the project activities;
• Monitor project delivery in periodic basis and prepare mandatory and other need-based budget revision in coordination with NTC and Programmes officer of country office;
• Prepare Requisitions, purchase Orders and Vouchers and verify availability of budget before submitting them to the finance officer of the Representation Office;
• Maintain internal expenditures control system which ensures that vouchers processes are matched and completed;
• Verify goods received from vendors and suppliers and maintain proper documentation including inventory list of equipment and supplies, and submit periodic report to the Team Leader;
• Maintain and update timesheets, leave records and attendance sheets;
• Travel on field missions as necessary in order to support implementation of the project activities at the field level;
• Provide necessary assistance to National Technical coordinators and Team members in the preparation of concept notes and project documents;
• Assist in organizing various events (meetings, workshops and trainings), as necessary;
• Carry out other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Team Leader as and when needed; and,
• Submission of an end-of-assignment report.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following:

Minimum Requirements:  

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Management, Business Administration, Social Science, Arts or relevant degrees.
• At least one year of work experience in the relevant field.
• Working knowledge of English.
• National of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience and knowledge on the regular operation activities of the project or programme.
• Expertise in the use of computer software such as Microsoft Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint.

Selection Criteria:

• Extent of technical and practical experience on the day-to-day operational activities of the project or programmes.
• Communication, writing and presentation skills in English and Nepali.
• Ability to work with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team.
• Prior work experience with UN agencies, development partners, banks, and government of Nepal.
• High degree of team ethics, well-organized, result focused and dynamic personality.

 Source:  https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2400873