Project Specialist

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating the Implementation and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area of FAO’s global mandate and Strategic Objectives. More specifically, FAO’s response aims to address national needs and priorities in achieving food security, reducing hunger and malnutrition, developing agricultural, fishery and forestry sectors, and ensuring the sustainable use of environmental and natural resources and respond to recurrent emergencies. The current portfolio of activities of the FAO Representation in Somalia includes a wide scope of technical support interventions ranging from policy support through livestock and crop production, to natural resource management, Nutrition, value chain, food security analysis and water and land information management. FAO is also implementing several emergency, resilience-building, and development interventions, with the support of its five field offices and close to 400 staff in partnership with the Federal and State line ministries.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Support the development of RESTORE project documents in close consultation with technical team and SMRU.
• Distil and share key RESTORE project information to contribute to briefs and other strategic information products with a focus on the JOSP programme.
• Ensure the alignment of projects to JOSP program and FAO CPF and reporting to Information Management on indicators for the RESTORE for these frameworks.
• Ensure alignment of projects to UNCF & MAF and reporting on these indicators to UN SRSG & FGS.
• Manage RESTORE project performance metric tracking to ensure projects delivery on target, one time and on budget.
• Establish and maintain strong rapport with FCDO through regular formal and informal RESTORE updates and responding to programming issues and project risk management concerns.
• Follow up with JOSP partners on the performance and resourcing issues to ensure RESTORE project and JOSP program delivery by RESTORE partners.
• Collaborate with FAO operations, procurement, finance, and human resources to ensure enabling environment for project delivery.
• Proactively engage with FAO resilience and Emergency units to layer activities for increased leveraging greater program impact
• Carry out duty travel in Somalia (Jowhar, Mogadishu) and to Kenya (Nairobi) as needed for meetings and representation of RESTORE and/or JOSP as assigned by CTA.
• Perform other program management duties as assigned by the CTA.
• Restoring riverine eco-systems for climate adaptation (RESTORE) Project Cycle Management

Project identification & amendment:

• Support the CTA to develop the project aligned to CPF framework, JOSP program framework & UNCF framework.
• Development of project documents and budget in collaboration with SRMU & technical unit.

Project Formulation:

• Collaborate with SMRU, Operations & M&E on development/amendment of project documents.
• Facilitate internal and external technical and project clearance for proposal and budget.

Project implementation: 

• Facilitate kick-off meeting for inception phase with all FAO stakeholders.
• Staffing & procurement planning with CTA, HR & technical unit.
• Partner LoU & LoA development, implementation & tracking.
• Project performance tracking with Partners with follow up on performance and resourcing issues.
• Collaboration with SMRU, technical unit and partners on project reporting and communications to represent the project progress and success to internal & external stakeholders.

Project Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning:

• Collaboration with MEL Unit on the formulation of monitoring evaluation and learning scope for project.
• Collaboration with M&E Unit on the validation and finalization of learning and evaluation findings.
• Sharing findings with donor and government for feedback and endorsement.

Project phase reviews and closure: 

• Manage project phase deliverables to completion and full documentation.
• Develop phase deliverable briefings for donor, government and PSC for review and endorsement.
• Ensure project hand over of phase deliverable to government and/or community of project.
• Collaborate Operations and Finance to ensure financial closure and assets.
• Collaborate to ensure phase and final reporting is completed.

RESTORE Project and JOSP Program Representation & liaison support (only consultants):

• Represent internally to FAO Somalia business units and management as an alternate to JOSP CTA as required.
• Represent RESTORE project and JOSP program to donors in collaboration with SMRU as alternative to CTA as required.
• Represent RESTORE project and JOSP program to Somali government stakeholders (state & federal) in support as required.
• Represent RESTORE project and JOSP program to UN agencies and NGOs on joint programming initiatives and coordination as alternate to CTA required.

Candidates Will Be Assessed Against The Following

Minimum Requirements 

• University degree in agricultural sciences, (agro)hydrology, irrigation, programme management, international development or a related field is required.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in programme management especially programs that of long-term development, resilience building, durable solutions, infrastructures with proven track record of full project cycle management. 
• Working knowledge (level C) of English, French or Spanish and limited knowledge (level B) of one of the other two or Arabic, Chinese, Russian for COF.REG. Working knowledge of English (level C) for PSA.SBS.

Technical/Functional Skills 

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions, is desirable (developing countries, specifically sub-Saharan Africa).
• Extent and relevance of experience in working with inter-governmental bodies and multidisciplinary teams.
• Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project implementation with adept organizational skills.
• Strong knowledge of environmental and safety regulations and compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze problems, make appropriate recommendations, effective decisions, including in emergency settings.

Source: https://jobs.fao.org/careersection/fao_external/jobdetail.ftl?job=2400983