National Programme Assistant

Organizational Setting

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 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 FAO Representation in Ghana is the body in charge of ensuring liaison between FAO and the Government of Ghana and is the first port of call for analysing and appraising government assistance requests; identifying, formulating, implementing and monitoring all FAO programmes and projects; managing all phases of the project cycle for national projects for which operational and budget holder responsibilities have been assigned by the Technical Cooperation Department; identifying opportunities for collaboration, and mobilizing technical and operational support from the Regional Office, Headquarters and other funding sources as appropriate.

Global challenges to ending hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition remain, and have been worsened by climate change while the combined effects of the COVID 19-pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and other factors are deepening the plights of households in many countries, including West Africa and Ghana. In Ghana, from the November 2022 Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an approximately 19% of the analyzed population were found to either be under pressure, in crises or in emergency food insecurity situation. Overall, 6.2% of the population were identified to be vulnerable (food insecure) with smallholder farm households having been the hardest hit given their economic vulnerability.

Climate change could cause yield losses to most rainfed cereals, especially maize, up to 16 to 21 percent in 2050, compared to a baseline without climate change. Yields decrease due to climate change are also expected other crops like sorgum, millet, groundnut and vegetables while increase in the share of livestock affected by droughts is expected from 13 to 39 percent. Weak resilience to climate impacts lack of resources to acquire productive inputs are some of the causes of low productivity, and therefore low income and low availability of nutrient dense diverse foods at the household level.

As a response to the current situation and foreseeable future food security crisis, The Government of Ghana and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations with funding support of the European Union (EU) is implementing EU Food Security Response in Northern Ghana (GCP/GHA/040/EC) project (2023-2026) targeting at least 10000 households. The project is being implemented over three agricultural seasons to increase crop and livestock production, including 6 000 maize farmers who will be supported to produce 18 000 Mt of maize over three years in targeted districts; 2 400 millet farmers who will be supported to produce 5,184 Mt of millet; and 4 200 sorghum farmers to produce 8 517 Mt of sorghum over the three years in the targeted districts. In addition, farmers, especially women and youth, and value chain actors will be supported with capacity and access to post-harvest technologies along the groundnut, soybean and vegetable (tomato) value chains with farmers’ capacity on climate change adaptation among others enhanced.

An integrated approach to sustainable food production and the resilience of food systems has become all-time important than ever. The project will promote crop-specific, agro-ecological systems and approaches and support the sustainable development of maize, millet, sorghum, soyabean, groundnut, vegetables (tomato), poultry, piggery value chains. In selected project locations, direct agricultural inputs provision, accompanied by support to climate-adapted agricultural practices, provision of improved grain storage technologies, training on post-harvest practices, promotion of organic fertilizer use, provision of solar powered irrigation solutions and application of other climate sensitive and sustainable agri-techniques, promotion of integrated pests and diseases management approaches and facilitation of access to market as well as value addition for crops produced will help in resolving some of the production and post-harvest bottlenecks and contribute to achieving food security, and enhanced resilience to future shocks and disasters.

Reporting Lines

The National Programme Assistant will work under the overall supervision and guidance of the FAO Representative to Ghana, and the direct supervision of the ProjectTechnical Adviser.

Technical Focus

Programme development, coordination and operational assistance based on the knowledge of the local conditions, culture, and institutions of Northern Ghana.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Contribute in the preparation of project work plans, monitor progress and, where necessary, identify corrective measure to overcome operational constraints.
• Input data into required FAO systems, including GRMS and FPMIS; update and maintain the FAO system records and retrieve information to produce reports, graphs and charts,.
• Contribute to the processing of project management related tasks such as requests for finance, accounts, recruitment, fellowship training, meetings, training courses, and procurement.
• Initiate corrective measures aiming at improving project delivery.
• Prepare, revise and monitor project’s budget against expenditure and ensuring availability of a positive balance at all times.
• Provide the necessary inputs for the timely preparation and submission of project’s progress and project closure reports.
• Prepare analytical and financial reports on project performances, results-based reports according to FAO and rules and regulations, as required.
• Prepare delivery estimates analysis for the project as required.
• Prepare and submit request for operational and financial closure of the project.
• Initiate, view and track a variety of administrative transactions in the computerized financial and travel.
• Ensure the completeness and quality of data and documentation in the relevant FAO corporate information systems for project/activities.
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in agriculture, agricultural economics, forestry, fisheries, or any other field related to the work of the Organization.
• 5 years of experience in administration and office management support.
• Working knowledge of English (level C).
• National of Ghana.

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 is desirable.
• Extent and relevance of experience in programme/project development and management.
• Understanding of the purpose and functions of technical programmes, operational guidelines, and programme/project management procedures, preferably those adopted by the United Nations.
• Extent and relevance of experience in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals, as well as programme/project implementation, monitoring, and review is considered a strong advantage

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION