Operation Specialist

Organizational Setting

The main aim of FAO Country Offices, which are headed by an FAO Representative, is to assist the governments to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner.

In the Republic of Mauritius, including Rodrigues Island, the country is home to terrestrial, coastal and marine biodiversity of global importance. It is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot and an IUCN-designated Centre of Plant Diversity. However, the country’s ecosystems are under increasing pressure from land degradation, unsustainable land-use practices, soil erosion, water scarcity and climate change. Rodrigues, in particular, is considered one of the most degraded tropical islands, with declining land productivity and increased run-off and sedimentation affecting dams, coastal areas and lagoons.

As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Mauritius is particularly vulnerable to droughts, cyclones, floods, sea-level rise and other climate-related hazards. These impacts may significantly reduce agricultural production and tourism revenues, while weakening the resilience of communities and ecosystems. The country’s dependence on food and energy imports, combined with the lasting economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its historical reliance on sugarcane, further highlights the need to diversify the economy and invest in resilient and productive ecosystems. Mauritius currently imports a substantial share of its food requirements, with an overall food self-sufficiency ratio of less than 30 percent.

Terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems in SIDS are closely interconnected. Degradation in one ecosystem can undermine the services provided by others, while the restoration and sustainable management of landscapes can generate benefits for agriculture, water resources, biodiversity, coastal protection, tourism and local livelihoods. The Government of Mauritius has therefore demonstrated strong political commitment to transforming land-use systems by placing nature-based solutions (NbS) at the centre of sustainable development, climate resilience and food security.

Against this background, the project GCP/MAR/11254/GFF “Mainstreaming Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in Land Use Systems for Productive and Resilient Agriculture has been approved with FAO technical support and GEF funding. The project aims to mainstream NbS into land-use systems to support productive, healthy and climate-resilient ecosystems in Mauritius and Rodrigues. It will promote an integrated and cross-sectoral approach involving agriculture, environment, tourism, blue economy, development and gender sectors. Project interventions will support natural capital accounting and ecosystem valuation, improved policy coherence, effective governance of natural resources and the operationalization of mechanisms such as a national carbon trading platform among other. This project will be implemented under an Operational Partnership for the Implementing Management (OPIM) modality under the leadership of the Government of Republic of Mauritius, represented by the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security.

Reporting Lines

Under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative, the direct supervision of the Operations Officer and in close collaboration with the National Programme Coordinator in Mauritius and the technical team, government counterparts and other stakeholders.

Technical Focus

The Project Operations Specialist will support lead and coordinate the operational support function of the project GCF/MAR/11254/GFF, including providing operational support to Mauritius projects portfolio. The incumbent will contribute to the planning, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of project operations, in compliance with FAO rules and procedures and the requirements of the funding partner.

Tasks and responsibilities

The Operations Specialist will provide operation support services. The incumbent will undertake the following:

• Act as a focal point for project GCP/MAR/11254 operational matters, and coordinate the day-to-day operational, administrative, procurement and logistical aspects of project’s implementation in Mauritius.
• Support the tracking, documentation and reporting of GEF grant financing and co-financing commitments and their utilization in accordance with approved project arrangements.
• Support the preparation, consolidation and regular updating of the project’s annual workplans, procurement plans, operational schedules and budgets.
• Monitor the implementation of project activities against approved workplans, budgets, timelines, outputs.
• Track project expenditures, commitments and budget availability, identify variances and support the preparation of budget revisions and financial forecasts.
• Facilitate the timely mobilization of project inputs, including personnel, consultants, implementing partners, equipment, supplies, services and travel arrangements.
• Support procurement, recruitment, contracting and partnership processes in accordance with FAO rules, procedures and applicable funding-partner requirements.
• Prepare and follow up on Letters of Agreement, contracts, purchase orders and other operational instruments required for project implementation.
• Support the organization of consultations, training sessions, workshops, field missions, steering committee meetings and other project events.
• Contribute to the preparation of project progress reports, financial reports, briefing notes, meeting documents and other materials required by FAO, the Government and the funding partner.
• Identify operational bottlenecks, implementation delays and delivery risks, and propose appropriate corrective and mitigation measures.
• Monitor compliance with FAO policies and procedures, including environmental and social safeguards, gender mainstreaming, accountability and risk-management requirements.
• Assist in monitoring the performance of consultants, service providers and implementing partners, including the timely submission and quality review of agreed deliverables.
• Support evaluation, audit and supervision missions, and follow up on agreed recommendations and action points.
• Perform any other related duties required to ensure the timely, efficient and results-oriented implementation of the project.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in public or business administration, finance, accounting, economics, social sciences or another field related to the FAO mandate;
• Five years of relevant experience in project management/operations and support;
• Working knowledge of English and limited knowledge of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).
• National of Mauritius or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

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

Technical/Functional Skills

• Experience in project planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
• 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 formulation, analysis, planning and implementation
• Understanding of FAO policies and programmes is considered a strong asset;
• Extent and relevance of experience in supporting, advising and guiding the implementation of complex multistakeholder projects;
• Extent of experience in formulation, implementation and monitoring of projects;
• Ability to develop plans for the implementation and coordination of project operations in developing countries, in partnership with United Nations (UN) agencies and other concerned stakeholders and/or partners;
• Familiarity with UN administrative, operational and financial procedures is an asset.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION