Project Support Assistant

Organizational Setting

‘Resilient Islands, Resilient Communities’ project is a five year project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Kiribati Government. FAO is the Implementing Agency (IA) and is providing the technical support to the Kiribati Government in implementing the project. The Ministry of Environment, Land and Agriculture Development (MELAD), the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development (MFMRD), and the Island Councils are the main executing partners and national counterparts for the project. The project will be working closely with other partners within the public and private sectors as well as with members of the Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The project aims to improve biodiversity conservation and landscape level management to enhance socio-ecological resilience to climate variability and change.

The position presents an exciting professional development opportunity in which, the successful applicant will support the Project Management Unit (PMU) tasks in the day-to-day project implementation at the ground level and help with different logistic arrangements and administrative procedures.

Reporting Lines

The Project Support Assistant reports to the Project Chief Technical Advisor and the Lead Technical Officer.

Technical Focus

Capacity strengthening for project operations at the ground level and liaison on administrative procedures for implementing partners.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Assist in the project management unit in day-to-day project activities;
• Manage office communications such letters, information distribution, and deliveries for the PMU;
• Support in compiling information from implementing partners for project annual reports.
• Support in organizing and conducting meetings, workshops, seminars, trainings and other project events including arrangement of hotel bookings, transportations, venues and other related issues for the arrangement of events;
• Maintain detailed record of budget estimate, obligations and available balances of the project budget;
• Act as the focal point in reviewing and collecting financial reports of LoAs before forwarding to the Project Operations Officer based in SAP;
• Support implementing partners in the preparation of financial reports for LoAs as per FAO standard requirement;
• Develop and maintain filing system of administrative and financial documents;
• Support FAO administrative tasks (HR, Finance, Logistics, Procurement, Travels, etc.) and support implementing partners travel plans;
• Maintain local inventory records with responsibility for proper recording of assets, their maintenance and safeguard;
• Assist in implementing and monitoring field activities and collect periodical data and information for report drafting, as necessary;
• Report to PMU and FAO;
• Any other duties related to the project.

• University degree in management, administration or related field;
• At least 3 to 4 years’ experience working in an administrative, logistics or operations
• Experience in agriculture, agroforestry, environment or fisheries and related subjects with experience in project monitoring and planning is an advantage.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and I-Kiribati
• Computer literate and able to use different Software applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, powerpoint and Excel)
• National of Kiribati

• 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 undertaking related baseline survey and assessment work;
• Computer literate and able to use different Software applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, powerpoint and Excel);
• Ability to work as a member of the project team;
• Willingness to travel and undertake local and overseas assignments