National Project Coordinator

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

Suriname and FAO have partnered since the country joined the Organization in 1975. Over the past decade, FAO technical assistance has spanned the agriculture, livestock, fisheries and forestry subsectors, primarily focusing on priorities laid down in Suriname’s Agriculture Sector Plan. Suriname has made positive strides towards food security and, in 2014, the country was declared one of the top four Caribbean nations to have achieved the MDG target for hunger eradication.

FAO has been identified by the Government of Suriname and the European Commission (EC) as implementation partner for the FAO/EU Suriname Agriculture Market Access Project (SAMAP), on the basis of its comparative advantage and technical expertise in agriculture development in Suriname working with both public and private sector and having specific competences related to food safety and certification, business development and productive alliances.

Reporting Lines

Under the general supervision of FAO Representative (FAOR) to Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname, the direct supervision of the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA) and in close collaboration with the International Operations Officer (IOO) and members of the SAMAP project team, as well as with other project consultants and technical officers from the Project Task Force.

• Provide strategic support to the CTA in the coordination and implementation of SAMAP’s project activities with a focus in positioning the project at national level and delivering high quality results in a complex and demanding policy environment by pro-actively promoting strategic partnerships at technical and operational levels with national counterparts and stakeholders.

• Proactively identify and analyse strategic information of the major country policy and sectoral developments relevant for the implementation of SAMAP and assists the CTA in the identification and implementation of timely strategies in response to a rapid changing operational environment to keep SAMAP relevant in the national context.

• Assist the CTA in liaising, coordinating and facilitating the participation and the technical inputs of relevant Government Counterparts, Project Stakeholder Group Members and other national public and private organizations working with SAMAP. Ensure efficient collaboration between various stakeholders.

• Organize and coordinate regular meetings at national and district levels with the Government project counterparts, Project Stakeholder Group (PSG), Project Steering Committee (PSC), and others. Ensure reporting and documentation of meetings, follow up on implementation of agreements. Act as Secretary of the meetings.

• Coordinate at technical the implementation of SAMAP’s project components with other relevant projects, including but not limited to the IDB Agriculture Competitiveness Project and other initiatives from Government Counterparts relevant to SAMAP’s objectives.

• In consultation with the CTA, respond to the technical needs and requests of the Ministry of Agriculture (LVV), Ministry oi Health, Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Regional Development, and participate in meetings, as required.

• Ensure pro-active presence of SAMAP in the field at district and community levels. Make frequent visits to the project sites in the field to supervise the implementation of the project activities and for the collection of information and data required for project monitoring and reporting.

• Under the guidance and supervision of the CTA lead in the implementation and formation of Multi-stakeholder value chain platforms. Facilitate the relationships and dialogue with participants and stakeholders in the multi- stakeholder platforms. Organize events for the functioning of value chain platforms at national, district and community levels. Systematize and write reports and other knowledge products.

• Provide strategic support in developing coherent linkages between the operations of the Matching Grant Facility (MGF) and the activities of other project components implemented by SAMAP.

• Lead the organization and implementation of all capacity building events under both components of the project and ensure sound reporting and documentation of each event.

• Support in the preparation of annual work plans and budgets of all project components. Gather and include inputs of other relevant project stakeholders. Submit work plans to the CTA for clearance prior to implementation.

• Under the oversight of the CTA, be responsible for the technical implementation of SAMAP’ work plans in accordance with the approved Project Document and in compliance with the EDF requirements, rules and procedures.

• Ensure that monitoring mechanisms are in place allowing for tracking progress of SAMAP’s operational activities according to the targets established in the annual work plans, as well as to output and outcome indicators in the project’s result framework. Monitor and update the implementation of the project at activity level.

• Assist the CTA in the day-to-day implementation of the project including\: (i) preparing TORs for consultants and contracts; (ii) participation in the identification and selection of consultants; (iii) monitoring the quality of the work of consultants; and (iv) review of consultant products.

• In coordination with the Procurement Team and other relevant FAO Units, provide technical inputs and other technical requirements for the implementation of SAMAP’s procurement and recruitment plans, including the preparation of technical specifications, terms of reference and the preparation and implementation of Letters of Agreements.

• Assist with the preparation of contractual arrangements for consultants and service providers for technical services required under the project;

• Work closely with all consultants and service providers to ensure the technical tools/activities and information materials can be adapted to the Surinamese context.
• Prepare monthly activity reports of activities carried out and outputs produced in support of the SAMAP project, for information dissemination to all stakeholders and uploading to the Field Program Management Information System (FPMIS).

• Prepare and organize the mandatory bi-annual meeting and reporting to the Project Steering Committee under supervision by the CTA.

• Organizes project workshops, meetings, training and other relevant events for the implementation of SAMAP activities.

• Perform other related duties as required.

• University Degree (Advanced University Degree preferred) in an agriculture related field, business management, or related subject with at least eight years of relevant technical and project management experience in the agricultural/rural/ food security sector.
• A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible experience in the management of complex agriculture and / or rural development projects.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Dutch is required. Knowledge of Sranang Tongo and other native languages will be an asset.
• National of Suriname.

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships

Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

• Substantive knowledge and practical experience in agribusiness and agriculture value chain development.
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge of the Suriname agricultural and agribusiness environment. including the private sector.
• Demonstrated skills and track record in coordinating development programmes, project planning, scheduling and execution and undertaking market/value chain analysis for a wide range of agricultural sub-sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in working with local government, private sector and community stakeholders, including the ability to facilitate understanding between groups with different perspectives and interests, facilitate linkages and build strong and supportive working relationships a wide range of stakeholders.
• Willingness and ability to travel and perform field work in districts and rural communities in particular in the hinterland, as required by the project.
• Experience in the design and delivery of capacity building activities including training, mentoring and on-the job support.
• Strong and demonstrated experience in writing technical reports, manuals and other complex analytical documents.
• Experience working with national and international NGOs and other UN agencies is highly desirable.
• Strong skills in MS Office (word, excel, PowerPoint).

Additional Selection Criteria

• Political savvy, strategic thinker, dynamic, results-oriented and problem solver.
• Ability to multi-task and perform concurring activities and timelines under pressure yet delivering high quality deliverables consistently.
• Ability to identify and propose innovative solutions and new approaches to achieve the desired outcomes.
• Well-developed inter-personal skills and demonstrated experience of working in a cross-cultural environment with flexibility and adaptability.
• Ability to facilitate teams and encourage collaborative teamwork, experience sharing, effective problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Strong networking and relationship building skills, excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Experience in preparing progress and monitoring reports and working under pressure and tight deadlines.